Article: Keep An Eye On Red Sox Sleeper Prospect Phillip Sikes

[Bryce Whitlow]

While he's not a blue-chip prospect in a deep Sox farm, you should keep an eye on centerfielder Phillip Sikes.

By now, every Red Sox fan knows about the team’s impressive farm system. The likes of Mayer, Anthony, Teel, and the emergence of Kristian Campbell have Sox fans looking toward the future with hope. There’s no denying the potential of this core group of prospects. I’ve had the joy of watching all of them play in person, and the hype certainly feels justified. Today, though, I’m not here to talk about any of them. The player I’d like to highlight isn’t somebody you’ll see on top prospect lists. He wasn’t a sought-after first-round pick, and he isn’t going to be on the cover of Bowman’s next release. What he is, though, is a good ball player in the middle of a good season. I’m referring to 25-year-old Portland Sea Dogs outfielder Phillip Sikes. 

Phillip Sikes was born in Paris, Texas, on April 27th, 1999. In 2018, he started his college career at the University of New Mexico. He functioned as a two-way player, pitching in four games and receiving 126 at-bats. He failed to produce successful results, pitching to a 21.60 ERA in 3.1 innings and hitting only .246 with a .642 OPS. Perhaps feeling a change of scenery was necessary, Sikes transferred to Pima Community College. He found his footing at the school, playing in 53 games and cruising to a .369 batting average with seven home runs, 39 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. He was a whole new ball player.

His impressive collegiate play drew the attention of big-league scouts. So much so that the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Sikes in the 33rd round of the 2019 Amateur Draft. Instead of signing with the team, Sikes transferred to Texas Christian University to improve his draft stock. This turned out to be a wise choice. After a quiet 15-game stint with the Horn Frogs in 2020, Sikes burst onto the scene in 2021. He thrived in 58 games with the squad, hitting .329 with 11 long balls, 63 runs driven in, and an incredible OPS of 1.047. Phillip Sikes had cemented himself as one of the most dangerous hitters in the Big 12. When the draft came back around June 2021, the Red Sox called. 

In the 18th round, the Red Sox opted to select Phillip Sikes. Upping his draft stock from a 33rd-rounder to an 18th-rounder proved that the time spent at TCU was the correct choice, and it surely helped with his development as a player. The Sox would send Sikes to the Florida Complex League to get some plate appearances in 2021. It was a small sample size, but he was electric. In 24 games, he smacked three home runs and hit .392. That’s an excellent first impression. 

2022 saw Phillip Sikes split time between the Salem Red Sox and the Greenville Drive. It shaped up to be yet another impressive season for the outfielder. In 94 games, he received 380 plate appearances, batting .254 with an .852 OPS. He popped 11 round trippers while showcasing his speed, swiping 20 bags and only being caught once. He showcased an amazing ability to get on base, drawing 53 walks while maintaining a .371 on-base percentage. 

Sikes would spend all of 2023 playing for the Portland Sea Dogs. His numbers, unfortunately, took a significant step back. In 111 games, he staggered through the season with a .210 batting average and a .630 OPS. Sikes also had problems with the swing and miss, fanning 146 times while walking 44 times. It was a bit of a gut punch for Sikes, who, up to that point, had done nothing but thrive in the Red Sox’s minor league system—a full season in Double-A meant a full season of seeing a litany of talented pitchers. These pitchers were able to locate pitches better and exploit the flaws that Sikes had in his swing. With the book eventually closed on the 2023 baseball season, Sikes once again found himself on the Portland Sea Dogs in 2024. It would take some time to materialize, but things would be different this season. 

Sikes started slowly out of the gate, struggling in April before rebounding in May and June. The right-hander's OPS was .691 heading into July. He was sitting on only four home runs and 14 RBI. It appeared that Sikes’ career had plateaued at the Double-A level. However, as the summer heated up in July and August, so did Phillip Sikes. 

They say if you can’t take the heat, then leave the kitchen. In this analogy, Phillip Sikes turned into baseball’s Gordon Ramsey: He was cooking. As the July and August sun ushered in the second half of the 2024 baseball season, Sikes began to crush the baseball. In 19 July games, Sikes belted four homers and drove in 12 runs. His .949 OPS during July was nearly 200 points higher than any other month during the season. He had five games with multiple hits, including back-to-back three-hit games on July 30th and July 31st to close the month. With the lingering promotions of Mayer, Teel, and Anthony, it’s easy to let Sikes’ July numbers fade into obscurity, but make no mistake, he was at the top of his game. 

August came around, and while Sikes didn’t continue his torrid pace, he still produced exceptional numbers for the Sea Dogs. In 23 games, he smashed five home runs and drove in 16 runs, both of which were monthly highs for Sikes this season. He produced an .831 OPS while collecting 21 hits. Sikes got to add a few moments to his highlight reel during August, hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly and the 10th inside-the-park home run in Sea Dogs history on back-to-back nights on August 23rd and 24th. 

As the 2024 season approaches its conclusion, Phillip Sikes currently sits at 13 homers, 47 RBI, 20 steals, and a .779 OPS. Admittedly, these numbers don't indicate a Top-100 prospect, but the two-month run Sikes has been on simply can’t be ignored. I will concede a few things: Sikes still has troubling strikeout numbers (he has fanned 116 times), home and road splits that are a bit concerning, and his bat is below average against right-handed pitching. When a righty is on the bump, he’s only batting .210 with a .667 OPS. This feels even more jarring compared to his 1.189 OPS against southpaws. While the good and the bad can be cherry-picked from the depths of his Baseball-Reference page, one thing is certain. When the calendar turned to July, Sikes turned on the bat. Sikes’ future seems a bit murky in Boston, thanks to an already crowded outfield full of young and talented players. I know for a fact, however, that if Phillip Sikes can replicate his performance from August and July, then the sky's the limit for him.

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[moonslav59]

There should be room for him in Woo, especially if Anthony gets an early call-up.

[Bryce Whitlow]

11 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

There should be room for him in Woo, especially if Anthony gets an early call-up.

I’d really like to see that. My wife and I went to a Salem Red Sox game on our first date and he was in the lineup. I’ve always kept an eye on him since then. I’m really happy he’s rebounding right now. I’ll be at the Sea Dogs game tonight cheering him on! 

[mvp 78]

Considering all the LHB the org has, if Sikes peaks as a platoon bat on the MLB bench, that's probably maxing out the 18th rounder's ceiling. His glove is passable in CF/RF so he may have a future as a roleplayer.

I know SoxProspects were intrigued by him going into 2023, but I think his shine faded a little bit and he'll be 26 next April.

[Bryce Whitlow]

8 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Considering all the LHB the org has, if Sikes peaks as a platoon bat on the MLB bench, that's probably maxing out the 18th rounder's ceiling. His glove is passable in CF/RF so he may have a future as a roleplayer.

I know SoxProspects were intrigued by him going into 2023, but I think his shine faded a little bit and he'll be 26 next April.

I totally agree with that being his ceiling. I’d love to see him settle into a Rob Refsnyder type of role with an organization. A lefty masher who’s serviceable in the outfield. Time isn’t on his side, but somebody like Refsnyder has thrived in his 30’s so there is a precedent. Time will tell though. I’d love to see him get a shot in Boston or another city that has a role for him. Thanks for reading man!