The Phillies organization is in a spot that most fans hoped they would not be entering 2021. With the signing of Bryce Harper and others, plus the homegrown talent, the Phillies should be further along in the process. With Dave Dombroski at the helm, he is sure to push the chips in to bring Philadelphia a championship. It would not surprise me to see several of the players on the Philadelphia Phillies’ top prospect list be moved for win-now pieces.
The Phillies’ farm system has plenty of talent, especially at the top. The list could look quite different soon with players graduating off, plus potential trades. But let’s get to it. Without further delay, your 2021 Philadelphia Phillies top prospects.
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Philadelphia Phillies Top Prospects
1. Spencer Howard, RHP
There was much hype surrounding Spencer Howard’s Major League debut in 2020. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned for Howard as he posted a 5.92 ERA over 24.1 innings pitched. He was shut down in September with shoulder soreness, which leads me to believe he was possibly never fully healthy in 2020.
After a 2019 season where Howard pitched in three levels, many felt he was more than ready for the MLB. In 71 innings in 2019, Howard pitched to a 2.03 ERA, a 0.831 WHIP, and struck out 94 hitters. He followed that up by dominating the Arizona Fall League with a 2.11 ERA in 21.1 innings. The talent is there for Howard to be a great pitcher and his 2020 debut was not a great indicator of the kind of pitcher he is.
Howard shows good poise on the mound and has a fantastic four-pitch mix. His fastball, slider, and changeup all show signs of being plus pitches. He has shown solid command but will need to continue to improve on that if he wants to reach his ceiling. There is SP2 upside here, so now is a great time to buy-low on Howard in dynasty leagues.
People are quick to give up on #Phillies Spencer Howard. His debut was not great, but his career MILB line is 211.1 IP/3.28 ERA/281 K. He was shut down in Sep with shoulder soreness, and it's possible that bothered him all year. There is SP2 upside here. Great buy low in dynasty pic.twitter.com/takeIlnSKT
— Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) February 6, 2021
2. Mick Abel, RHP
There is a ton of potential for the future Philadelphia Phillies rotation. Spencer Howard should form a great duo at the top with the Phillies’ recent first-round pick, Mick Abel. If you have followed me for long, you know my love for Mick Abel. He was my top prep arm in the 2020 drat class, and for a good reason. As a high schooler, he is extremely polished. His fastball already sits 93-95, but there is plenty of cause to believe he can gain velocity as he adds to his 6’5 190-pound frame.
Abel also has a great feel for his changeup, and it flashes plus on occasion. His other two secondaries, a slider, and curveball sometimes blend into one pitch. But as he develops, I could see Abel having two distinct pitches between them. His maturity on the mound and his excellent command for his age really stand out to me. Abel was also very impressive at the team’s fall instructs. He should be a fast riser through the system and could be one of the top pitching prospects in baseball at some point.
On to the #Phillies farm system and one of my favorites, Mick Abel
-Fastball sits 93-95. Should add velo as he gains strength.
-Changeup flashes plus
-Slider & curve are similar at times, but could have two distinct pitches in the future.
-Great command and maturity for his age pic.twitter.com/2C17mTW5qV— Chris Clegg (@RotoClegg) February 4, 2021
3. Bryson Stott, SS
Bryson Stott was selected 14th overall in the 2019 draft out of UNLV. Being known mostly for his great hit tool in college, Stott impressed across the board in his 2019 professional debut and moved to low-A rather quickly. Between both stops, he slashed .295/.391/.494 with six home runs and five stolen bases in 48 games.
Stott has a great feel to hit, and while none of his tools stand out above the rest, his hit tool and speed are both above-average. His power also appears to be developing, especially to the pull side. Stott can sometimes be too patient at the plate and work deep into counts. While he draws a lot of walks, working deep into counts causes him to run into some strikeouts as well. I would not be surprised to see Stott on the fast track to the Majors, and he could play either shortstop or second base.
4. Francisco Morales, RHP
Francisco Morales was one of the top pitching prospects from the 2016 J2 signing class. The Phillies loves his stuff and his excellent fastball and slider combo. His fastball reaches 98 miles-per-hour regularly and has excellent life to it. His slider is filthy and produced a 30 percent whiff rate in 2019. The biggest concern with Morales has always been his lack of changeup development and his command.
The good news is during the Phillies’ fall instructs, Morales made strides with his changeup and also flashed improved command. His fastball and slider were still as deadly as ever. Morales has not pitched above Low-A, so it will be interesting to see where the Phillies start him in 2021. This year will be a major season of development for Morales, but the talent is there to be a successful starting pitcher.
5. Adonis Medina, RHP
The Phillies called up Adonis Medina in 2020 for one start, as he pitched four innings and allowed two earned runs. Medina has an impressive arsenal and displayed a four-seam, sinker, slider, changeup, and curveball in his debut outing. Medina’s fastball sits in the mid-90s consistently, and he gets a ton of groundball outs when he uses his sinker. His changeup is arguably his best pitch, which I love to see in a pitching prospect. He has a great feel for it and tunnels it well.
Given his stuff, it is surprising that Medina does not strike out more hitters. He often relies on his sinker early in counts and pitches to contact early. There is still upside here for a mid-rotation starter. 2021 will be a big season for the 24-year-old Adonis Medina.
6. Casey Martin, 2B/SS
Casey Martin enjoyed a decorated collegiate career at the University of Arkansas. In two and a shortened 2020 season, he posted a career slash line of .310/.389/.542 with 30 home runs and 24 stolen bases. He did that over 148 career games. Martin’s freshman season was by far his best.
While there are some slight concerns with Martin’s hit tool, he has an excellent power/speed blend. His clock times grade him as a double plus runner, and there is above-average to plus power in his profile. Martin is an exciting young player who could be a 25/25 type player down the road if all develops right. It would not be a surprise to see him at the top of the Philadelphia Phillies’ top prospects list soon.
Phillies fans: meet Casey Martin.
Speed + Power + Passion. This dude has it all.
I can not wait to see what this kid becomes. There is immense, and I mean immense, potential here. pic.twitter.com/5Lk5iFKDou
— Alex Carr (@AlexCarrMLB) June 12, 2020
7. Luis Garcia, SS
Luis Garcia was one of the top signings of the 2017 international signing period. The switch hitter shows a great feel to hit and has great speed on the base paths. Garcia is not an efficient base stealer and something he will need to work to improve on. In his two Minor League seasons, he has stolen 21 bases but been caught 16 times. If he can increase his success rate, he increases his chances of being a Fantasy relevant player. 2020 would have been a big year of development for Garcia, so the lost season could have hurt him. If he can adjust to hit breaking balls and grow into some more power, he could be a Kevin Newman type player who can hit for average and provide ten-plus home runs and steals in a season.
8. Kendall Simmons, SS
If you are not familiar with the name Kendall Simmons yet, you will be soon. His stock fell in the 2018 MLB Draft after a rough senior season leading up to the draft. The Phillies saw the potential value in the sixth round and gave him an over-slot deal to keep him away from his commitment to Georgia Tech. Simmons does have swing and miss concerns, but he has a lot of raw power. The ball really jumps off his bat, and he posts high exit velocities. Reports from the Phillies have been excellent on Simmons’ continued development. Simmons is a real sleeper in this organization and could vault toward the top of the Philadelphia Phillies’ top prospects before long.
Kendall Simmons at the All American Game practice pic.twitter.com/3yQpBfPe4x
— PG Showcases (@PGShowcases) August 12, 2017
9. Rafael Marchan, C
The Phillies called up Rafael Marchan, and in his three games, he was quite impressive. In nine plate appearances, Marchan hit a home run and slashed .500/.556/.875. With J.T. Realmuto locked up for the next five years, it is hard to see where Marchan fits in behind the plate. His defense is his real calling card and one of the major reasons the Phillies were comfortable calling him up in 2020. Contact is definitely Marchan carrying tool at the plate, as his first career professional home run was last season in the MLB. Marchan could be Realmuto’s back up over the next several years or be used as trade bait.
10. Erik Miller, LHP
Erik Miller really grew into his tall, projectable frame in his time at Stanford and developed into an excellent starting pitcher. The Phillies’ fourth-round pick transitioned very well to professional baseball and mixed his pitches extremely well. His fastball sits in the low 90s but gets up to 97. Miller’s wipeout slider is arguably his best pitch and his go-to strikeout pitch. His changeup is also a beneficial pitch, but there are concerns about his command. If Miller comes out in 2021 and shows improved command/control, it will go a long way to his continued development as a starter. Just remember, there is some bullpen risk here.
11. Simon Muzziotti, OF
The Phillies were the benefactors of the Red Sox international infractions, which caused Simon Muzziotti to be released from Boston a year after signing him. The Phillies nabbed the left-handed-hitting outfielder in the wake of the Red Sox infractions. Muzziotti has a contact-first approach and a great stolen base ability. Muzziotti has minimal power, and though he is not the faster runner from a pure sprint speed standpoint, he is very efficient on the base paths. He has the fielding ability to stick in centerfield long-term, but if he wants to be an everyday player, he will need to show he can hit for more power consistently.
12. Johan Rojas, OF
Johan Rojas was part of the Phillies big international class in 2017-2018. Rojas makes consistent hard contact from the plate’s left side but is yet to tap into his home run power. The biggest hindrance of him growing into this power is that he likes to swing early in counts and is not very selective with his pitches. Rojas is a plus runner and has shown the ability to swipe plenty of bases, which will likely be his calling card. I don’t see a ton of power in his profile, but much like Muzziotti, Rojas is more than capable of sticking in centerfield long term if his bat ticks up.
Johan Rojas has a swing nearly identical to Ronald Acuña’s and I’m so excited to watch him develop. Obviously there’s like a 0% chance he becomes that good but the swing and the tools are there.
Here’s a swing comparison on off speed pitches down and away that were doubles. pic.twitter.com/eJ7z9q8WTc
— “that funny tweetur guy” (@pivettahype) August 11, 2019
13. Yhoswar Garcia, OF
Yhoswar Garcia signing with the Phillies was delayed thanks to being ruled ineligible due to his age. Technically part of the Phillies 2019 class, he signed in March 2020 for 2.5 million dollars. Much like Rojas and Muzziotti, Garcia is a natural centerfielder thanks to his quickness and ability with his glove. Garcia has all the tools to move above those two and toward the top of the Philadelphia Phillies’ top prospects list.
His speed is one of his best tools, as he was clocked at 6.3 seconds on a 60-yard dash. The speed helps Garcia be an effective base stealer. Currently, at the plate, Garcia brings a line-drive, contact first approach. But there is plenty of reason to believe that Garcia can grow into more home run power as he adds muscle to his frame. Garcia is a very intriguing sleeper in this system and has all the upside in the world to one day be one of the Phillies’ top prospects.
14. Mickey Moniak, OF
Being the number one draft pick brings high expectations. Phillies fans and Fantasy owners alike are surely disappointed with former number one pick Mickey Moniak. The good news is Moniak has always been one of the youngest players at each Minor League stop, and he even made his debut in 2020. He will likely never reach the upside of what most think he should be, but Moniak could still be a solid player.
He has continued to gain power and has learned to hit line drives to all fields well. If he wants to tap into his home run power, he will need to learn to pull fly balls more often. Moniak is still a solid runner and projects to be a 10-15 stolen base type at the Major League level. This is not the spot that most Phillies fans will want to see their former number one overall pick at. But, Moniak could still be an average, everyday regular for the Phillies.
15. JoJo Romero, LHP
After a rough 2019 season between AA and AAA, where JoJo Romero posted a 5.82 ERA over 24 starts, Romero reinvented himself in the bullpen in the Arizona Fall League. Romero made his debut in the Phillies in 2020, pitching exclusively out of the pen. Romero has an intriguing five-pitch mix, and his command is solid. It seems like Romero will be in the bullpen, but it will be interesting to see how the Phillies handle him in 2021.
16. Enyel De Los Santos, RHP
Enyel De Los Santos was originally signed by the Seattle Mariners but has been traded twice. First to San Diego, and the second time to Philadelphia. De Los Santos’ future role is still to be determined, but he has the stuff. His fastball is electric and gets up to 98 miles-per-hour with excellent life. His slider is a solid strikeout pitch and is usually average or better. If he wants to stick as a starter, De Los Santos will need to refine his changeup. But if the bullpen is the route the Phillies decide to go, his fastball/slider combo should play up well.
17. Damon Jones, LHP
Damon Jones is not your typical prospect being 26 years old. The former 18th round pick has steadily improved throughout his professional career. 15 dominant starts in 2019 between high-A and double-A earned Jones a trip to Lehigh Valley (AAA), where he proceeded to struggle. Jones features a plus fastball and curveball combo. His slider and changeup are fringe-average pitches but can get the job done. If Jones can improve his fastball command, he increases his chances of sticking as a starter. But, his pitch mix could make the lefty a deadly bullpen option.
18. Jamari Baylor, SS
Jamari Baylor was what some considered a “pop-up” prospect on draft day in 2019. The Phillies took him in the third round after seeing a potential five-tool player in Baylor. He is a great athlete who creates substantial power from the right side of the plate. Baylor is a plus runner and is a threat to steal plenty of bases. The biggest concern of Baylor is the ability to make contact. If he can continue to develop his hit tool, Baylor could be a big riser in the Phillies prospect rankings.
Jamari Baylor @lifebaylor hits a 💣 to make it 4-3. @PBRVirginiaDC pic.twitter.com/51IOOUTx7A
— Jason Burton (@ksallday19) May 17, 2019
19. Rodolfo Duran, C
After signing in 2015, it took Rodolfo Duran three years before finally coming into his own. The power finally came in 2018 as he hit 18 home runs. Duran was always having a very solid showing in 2019 before he has a knee injury in July. Despite his smaller frame, Duran produces very solid power. He is also very advanced behind the plate, which helps increase his chance of seeing playing time in the Majors. With J.T. Realmuto locked up for the next five years, Duran has no spot to play unless we see him as a backup. He could always be traded but could be a decent back up for Realmuto given his glove and power.
20. Starlyn Castillo, RHP
Starlyn Castillo was one of the top international pitching prospects in the 2018 J2 class. Unfortunately, he struggled in his professional debut in 2019, even though it was just four starts. Castillo has a big fastball that reaches 97 mph. He also features a changeup and slider in his arsenal that are very useful pitches. Like many young pitchers, Castillo struggles with leaving the ball up in the zone too often. There is some intriguing upside for the young Phillies pitching prospect, and it would not be a surprise to see him vault up the Phillies’ top prospect rankings over time.
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Media Credits: Jason Burton, @PivettaHype, Perfect Game, Alex Carr
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