By Patrick Gordon, Managing Editor
pgordon@philadelphiabaseballreview.com
PBR - Regardless of his future, Phillippe Aumont will forever be linked to
former No. 1 draft pick Kyle Drabek.
To acquire Roy Halladay, the Phillies were forced to deal Drabek, along with
two other top-notch prospects, to Toronto. This, in turn, forced general
manager Ruben Amaro Jr. to deal Cliff Lee for a trio of prospects to restock
the farm system.
Enter Aumont, who assistant general manager Benny Looper recently
confirmed would work as a starter in 2010.
"We discussed it with the kid and he's excited about it," Looper said. "We'd
like to develop him as a starter and use the bullpen as a fallback if it doesn't
work out."
A first-round pick in 2007, Aumont moved from the rotation to the bullpen
last year in an experiment to accelerate his progress. The results were mixed.
The 21-year-old compiled a 3.24 ERA to go along with 12 saves at Class A High Desert before struggling at Double-A
West Tennessee where he finished with a 5.09 ERA and a 1-4 record in 15 appearances.
As a starter Aumont finished 4-4 with a 2.75 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 15 games (eight starts) with Class A Wisconsin in
2008.
With Drabek's departure Aumont is considered the organization's top pitching prospect.
"It doesn't matter to me," Aumont recently told reporters. "I'm not here to replace Kyle Drabek. I'm going to make my own
mark. I want to grow up as Phillippe Aumont, not taking somebody else's spot."
Aumont's best pitch is a fastball that carries a hard sink. Phillies scouts clocked it up to 97 mph during the Arizona Fall
League. He also has a decent curve ball in his repertoire that has the ability to be a plus pitch to go along with decent
command. He also throws a slider and a changeup.
Aumont will participate in major league camp later this month, and is expected to begin the season at Double-A Reading.
"As long as I'm on the mound, that's the place I'm most comfortable on this planet," Aumont said. "I love being on the
mound. I love having the ball in my hand."
(The Philadelphia Baseball Review offers news, stories and features that pertain to the past, present and future of
baseball in the Philadelphia region. Patrick Gordon is an award winning baseball writer and has covered baseball
in Philadelphia for the last decade.)
February 8, 2010
Aumont will work as a starter
Pitching prospect not interested in replacing Kyle Drabek