Here's where the Phillies' Top 30 prospects are starting the season
Jonathan Mayo
@JonathanMayoWith the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Phillies’ Top 30 prospects are projected to start:
1. Andrew Painter (MLB No. 26), RHP -- Reading (Double-A) -- Injured list (Tommy John rehab)
2. Mick Abel (MLB No. 47), RHP -- Lehigh Valley (Triple-A)
3. Aidan Miller (MLB No. 57), 3B -- Clearwater (Single-A)
4. Justin Crawford (MLB No. 73), OF -- Jersey Shore (High-A)
5. Starlyn Caba, SS -- Extended spring training
6. Orion Kerkering, RHP -- Philadelphia (MLB) -- Injured list (flu)
7. Devin Saltiban, SS -- Clearwater (Single-A)
8. Bryan Rincon, SS -- Jersey Shore (High-A)
9. Eduardo Tait, C -- Extended spring training
10. Gabriel Rincones, OF -- Reading (Double-A)
11. Griff McGarry, RHP -- Lehigh Valley (Triple-A)
12. William Bergolla, SS -- Jersey Shore (High-A)
13. Carlos De La Cruz, OF -- Reading (Double-A)
14. Wen Hui Pan, RHP -- Jersey Shore (High-A)
15. Alex McFarlane, RHP -- Clearwater (Single-A) -- injured list (Tommy John rehab)
16. Christian McGowan, RHP -- Extended spring training
17. Emaarion Boyd, OF -- Jersey Shore (High-A)
18. TJayy Walton, OF -- Clearwater (Single-A)
19. Simon Muzziotti, OF -- Lehigh Valley (Triple-A)
20. Raylin Heredia, OF -- Clearwater (Single-A)
21. Caleb Ricketts, C -- Reading (Double-A)
22. Kehden Hettiger, C -- Clearwater (Single-A)
23. Hendry Mendez, OF -- Jersey Shore (High-A)
24. Samuel Aldegheri, LHP -- Jersey Shore (High-A)
25. Alexis De La Cruz, RHP -- Extended spring training
26. Robert Moore, 2B -- Reading (Double-A)
27. Jalvin Arias, OF -- Dominican Republic complex
28. Ethan Wilson, OF -- Reading (Double-A) -- Injured list (appendicitis)
29. George Klassen, RHP -- Clearwater (Single-A)
30. Nikau Pouaka-Grego, 2B -- Clearwater (Single-A)
Team to watch
The Phillies’ three active Top 100 guys are at three different affiliates and they each have some exciting teammates worth checking in on. We’ll give the nod to Clearwater because of how much we believe Miller, their first-rounder from last year, is going to take off (and he might not be at that level all year). He’s joined by a number of players who might burst on the larger prospect radar this season, including Saltiban and Walton, who really stood out during Spring Training.
Players we could see in 2024
In the past, Abel has admitted to caring about promotions too much. Now, he says he’s aware of where his feet are, in Triple-A. If he can refine his command a bit, and it looked like he was making progress in that regard this spring, he could make his big league debut at age 22 this season. Now in the bullpen, McGarry doesn’t have to be pinpoint and he has the kind of power stuff that could get big league hitters out in a relief role.
New faces
In addition to Miller, there are four other members of the 2023 Draft class getting going in earnest now (Saltiban, Walton, Hettiger and Klassen). All of them will be on the Clearwater roster. Internationally, the Phillies gave Arias $1.45 million to sign and he’ll get started later this summer in the Dominican Summer League.
On the shelf
Painter had Tommy John surgery in late July, so it will be 2025 before we really get to see him at full strength again. The crazy thing is he’ll just be turning 22 at the start of that season. McFarlane is also coming back from TJ. Phillies fans should get to see Kerkering and his slider soon enough as a bout with the flu set him back this spring. Wilson’s season was delayed by appendicitis.