Project Prospect has posted their list of the top 50 hitters under age 25 (and their top 10 for each position). Interestingly, not one hitter in the Phillies organization is listed.
Then again, who would be? John Mayberry Jr. (he would’ve just made the list, as of Nov. 1, 2008)? Michael Taylor? Dominic Brown? Lou Marson? Jason Donald? Sorry, but none of these players were good enough to crack the top 50 – moreover, there’s only one player on the major league roster under age 25, and that’s Cole Hamels.
Hamels, meanwhile, is ranked fifth in the pitchers list. Of course, the ranking already hints at dropping because his strikeout percentage has dropped the last three seasons (despite his WHIP and ERA falling, too). Joba Chamberlain is ranked higher.
It does bring up the question of how good the Phillies under after their foundation players; that’s still remain to be seen. For now, everything is constructive.
