The Philadelphia Phillies farm system outlook is better than previous years. Currently, the team has five Top 100 prospects in the most recent MLB Pipeline rankings released on July 1. At the start of the season, the Phillies had the 22nd ranked farm system according to MLB Pipeline. They had four Top 100 prospects on that list at the start of the season. For comparison, the 2023 midseason rankings had the Phillies with the 23rd-ranked farm system, and they were 26th before the 2022 season.
The improvements made to the Phillies farm system can largely be attributed to two key front office members. The assistant general manager and amateur scouting director Brian Barber as well as assistant general manager and director of player development Preston Mattingly have played key roles in this. Barber has been the Phillies amateur scouting director since 2019 and Mattingly has been the director of player development since 2021. Additionally, both added the title of assistant general manager this past offseason. When Barber and Mattingly took over the Phillies had two Top 100 prospects in the MLB Pipeline rankings, and now they have five.
Phillies Prospects Featured In The Latest MLB Pipeline Top 100 Rankings
RHP Andrew Painter (#19 MLB/#1 Phillies)
The 19th-ranked prospect in baseball and the Phillies top prospect is Andrew Painter. After Painter underwent Tommy John surgery last year, he has dropped in the prospect rankings. Painter was in line to be the Phillies’ fifth starter last season before the injury. However, the domino effect of this injury has allowed Cristopher Sánchez to emerge as a star in the Phillies starting rotation. While Painter was at spring training in 2023 he has not pitched in Triple-A yet. In 26 minor league outings, he has a 6-2 record with a 1.48 ERA and 167 strikeouts.
IF Aidan Miller (#28 MLB/#2 Phillies)
Aidan Miller ranks as the 28th-best prospect in baseball and 2nd in the Phillies system. Miller made one of the largest jumps in the rankings, going from the 45th-ranked prospect to number 28. In 76 minor league games, he has a .259/.382/.414 line with six home runs and 33 RBI as well as 17 stolen bases. It remains to be seen if Miller will stay at shortstop or play third base when he is major league-ready. Miller will play in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game. Currently, he is projected to reach the majors in 2027.
OF Justin Crawford (#56 MLB/#3 Phillies)
Coming in at #56 in baseball and #3 in the Phillies system is Justin Crawford. Crawford has also moved up one spot in the Phillies prospect rankings since the start of this season. In 166 minor league games, he has a .307/.364/.430 line with eight home runs and 103 RBI as well as 81 stolen bases. Crawford will play in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game and is projected to reach the majors in 2026. Given the contracts of current Phillies starters, he could be an everyday starter right away by that time.
IF Starlyn Caba (#89 MLB/#4 Phillies)
The 89th-ranked prospect in baseball and the Phillies’ fourth-ranked prospect is Starlyn Caba. Another rapidly rising prospect, he has moved up one spot in the Phillies rankings since the start of the season. In 76 rookie league games, Caba has a .272/.425/.341 line with two home runs and 31 RBI as well as 45 stolen bases. Caba is the highest-ranked international signing in the Phillies’ prospect rankings and one of two among the team’s top 10 prospects. Currently, Caba is projected to reach the majors in 2027.
RHP Mick Abel (#94 MLB/#5 Phillies)
Mick Abel is ranked as the 94th-best prospect in baseball and fifth for the Phillies. Among players in the latest MLB Pipeline Top 100 rankings, Abel saw his position change the most, but not in a good way. Abel dropped from the 58th-ranked prospect to 94th. Likewise, Abel was the Phillies’ second-ranked prospect at the start of the season and is now down to fifth. In 73 minor league outings, Abel has a 16-27 record with a 4.58 ERA and 382 strikeouts. Abel played during spring training this year and is projected to reach the majors in 2024.
The Phillies have FIVE prospects on MLB Pipeline’s Updated Top 100 list:
19: RHP Andrew Painter
28: SS Aidan Miller
56: OF Justin Crawford
89: SS Starlyn Caba
94: RHP Mick Abelpic.twitter.com/epv0x1RJxV— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) July 2, 2024
Phillies Farm System Outlook
Emerging Prospects
Besides these five, there are other emerging prospects in the Phillies farm system. One of those is their 28th-ranked prospect, George Klassen. In 12 minor league outings, all this season, he has a 3-1 record with a 1.41 ERA and 77 strikeouts. In nine starts with Low-A Clearwater before being promoted, Klassen had a 2-0 record with a 0.70 ERA and 57 strikeouts. Meanwhile, in three starts with High-A Jersey Shore since the promotion, he has a 1-1 record with a 3.46 ERA and 20 strikeouts. Klassen is part of the reason for the rosy outlook regarding the Phils’ farm system. He is currently projected to reach the majors in 2026.
Another emerging prospect is catcher Eduardo Tait. Ranked eighth in the Phillies system, he is the other international signing in the top 10. In 81 Rookie League games, Tait has a .305/.377/.493 line with eight home runs and 73 RBI with six stolen bases. He appears in line to be the catcher of the future for the Phillies once he reaches the majors. At age 17, Tait is the youngest prospect among the team’s top 10. His ETA in the majors is 2028.
Untouchable Prospects At The Trade Deadline
It is expected that the Phillies will trade for an outfielder at the deadline. Depending on who that player is, the cost may be significant. Of the Phillies’ top 30 prospects in the MLB Pipeline rankings, two stand out as the most untouchable: Painter and Miller. While there are concerns with Painter, it does not make sense to trade him unless it is for a superstar player. Holding onto Caba would also be ideal. The lone player Crawford should be traded for is Luis Robert Jr. because of the team control Robert has. Given how much Abel has fallen in prospect rankings, a trade would not be surprising if the value is reasonable.
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