Manuel Silva

Position: LHSP
Level: Rk
Affiliate: XST Phillies
League: Extended Spring Training
Born: 12/18/1998 (Age: 25)
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 145
B/T: Left / Left
Acquired: Signed as International Free Agent 7/5/2015 (PHI)

Prospect Spotlight

Silva had a great stateside debut in the GCL last season, holding his own as an 18 year old and showing a nice blend of projection and stuff. Standing 6’2’’, he has added weight and is more muscular than his under-listed 145-pound frame, and there’s still plenty of projection left. He pitches from a semi-windup delivery with a long arm-circle, finishing fluidly out front with signs of adding velocity as he matures.

He sits 90-to-92 mph with the heater right now, touching 93 mph at times with glimpses of above-average run that’s hard to barrel up. Silva shows advanced ability to command his fastball to both sides of the plate for his age. Silva shows plus feel for his slider, a low-80s pitch with sweepy tilt that he will throw in any count. It’s more advanced than his 84-to-86 mph changeup, a pitch he doesn’t show much and lacks the same type of feel for. There’s reason to dream on his three pitches and projectable 6’2’’ frame turning into a rotation piece, but Phillies fans should consider Silva a low-minors lottery ticket who will need a few years to add physicality and develop his arsenal.