With the Major League Baseball trade deadline approaching and Philadelphia firmly in the National League Wild Card hunt, there will be attention drawn to the Phillies minor-league system with two big questions in mind: Which prospects could be used in a potential trade, and which prospects could be called up to help the team down the stretch?
Preparing for those to be answered, Phillies Nation has put together its latest rankings of the top players in the Phillies farm system.
As stated in previous versions of this prospect list, assessments of these prospects are based on the play the Phillies Nation staff has seen covering these players in-person, analysis of film, conversations with scouts, coaches and other player development personnel and information from outlets such as Baseball America, FanGraphs and MLB Pipeline.
1. Andrew Painter, RHP
Painter appeared destined to crack the Phillies starting rotation as a teenager to start the season before an elbow sprain in spring training shut him down. But the right-hander, now 20, is throwing again and could be a part of the pitching plans down the stretch in some capacity. A 2021 first-round pick, Painter has a power repertoire that should make him a contributor from Day 1 with the potential to blossom into a frontline starter in the future if things go right.
2. Mick Abel, RHP
A fellow former first-round pitcher taken out of high school, the 21-year-old Abel has had some ups and downs this season at Double-A Reading. He’s been solid for the most part, but a couple clunkers and instances with control issues have his season ERA up to 4.75 in 13 starts. Still, Abel has the makings of a future back-of-the-rotation starter that should be fairly dependable, and his contributions in the first half of this season have been rewarded with a spot in the MLB All-Star Futures Game in Seattle.
3. Griff McGarry, RHP
McGarry, 24, is a true power pitcher with nasty strikeout stuff and associated control issues. He’s worked as a starter in Double-A, but a potential move to the bullpen could make sense in the future. McGarry missed time early in the season due to an oblique injury, but has been throwing the ball well recently, albeit in shorter starts. His repertoire makes him an interesting trade chip as well as a potential Phillies bullpen candidate if the team needs help later in the season.
4. Hao-Yu Lee, 2B
Lee had a bit of a breakout in Low-A last season at age 19, proving himself as a reliable on-base right-handed hitter with some power to the gaps. He hasn’t slugged the same way in High-A Jersey Shore so far this season after missing some time due to injury, but the now 20-year-old Lee is still reaching base and profiles as a potential regular second basemen down the line.
5. Johan Rojas, OF
A talented center fielder with incredible tools, Rojas has put it together as a 22-year-old in Double-A this season. With tremendous speed, he is an excellent defender in the outfield and has stolen 26 bases so far this year. Plate discipline has always been the key for Rojas, and he’s shown strides as he’s reaching base at a high clip and unlocked more power by swinging at pitches he can do damage with.
6. Justin Crawford, OF
A first-rounder last year, Crawford is the son of former All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford. A left-handed hitter, Justin Crawford has impressive contact ability, but his tendency to turn that contact into ground balls could limit his production. Still, he is only a 19-year-old with speed and defensive ability to go along with the bat-to-ball skills.
7. Gabriel Rincones Jr., OF
A third rounder out of Florida Atlantic last year, Rincones is a left-handed hitter with a solid build and raw power. He didn’t debut in the pros last season due to injury, then put the offensive tools and solid approach on display for Low-A Clearwater, recently earning a promotion to High-A.
8. William Bergolla Jr., SS
An 18-year-old shortstop at Low-A, Bergolla is an advanced defender at the position with serious bat-to-ball ability and hit tool from the left side. He will certainly need to add to his game from a power perspective, but that should come along as he matures.
9. Orion Kerkering, RHP
A right-handed reliever, Kerkering has burst on the scene this season after being selected in the fifth round in 2022. He quickly earned a promotion to High-A from Clearwater early this year and has been dominant at both levels. With a 1.21 ERA in his first full pro season, Kerkering could be on a fast track to the big leagues in the next year or two if he can sustain his effectiveness.
10. Carlos De La Cruz, 1B/OF
A 6-foot-8, right-handed-hitting power bat who broke out last season, De La Cruz has cemented his prospect status in 2023 with another strong showing. The 23-year-old has launched 14 home runs in 70 games for Reading this year. Of course, there have not been many examples of hitters this big succeeding at the highest level and swings and misses will be a concern, but De La Cruz has proven he can hit the ball hard over the last two seasons.
11. Símon Muzziotti, OF
Because he’s a left-handed-hitting outfielder — a surplus on the Phillies roster — Muzziotti hasn’t had much of an opportunity to show what he can do in the majors. But that doesn’t mean he can’t play. The 24-year-old has been incredible for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, batting .351 with great defense, speed and on-base ability.
12. Alex McFarlane, RHP
A hard-throwing righty with questionable control, McFarlane has been more than solid for Clearwater as a starter to start his first full pro season at 22. A move to the bullpen could be likely, but McFarlane’s fastball-slider combination is encouraging.
13. Andrew Baker, RHP
Baker — once thought to be a potential candidate to make a push for a big-league bullpen spot at some point this season — has had a disastrous season so far for Double-A Reading. Still, the power fastball is a legitimate weapon if he can get back on track.
14. Ethan Wilson, OF
Wilson was a second-rounder in 2021, and he’s tapped more into his power this season for Reading after a couple down seasons to start his career. Although he’s limited to corner outfield, he’s still an interesting left-handed bat with potential.
15. Emaarion Boyd, OF
A 19-year-old outfielder in Clearwater, Boyd’s speed is a serious game-changer, with 40 stolen bases already this season. He will need to add power to his game, but the defense and baserunning certainly bring value.
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