Philadelphia Phillies Top 10 Prospects Updated

The Phillies have a pitching-heavy Top 10 list but there are some intriguing bats sprinkled in — including Alex Bohm, who could develop into a middle-of-the-order power threat.

Click here for the pre-season Top 10

1. Sixto Sanchez | RHP | A+ —> Sanchez’s pitch-ability belies his age. The 20-year-old takes advantage of above-average athleticism which helps him throw a solid number of strikes and also do a good of commanding his three-pitch mix (including a mid-to-high-90s fastball). His change-up and curve give him two other weapons that should be better than average. Standing just 6-feet, durability is a concern and he missed a good chunk of 2018 with elbow issues.

2. Alec Bohm | 3B | SS —> A monster at the plate at 6-5, 225 pounds, Bohn went third overall in the 2018 draft due to his intriguing mix of hitting ability and power. He has a chance to hit for a solid average while also taking a healthy number of walks. Bohm, 22, will have increased value if he can stick at third base but he’s not known as a strong defender and may have to shift to first base. Either way, his offensive abilities should allow him to move quickly and he could open 2019 in high-A ball.

3. Enyel De Los Santos | RHP | AAA —> Santos received a taste of The Show in 2018, mostly out of the ‘pen, and also pitched well as a starter in triple-A. He has good size and OK control but still fights his command. He has a mid-90s heater and a potentially-plus changeup but lacks a reliable breaking ball. As a result, he projects as more of a reliever than an impact starter. Look for him to return to triple-A in 2019 as a starter but show up later in the year as a spot starter and reliever.

4. JoJo Romero | LHP | AA —> Romero had a successful 2018 in double-A and was slowed only by an oblique injury. He showed the ability to miss bats and also induced a healthy number of ground-ball outs. The lefty has solid stuff and good control, although he does lose the strike zone at times. He throws a large number of offerings with the best being his low-90s heater, cutter and changeup. I see him as a future No. 4 starter — and potentially more if he can sharpen either his curve or slider.

5. Adonis Medina | RHP | A+ —> Medina had an excellent season in high-A ball as a 21-year-old pitcher. He missed a ton of bats and did a nice job keeping the ball in the park (although the Florida State League is known for suppressing power). Another pitcher in the Phillies system with modest size, he nonetheless stays on top of the ball well and induces a solid number of ground-ball outs. He has a low-to-mid-90s fastball that he pairs well with his above-average changeup. If the slider can continue to improve then he has mid-rotation potential.

6. Ranger Suarez | LHP | AAA —> Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Suarez is a lefty with above-average control, a solid fastball-changeup combo, an ability to induce above-average ground-ball rates but modest size on the mound. The difference with Suarez is that he’s done it at the upper levels of the minors and even received a taste of the big leagues (where he got hit around). He likely has the ceiling of a No. 4 starter if he can improve his command and show more with the breaking ball.

7. Adam Haseley | OF | AA —> The Phillies’ first round pick from 2017, Halsey reached double-A this year while hitting a combined .305. On the down side, he features limited upside with his current approach at the plate. He focuses on contact over pop, which is fine, but he has only average speed and doesn’t steal bases. He also doesn’t walk a ton despite making good contact. That results in a singles hitter who relies very heavily on his batting average to be effective. He’s a solid-but-unspectacular fielder who can play all three spots.

8. Luis Garcia | SS | R —> My pick for the Phillies’ 2019 breakout prospect, Garcia looked excellent in his pro debut in rookie ball. He hit .369 while controlling the strike zone, showing a little pop and stealing some bases. He’s young and obviously needs polish in all areas but could see increased pop as he matures and should hit for average if he continues to develop with his current approach. Garcia, who was just 17 in 2018, has a chance to be an above-average fielder.

9. Spencer Howard | RHP | A —> A strong-bodied hurler, Howard should develop into an innings-eater. Pitching in low-A in 2018, he struck out 147 batters in 112 innings while allowing just six home runs. He has a firm low-90s fastball that can hit the mid-90s and backs it up with a slider that shows above-average potential. His cutter is a decent third offering but an improvement in his changeup would definitely help him stick as a starter. Already 22, look for him to move more quickly in 2019 if he continues to pitch well.

10. Francisco Morales | RHP | SS —> An intriguing project, Morales has an excellent pitcher’s build and a fastball that already sits in the mid-90s. Just 18, he has the potential to add more velo as he matures. His secondary offerings need work to be average and the slider has the most potential at this point. Look for Morales to challenge for a spot in full-season ball in 2019 but he’ll need time to develop.

Just Missed:

Jhailyn Ortiz | OF | A —> I had high hopes for Ortiz in 2018 but his approach at the plate de-evolved and he chased the home run. He struck out 148 times in 110 games and walked just 35 times. The frustrating part is that the 19-year-old outfielder has so much raw power that he doesn’t need to sell out to hit homers. He has good makeup, so I think he’ll eventually figure it out but he’ll need to repeat the same level at the start of 2019.

Mickey Moniak | OF | A+ —> The first overall pick of the 2016 draft, Moniak will likely never live up to his draft slot. He lacks a standout tool, although he hit much better in the second half of 2018 giving hope that he might eventually develop into a fringe-average starting outfielder. He showed a better approach at the plate with more patience and did a nice job hitting the ball into the gaps.

Cole Irvin | LHP | AAA —> Irvin is pretty average across the board but he more than held his own in triple-A in 2018. He has the size and mentality to develop into a back-end innings-eater who can induce a healthy number of ground balls.





Marc Hulet has been writing at FanGraphs since 2008. His work focuses on prospects and fantasy. Follow him on Twitter @marchulet.

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DustyColorado
5 years ago

Marc, where would you rank Wander Javier of the Minnesota Twins if he were traded into this system?