As we prepare for the season ahead, the Pitcher List staff will be creating profiles for every fantasy-relevant player for 2021. Players will be broken up by team and role through starting pitchers, bullpen, lineup, and prospects. You can access every article as it comes out in our Player Profiles 2021 hub here.
The Phillies narrowly missed out on a playoff berth last year, finishing a game behind the Brewers in the loss column for the 2nd N.L. Wildcard. A quick glance at the club’s depth chart shows a clear deficit up the middle in the near future. Jean Segura will be 31 when the season starts and has managed just a 96 wRC+ over the past two seasons combined, and he’s under contract through 2023, while Scott Kingery has struggled mightily. Didi Gregorius, 31, was productive last year (116 wRC+) while filling a clear need, so their recently announced two-year pact makes a lot of sense.
At the corners, they are locked and loaded. Alec Bohm emerged last season as one of the game’s up and coming hitters. At the same time, Rhys Hoskins finished last season with a robust 140 wRC+.
To say the least, centerfield is a giant void with Adam Haseley and Roman Quinn the options currently. There should be an opening in LF, too, with 34-year-old Andrew McCutchen entering the final year of his three-year pact with a club option for 2022. The Phillies have been aggressive in international free agency targeting high upside, long-term prospects like Luis Garcia, Johan Rojas, and Yhoswar Garcia.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a move of more singular importance to the Phillies than re-signing J.T. Realmuto. Not only did they move Sixto Sánchez to acquire baseball’s premier backstop they also did not have a viable alternative at the big-league level. With Realmuto now in tow for the next 5 years, maybe the Phillies would look to move Marchand or Duran as they look to crack the Playoffs for the first time since 2011.
The bullpen was an unmitigated disaster last season, with Phillies’ relievers combining for an unbelievable 7.05 ERA, easily ahead of the Rockies and their mark of 6.77. Reliever woes prompted trades for current free agents David Phelps and Brandon Workman, sending away in return a couple of interesting young pitchers in Israel Puello and Connor Seabold to the Brewers and Red Sox, respectively. The Phillies have been busy this past offseason trying to patch the pen with acquisitions of Jose Alvarado from the Rays (Garrett Cleavinger was sent to the Dodgers as part of that deal) and Archie Bradley via Free Agency.
Rotation depth is a concern, as well, with the current strategy being Nola and Wheeler followed by rain dances. It raises the emergence of Spencer Howard and, to a lesser extent, Adonis Medina to paramount importance for the Phillies and their 2021 outlook.
As it stands right now, the Phillies don’t have much behind Bryson Stott in terms of clear impact players on the horizon. They were the 23rd ranked system this past September.
Note: These Top 50 lists are all done through a fantasy baseball-focused lens. Many players who are ranked higher or lower on other platforms will get a boost here. For example, players who profile as middle relievers or glove-first infielders likely won’t have much fantasy relevance, so they won’t be ranked as highly.
1. Spencer Howard RHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: MLB
Let’s give Howard a pass after struggling in just six starts during the lunacy that was 2020. He dealt with a shoulder issue for the second year in a row, so hopefully, he can put that past him in 2021. Last year, part of the culprit was declining fastball velocity during his starts, a product of messy mechanics. However, he’ll have an offseason to adjust. This is still an incredibly talented pitching prospect who has touched 98-99 at times while featuring an excellent mix, including two plus breakers and a notably improved changeup. Howard posted a 2.35 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 23.8% K-BB% across six starts for Double-A Reading in 2019. He should get every opportunity to stick in year two and makes plenty of sense as a buy-low target.
ETA: Debuted 2020
2. Bryson Stott SS
Age: 23
Highest Level: Low-A
Bryson Stott parlayed a sensational three-year collegiate career at UNLV into a first-round (14th overall) selection in 2019’s Amateur Draft. He’s got a high-floor type of skillset across the board and began to show more pull side, game power during his pro debut. He’s shown the ability to impact the baseball well to all fields along with above-average speed. Defensively, he has the skills to stick at SS, and he should have no problem climbing the ladder quickly, making him a very reasonable bet for 2022.
ETA: 2022
3. Mick Abel RHP
Age: 19
Highest Level: HS
Abel was the first prep arm selected in this past year’s draft. He’s got good size at 6’5″ and has shown consistent strike-throwing ability, so he’s a very projectable player at just 19 years old. As is, he sits around 94 with his fastball, and he has a slider that has shown plenty of ability. Add to that a curveball and a deceptive changeup, and there’s a whole lot to like here. He’ll need significant time to develop, but the young man out of Oregon is as good of a bet as any prep arm.
ETA: 2023
4. Kendall Simmons SS
Age: 21
Highest Level: Low-A
Kendall Simmons, a prep bat from the 2018 draft, has some swing and miss issues, but there is no denying he has electric bat speed and tremendous raw power, evidenced by his excellent EV. He made some adjustments early on in 2019, culminating in an impressive .854 OPS in the New York-Penn League (Low-A), good for 5th in the league in spite of hitting only .234. Even though his K rate was nearly the same between 2018 and 2019, he dropped his swinging K rate substantially from 27.3% to 12.8%. So you can really sense an upward trajectory with Simmons, making him a very strong buy. He also has above-average speed, so there is some modest steal potential here too. Plus, he’s versatile enough defensively to play at 2nd or 3rd if needed.
ETA: 2023
5. Luis Garcia SS
Age: 20
Highest Level: A
The switch-hitting Garcia was a highly coveted player out of the 2017-18 international class, so we should probably give him a pass for a rough year following his aggressive promotion to A-ball. Like a lot of young hitters especially switch hitters, he struggled to adjust to his first real exposure to breaking pitches. This is still a very young player with a promising skill-set highlighted by an above-average ability to make contact, plus bat speed, and speed to go along with the potential to grow into some power as he matures. A productive 2021 season repeating Class-A would go a long way toward boosting his stock. There is still an excellent ceiling here, but as is, Garcia is a difficult prospect to paint from strictly a fantasy perspective. However, considering his prestige on the international market, this presents an excellent buying opportunity.
ETA: 2023
6. Casey Martin SS
Age: 21
Highest Level: College
Martin hit the ground running in his collegiate career, earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2018. The righty has an electric skillset and one that will likely be coveted by dynasty-leaguers highlighted by tremendous 75-grade speed, as he converted 24 of 27 stolen base attempts during his days with the Razorbacks. He didn’t get the nickname “Jackrabbit” for nothing. He also has above-average power to boot, so there is real potential for a high ceiling, 20/20 sort of player. Defensively, he has the skills to shift to CF if needed. There are some legitimate strikeout concerns here, though, and that is at least one of the reasons why his draft stock dropped some. Martin is not the safest profile if you tend to be risk-averse.
ETA: 2023
7. Francisco Morales RHP
Age: 21
Highest Level: A
Morales, a prominent international prospect from 2016, has incredible stuff highlighted by a fastball that has been trending up and now routinely reaches 98. The other plus part of his arsenal is a slider that has shown excellent swing and miss ability. He reached Class-A in 2019 (96.2 IP) and posted an impressive 30.9% K rate. His control is a concern, however, and while he dropped his walk rate from 12.8% to 11% from 2018-19, he’ll need to keep improving his efficiency while developing his changeup in order to stick in the rotation. Otherwise, he absolutely has the fastball/slider combination to play at the end of the pen.
ETA: 2022
8. Johan Rojas OF
Age: 20
Highest Level: Low-A
Rojas might just have the highest power/speed ceiling out of anyone in this system. Whether he gets there, though, is anyone’s guess. His raw power is evident, but he’ll need to improve his recognition and approach at the plate in order to tap into it more often and reach that coveted ceiling outcome. His incredible athleticism plays well in CF, and he’s shown ability as a base stealer, too, converting 11 of 15 attempts in the NY-Penn League in 2019 (Low-A). He’s displayed low K rates in his brief pro career (16.9% in low-A in 2019), a product of being a very aggressive hitter. Rojas looks like the sort of talent that could make a ton of noise with a few adjustments. While he’s a ways off, there’s absolutely a ceiling here worth chasing.
ETA: 2023
9. Damon Jones LHP
Age: 26
Highest Level: AAA
An 18th-round selection out of the 2017 Draft, Jones is a 6’5″ lefty who has shown plus velocity, sitting 96 with his fastball. That heater has shown some swing-and-miss ability playing up with a delivery that adds deception. The other key piece is a slider that has developed into a high upside breaker, getting plenty of swings and misses. In four starts for Double-A Reading in 2019, he recorded a 38.3% K rate backed by a 17.6% swinging K rate. Now for the not so good part. Across 34 innings for Triple-A Lehigh in 2019 (8 starts), his walk rate sat at 16.5%. Control has been an issue for his career as he’s carried a walk rate north of 10% at every stop. Jones presents a big risk considering his age, as he could easily get shuffled to the pen if he struggles again. However, if he can curb the walks, you know the Phillies would welcome a high upside lefty with open arms considering their rotation depth. And here’s some fun: he was clocked at just under 100 this past December.
ETA: 2021
10. Erik Miller LHP
Age: 22
Highest Level: A
The Phillies’ fourth-round selection out of Stanford in the 2019 draft, Miller is a lefty with excellent size at 6’5″. He had some issues repeating his delivery during his first exposure to pro ball, but that has cleared up some since he advanced to Class-A in 2019. He has a bat missing slider and a capable changeup that has helped him neutralize righties. He’s mostly sat in the low 90’s and can dial it up into the 96 range at times. We don’t have much of a sample on Miller yet, but the 30% K rate he flashed with Class-A Lakewood in 2019 hints at the upside. The floor looks like a quality back of the rotation type arm. A sustained uptick in velocity could portend a ceiling outcome as a potential fixture in the middle of the rotation, especially considering his ability to change speeds.
ETA: 2023
11. Adonis Medina RHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: MLB
The 2019 version of Medina is not what we want for fantasy purposes. Across 21 starts with Double-A Reading in 2019, his K rate slid back from 26.1% (High-A Clearwater in 2018, 21 starts) to just 17.5%, his swinging K rate dropped from 13.4% to 8.6%, and his walks went up from 7.6% to 8.8%. It was a tough season for Medina; his velocity was down some, and he used his slider less, which had been a plus pitch for him. There still exists an upside version of Medina, but it might require a retooling of sorts to get there. At present, Medina relies on more of a two-seamer/sinker type of fastball to induce a lot of groundball contact. That type of profile limits his appeal for fantasy purposes as it caps his strikeout upside. However, considering he has shown plus command of a slider and changeup that have both shown plus action, the ingredients are there for success. A strong bounce-back showing in the Spring should put Medina in contention for the rotation at some point, considering the Phillies’ lack of depth there.
ETA: Debuted 2020
12. Jamari Baylor 2B
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie
Jamari Baylor parlayed a loud Senior season at Benedictine HS in Virginia into a third-round selection at the 2019 draft. He has only appeared in four games in Rookie Ball in 2019, so the lack of experience at the pro level makes Baylor a significant risk. However, he has shown the sort of bat speed and athleticism worth taking a gamble on. He also has the speed and arm to cover the outfield if needed.
ETA: 2024
13. Simon Muzziotti OF
Age: 22
Highest Level: High-A
Muzziotti is a lefty with an aggressive swing and quick hands that generate plenty of contact. The game power at present, though, is close to nil, as he posted just a .085 ISO in 2019 in the Florida State League. He makes a lot of contact, but it’s of the groundball variety (2.29 GB/FB in High-A), so there’s a narrow path to fantasy relevancy considering the lack of projectable power due to his batted ball profile at present. It’ll require speed, but considering he was just 21 for 33 on stolen base attempts in High-A, that’s far from a certainty. Right now, a good portion of Muzziotti’s value is tied to his profile as an excellent defensive center fielder.
ETA: 2023
14. Mickey Moniak OF
Age: 22
Highest Level: MLB
The lefty-swinging Moniak did have a productive year in Double-A in 2019, posting a career-best .187 ISO, but that was in hitter-friendly Reading. There’s a decent chance those numbers may have been inflated. The first overall pick in the 2016 Amateur Draft, Moniak’s stock was driven by his ability to make contact. He’s been adequate in that respect, never eclipsing a K rate over 22% while holding a career .256 average in the minors. Whether or not he turns into an everyday player is going to come down to if he can settle into at least average type game power. There’s a chance, though, that Moniak may have been on to something in 2019. He looked stronger physically, and his GB/FB ratio of 1.06 was a career-best. He does have above-average speed and was 15/18 on stolen base attempts in 2019 in Double-A. Moniak went 3 for 14 in his brief debut last year and should get an opportunity to contribute this year considering the Phillies’ lack of depth in the OF. Considering everything he’s shown to date thus far, including low OBP and struggles against LHP, a realistic outcome might just be as a reasonable fourth OF, with a ceiling projection being a lesser version of Kole Calhoun.
ETA: Debuted 2020
15. Starlyn Castillo RHP
Age: 18
Highest Level: Rookie
All of 18 years old, Castillo has a long, long way to go, but you have to appreciate the upside considering he showed mid 95+ velocity at age 15 and now has an above-average slider. One of the top arms out of 2018’s J2 signing class, Castillo has the raw stuff that points to an appreciable ceiling provided he can develop his command. At 6’0″, though, there’s not much room to grow physically.
ETA: 2024
16. Yhoswar Garcia OF
Age: 19
Highest Level: 2020 International Free Agent
The Phillies signed Yhoswar Garcia as an 18-year old out of Venezuela this past March for $2.5 Million. He’s a high upside future stash with excellent speed and athleticism that should allow him to cover CF. Offensively, there’s plus projectable power as he matures. He has no experience at the pro level, so the floor is non-existent, but he’s one of the more fun stashes in the Phillies’ system.
ETA: 2024
17. Rafael Marchan C
Age: 21
Highest Level: MLB
In typical 2020 fashion, Marchan, who had not hit a home run in his entire pro career, proceeded to hit one out in one of his nine at-bats in the bigs this past year. Marchan is adept defensively across the board; in particular, he’s shown a well-above-average ability to limit the running game, tossing out runners at a clip just over 36%. He’s also shown above-average framing skills, so his future behind the dish looks secure. Offensively, the profile might be a shade underwhelming for fantasy purposes. He makes a ton of contact, routinely posting K rates below 10%, and has a penchant for line drives. His bat-to-ball ability is excellent; however, there is next to no game power at present as he’s yet to crack an ISO over .068. There is enough projectable power here to get to double-digit home runs at his peak, though.
ETA: Debuted 2020
18. Nick Maton SS
Age: 23
Highest Level: AA
A seventh-rounder out of the 2017 draft, Maton has produced at every level. The lefty has very sound plate skills, producing a walk rate over 10% for High-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading in 2019, along with a K rate below 20%. He’s got above-average speed, but he hasn’t been efficient as a base stealer and was successful in just 12 of 20 attempts in 2019. The power hasn’t manifested itself much yet either, but it could peak at close to average with some growth considering his contact skills and flyball leaning batted ball profile (0.75 GB/FB in High-A 2019). All told, Maton’s defensive versatility across the middle infield probably gives him much more real-life rather than fantasy appeal. Still, he’s someone to be aware of as the Phillies don’t have great depth at 2B/SS.
ETA: 2021
19. Ethan Lindow LHP
Age: 22
Highest Level: High-A
Lindow was excellent in 2019, recording a 2.52 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 110.2 IP and 16 starts in Class-A Lakewood and High-A Clearwater. His performance earned him the Phillies’ Minor-League Pitcher of the Year award. Lindow doesn’t have high octane heat, topping out at 92, but he does have strong command as well as a plus changeup and two breaking pitches. The lefty’s K-BB% in 2019 was very promising at 21%, and he’s managed to drop his walk rate at every stop so far, culminating in a sparkling 3% in three starts at High-A. He profiles as a 4th/5th starter right now.
ETA: 2022
20. Bailey Falter LHP
Age: 23
Highest Level: AA
Falter is a 6’4″ lefty who has shown good control with a 4.7% BB rate across 14 starts in Double-A (77.1 IP). He sits around 90 with his fastball along with a curve and changeup. Falter’s unique delivery and above-average extension tend to play up his otherwise average arsenal. However, he may have reached a new gear, as his velocity was up into the 93-95 range during scrimmages this past year. There might just be more to see here than your prototypical deceptive lefty. The Phillies also opted to include him on the 40-man.
ETA: 2021
21. Jhailyn Ortiz OF
Age: 22
Highest Level: High-A
The Phillies spent $4 Million signing Ortiz in 2015 as a teen from the Dominican Republic. Ortiz has massive raw power but not much else. While the corner outfielder banged out 19 home runs for Clearwater in 2019, it came with a 31.2% K rate and just a .272 OBP. Barring a significant development in approach, the big righty’s fantasy appeal is limited. Still, the massive raw power is enough to gamble on, and age is still on his side.
ETA: 2023
22. Josh Stephen OF
Age: 23
Highest Level: AA
Josh Stephen was a well-regarded prep bat out of California whom the Phillies selected in the 11th-round of the 2016 Draft, the same draft as Moniak. He had a breakout season in 2019, posting a career-best .213 ISO and 11.4% HR/FB rate. Prior to that, his high watermark was a .117 ISO in Low-A and a 5.3% HR/FB rate in Class-A. He has some speed, so there is some stolen base potential too. It’s likely, though, that Stephen’s 2019 was more of a blip precipitated by a favorable venue in Double-A Reading, but his 0.91 GB/FB rate is encouraging for potential power. His K rate spiked to 27.1%, and he had some poor splits against southpaws, so it’s unlikely that he transforms into an everyday big-leaguer. However, given the depth issues the Phillies have in the OF right now, he could certainly stand to contribute this season.
ETA: Debuted 2020
23. Dominic Pipkin RHP
Age: 21
Highest Level: A
Pipkin, a prep arm selected in the 9th round of the 2018 draft, has seen his velocity spike up, touching 98, but his secondary arsenal is lacking. He’s a long term project that carries substantial upside should he develop into an SP.
ETA: 2024
24. C.J. Chatham SS
Age: 26
Highest Level: AAA
You may have missed this blockbuster, but on January 18th, the Phillies acquired Chatham from the Red Sox for a PTBNL or cash. We talked about the depth issues the Phillies have up the middle, so Chatham might be someone who gets a look this season. He has hit well in the minors with a career .298 average, but the power hasn’t been much with just a career .402 SLG. Still, we’ve seen some guys have power surges in the majors, making Chatham someone to keep an eye on in deeper formats.
ETA: 2021
25. Connor Brogdon RHP
Age: 25
Highest Level: MLB
Brogdon, a tenth-rounder from 2017, flashed a 33.1% K rate (24.1% K-BB%) across 32.1 innings as a reliever for Triple-A Lehigh in 2019. He also showed some good swing and miss ability last year with a 16% swinging K rate in his brief cameo in the Majors last season. Brogdon’s heater sits around 95 and has shown well-above-average spin. Additionally, it has some swing-and-miss ability, especially at the top of the zone. Brogdon has managed an excellent 1.03 WHIP during his 180 IP in the minors. We should see him back again this season, contributing for a Phillies pen that struggled mightily last season.
ETA: Debuted 2020
26. Christopher Sánchez LHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: AAA
Acquired by the Phillies via trade from the Rays, Sánchez is a tall (6’5″) and slim lefty whose velocity has been trending up recently, peaking at 98. He has a changeup, which has flashed plus at times, and a slider. The role is indeterminate right now, as he made 12 appearances in High-A in 2019, six in relief, and six starts. He also saw his K rate go up from 22.8% to 25.9% in his jump from Class-A to High-A. There is upside to chase here should the Phillies explore his viability as a starter.
ETA: 2021
27. Carlos De La Cruz OF
Age: 21
Highest Level: A
The 6’8″ righty-swinging De La Cruz has enormous 70-grade raw power (via Fangraphs). The power ceiling is fantastic here, but a 34.5% K rate along with a .271 OBP and 5.9% BB rate in Class-A point to a rough profile at present.
ETA: 2024
28. JoJo Romero LHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: MLB
Romero struggled in 2019 with Triple-A Lehigh, posting a 6.88 ERA, 1.92 WHIP, 15.3% K rate, and 13.4% BB rate across 13 starts (53.2 IP). However, in his brief MLB cameo last year, he showed intriguing velocity, sitting 95.3 with his four-seamer and a 35% whiff rate with his slider. The upside scenario would see his velocity bump stick while getting a chance at a rotation spot. Even so, we’d need to see his K rate (21.3% last year) tick up considerably before getting too excited. There’s also a real chance that the Phillies opt to use him as a bulk/middle reliever type, which would reduce the appeal to nil. Romero has modest potential if he gets a chance to start, but the very real possibility as a middle reliever bumps him down a few spots.
ETA: Debuted 2020
29. Rodolfo Duran C
Age: 22
Highest Level: High-A
Duran has shown an excellent arm behind the plate, throwing out runners at a robust clip of 40%. Offensively, he had a breakout season in 2018, cranking out 18 home runs (.235 ISO) for Single-A Lakewood. Unfortunately, a knee injury cut short his 2019 season, limiting him to just 66 games. He’s got above-average raw power, and we’re starting to see it manifest more in-game, making Duran a player worth monitoring in catcher premium leagues.
ETA: 2022
30. James McArthur RHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: A+
McArthur was selected in the 12th round of the 2018 draft out of Mississippi State. He’s got size (6’7″) on his side, and his velocity has been on the rise, now hitting 97 on occasion. His slider features above-average movement and bat missing ability, but he’s a major project right now, with walks being the problem (12.7% BB rate in A+ in 2019).
ETA: 2022
31. Manuel Urias RHP
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie-DSL
The 6’6″ Urias is interesting in that he’s all of 19, and in his two years in the Dominican Summer League, he’s held a walk rate of around 4%. In 2019, his 2nd year in the DSL, Urias improved his K rate from 17.6% to 24.4% while lowering his walk rate slightly. An International Free Agent out of Mexico who signed the day before his 17th birthday, Urias is a very intriguing talent to keep an eye on as he climbs the ladder.
ETA: 2024
32. Gunner Mayer RHP
Age: 20
Highest Level: Rookie-GCL
Mayer has good size at 6’6″ and has been clocked in the mid-90s. He’s a former infielder and reliever out of a junior college (San Joaquin Delta, CA) who doesn’t have much experience under his belt as a pitcher. However, given his frame and age, there is some excellent long-term potential as he matures physically. He’s shown some very early feel for a curveball/slider, but overall, he’s far from finished in any phase.
ETA: 2024+
33. Marcus Lee Sang OF
Age: 20
Highest Level: Rookie-GCL
An 11th-round prep bat out of the 2019 Draft, Lee Sang is an interesting two-way prospect. He’s shown a promising lefty swing and has an excellent arm along with above-average athleticism. He just needs some experience against pro-level pitching.
ETA: 2024+
34. Manuel Silva LHP
Age: 22
Highest Level: A
Your prototypical projectable lefty, Silva is lithe physically and fluid mechanically. He has shown above-average command of his slider, but neither his slider nor changeup profile as plus offerings currently. Silva has generally sat around 90 with his fastball, but he was showing some gains in that department during his 2019 season with Single-A Clearwater. All told, his 2019 was very respectable, as he finished with a 3.61 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 21.8% K rate, and a 9.8% BB rate across 89.2 IP (12 starts). Provided his velocity gains stick along with some growth in his secondaries, there could be some potential as a fourth/fifth type starter. A lot of what-ifs, but hey, lefties will always get that benefit.
ETA: 2023
35. Mauricio Llovera RHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: MLB
Llovera made his debut last season—a single inning in relief. In 2019, he made 12 starts across 65 IP for Double-A Reading and held a 4.55 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 25.3% K rate, and 9.8% BB rate. When he’s right, he has a stand-out splitter that shows late life, and he sits in the mid-90s with his heater to go along with a slider that has flashed at times. Llovera has struggled with his efficiency, and that led to some questions about his viability as a starter. More importantly, he dealt with diminished stuff in 2019 as a product of an elbow injury. In his brief debut last season, he was sitting around 93-94 out of the pen, still down from his peak. There’s a slight chance at getting a shot to start, but it’s looking increasingly likely that Llovera is pen bound. At his best, he has the sort of fastball/splitter combination that can play in the back end of the pen, but that sort of non-closer role bumps him down.
ETA: Debuted 2020
36. Nicoly Pina RHP
Age: 21
Highest Level: Rookie
Pina has an impressive fastball that has shown plenty of upside with a combination of plus velocity and excellent vertical movement. He was used exclusively in relief in the GCL in 2019, but his big fastball keeps him on the radar.
ETA: 2023
37. Victor Santos RHP
Age: 20
Highest Level: A
Santos has shown exceptional control early on. In 105.1 innings (13 starts) for Single-A Lakewood, he held a pristine 4.2% BB rate. His main weapon is a change that shows excellent split action. There’s a potential ceiling here given his command if he grows into some velocity, as he sits in the low 90s as is.
ETA: 2024
38. Rickardo Perez C
Age: 17
Highest Level: International Free Agent
On January 16th, the Phillies signed Perez, a teenager from Venezuela who ranks ninth on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 International Prospects. As you might have guessed, he’s shown plenty of upside and has performed well in Venezuela’s Liga Central de Dessarrollo, one of the country’s more prominent circuits. Offensively, the lefty-swinging Perez has plus bat speed and a knack for hard contact. His performance behind the plate is encouraging, too, as he’s already displayed an average arm. You know the drill with catching prospects: they usually take a while, but Perez’s international acclaim earns him the spot here.
ETA: 2025+
39. Kyle Glogoski RHP
Age: 22
Highest Level: A+
The righty out of New Zealand has been very impressive across his first year-plus in the minors, tallying a 1.89 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 119.1 IP and 14 starts with Class-A and High-A. He sits in the low-90s with a sharp breaking curveball and changeup.
ETA: 2023
40. Andrew Schultz RHP
Age: 23
Highest Level: A
The Phillies’ sixth-round pick in 2019 out of Tennessee, Schultz profiles as your classic flame-throwing reliever. He sits 96 plus, touching triple digits on occasion. Mechanically, he’s raw; he struggles to repeat consistently, and that showed with his brief debut for Class-A Lakewood in 2019, where he walked nine batters in ten innings. Along with an above-average slider at times, Schultz has the potential to be an impact arm in the back of the pen if his delivery is fixed.
ETA: 2022
41. Yemal Flores OF
Age: 17
Highest Level: International Free Agent
Along with Rickardo Lopez, the Phillies also signed Flores, a 17-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic, for $1.4 Million. He’s shown a nascent propensity for contact of the loud and long variety but comes with swing and miss issues, not a surprise considering his age. He’s one of several young, high-upside international free agents the Phillies’ have landed the past couple of years.
ETA: 2025+
42. Josh Gessner RHP
Age: 20
Highest Level: Rookie GCL
A coveted free agent out of Australia, Gessner signed with the Phillies in June of 2019 for $850,000 while committing to play for Tulane University. He was also recruited by Harvard. Right now, Gessner sits at around 90-92 and has shown some nascent command of two breaking balls, although neither are plus offerings yet. Gessner has thrown just 12.2 innings in the GCL, so he’s going to need some brewing, but there is a good amount of projectability based on his 6’1″ frame.
ETA: 2024
43. Rixon Wingrove 1B
Age: 20
Highest Level: Rookie GCL
Wingrove was a 2017 J2 signing out of Australia. He’s a 6’5″ lefty with excellent raw power. In his 2nd year in the Gulf Coast League, he posted a .298/ .374/ .500 slash. However, it might take him a little longer to climb the ladder as he adjusts to the pro game.
ETA: 2024
44. Matt Vierling OF
Age: 24
Highest Level: High-A
Vierling was a fifth-round selection out of Notre Dame who spent some time as a two-way player. He has above-average athleticism and stole 22 bases on 27 attempts for High-A Clearwater. The game power wasn’t there in 2019, though, as he posted just a .097 ISO. However, there might be some raw power that he hasn’t tapped into quite yet, considering his size at 6’3″, 205. As mentioned earlier, the Phillies’ OF depth is thin, so Vierling could thrust himself to the forefront with a strong showing this year.
ETA: 2022
45. David Parkinson LHP
Age: 25
Highest Level: AA
After a sensational 2018 in which he recorded a 1.45 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 21 starts in Low/High-A as the Phillies’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Parkinson struggled comparatively in 2019, posting a 4.08 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 22 starts in Double-A. However, the silver lining was that his K-BB% remained just about the same at 16.2% (15.7% in 2018 in A+). Parkinson’s strength is command rather than pure stuff, as he’s shown plenty of strike-throwing ability (8% BB rate in 119 IP for Double-A Reading) while sitting in the low-90s with an above-average changeup. He could eventually be an option at the back end of the rotation if he progresses this year.
ETA: 2021
46. Kevin Gowdy RHP
Age: 23
Highest Level: A
The Phillies’ second-round pick out of Santa Barbara High School, Gowdy’s progression was derailed by Tommy John surgery in 2017. The 6’4″ righty has struggled since his return. He made 16 starts in A-Ball in 2019 and recorded a lackluster 4.68 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 15% K rate, and 14.4% walk rate across 77 innings. If he can get his command back, which was a big plus when he was drafted, there’s some potential as a bounce-back with rotation upside.
ETA: 2023
47. Darick Hall 1B
Age: 25
Highest Level: AA
Hall is lefty-hitting first basemen who has shown some plus power, hitting 20 home runs for Double-A Reading in 2019 (.219 ISO) to go along with a .344 OBP. He’s an older prospect, though, so there isn’t much wiggle room.
ETA: 2021
48. Baron Radcliff OF
Age: 21
Highest Level: NCAA
The Phillies’ final pick of the 2020 Draft, Radcliff pairs impressive athleticism with his 80-grade name as he was also a quarterback during his days at Norcross High School in Georgia. The lefty showed off some gargantuan power at Georgia Tech but also struggled with swing and misses as he struck out at a clip of over 40% at times in college.
ETA: 2025
49. Eduar Segovia RHP
Age: 20
Highest Level: Rookie GCL
Segovia, who just turned 20, has shown impressive velocity, reaching 95. The righty carried a 25.7% K-BB%, 2.43 ERA, and 0.84 WHIP across 29.2 IP (9 starts) in the GCL in 2019.
ETA: 2024
50. Austin Listi 1B/3B/OF
Age: 27
Highest Level: AAA
Austin Listi doesn’t have age on his side at this point, but he has shown above-average power with a .212 ISO in 2019 for Triple-A Lehigh. He’s also versatile defensively, which could give him a chance at an audition at the big league level.
ETA: 2021
Photos by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire & Jeffrey Hyde (Twitter: @jeffhyde) | Design by Quincey Dong (@threerundong on Twitter)