2024 Phillies Prospect Rankings - AAA and MLB

We're back at it again with raking the Phillies prospects, starting with the top 2 levels this year. The Phillies have only 3 prospects with MLB action from last year:

Orion Kerkering
Wes Wilson
Cal Stevenson

Orion Kerkering and Wes Wilson should both have an impact on the MLB roster this season, particularly the precocious Kerkering. Cal Stevenson was a waiver claim last year that stuck around at AAA from the end of last year. He could perhaps see action with a hot start at AAA, which he's done as recently as 2022.

At the AAA level, there are many new names joining guys with past experience in the system, continuing to show the changing environment of the system.

Mick Abel
Christian McGowan
Simón Muzziotti
Matt Kroon
Brett Schulze
Griff McGarry
Nicklaus Snyder
Michael Mercado
Zac Houston
Tyler McKay
Taylor Lehman
Nick Podkul

Mick Abel is naturally the #1 here, and may already have the inside track on being the next man up in the rotation for the Phillies after a strong Spring. Should his control continue to be improved, he could be an impact player for the Phillies this season. Christian McGowan is one of the sneakier names that could have a big impact on the team this year after a strong run last season coming back from Tommy John Surgery. Matt Kroon could be the 2024 version of 2022 Dalton Guthrie and 2023 Wes Wilson following another strong season in the high Minors. He can move around and could end up being a useful bench piece down the stretch. Schulze, Snyder, Mercado, and Houston are lottery ticket high-leverage arms that could use some tweaks, and could be risers in the system this year. Griff McGarry is a wildcard after changing his mechanics in the offseason. Finally, keep an eye on Nick Podkul, who had a breakout in an abridged 2023.

2024 MLB Sleeper Prospects - NL East

The NL East has been known for seeing big impact from rookies over the past several years, many from Atlanta. Expect some of the big names to play active roles again, but what about some more under the radar names? Here's one from each team.

Atlanta Braves - Brooks Wilson

Besides prospects of acclaim in Hurston Waldrep and maybe Drake Baldwin, it's hard to see the loaded Braves to see too much action from rookies this year. One other name that could sneak onto the roster at some point is Brooks Wilson, 28. Wilson's a name I've looked at in the past as a sleeper for Atlanta. He missed most of the past two seasons with injury, which makes him even more of a sleeper. He returned late with the same K stuff that he had before injury, including in the AFL.

Miami Marlins - Dane Myers

Dane Myers, 28, was a name I was looking at last year for a mention, but he ultimately missed the cut. While he's no longer the same level of sleeper, having some MLB action under his belt, his monster numbers last year saw him get some prospect love in spite of his advanced age. Myers, a former pitcher, obliterated AA, AAA, and eventually MLB pitching, with a .339/.417/.516 slash line at AAA standing out in particular. Myers narrowly missed the Marlins' OD roster after a monster spring - expect this demotion won't last long.

New York Mets - Nate Lavender

In the midst of a transitional year, the Mets will likely see several prospects play for them this season. Expect Nate Lavender to be one of the first. The 24 year old lefty is a bit of a crafty type, but he owns a 2.32 ERA as a pro and a 13.7 K/9, so that craft clearly works.

Washington Nationals - Tyler Schoff

The Nationals are another team that should see plenty of rookies play for them this year. Would anyone be shocked if all of Dylan Crews, Brady House, James Wood, Yohandy Morales, Trey Lipscomb, DJ Herz, and Darren Baker play for them this year. Here's another name worth keeping an eye on - 25 year old reliever Tyler Schoff. He's got an arsenal of 4-5 pitches with different break action and added velocity from last year. The former UDFA from Bryant should start at AAA, but his arsenal could see him as a big name in Washington's bullpen soon enough. You can read more on Schoff from the following article, where I pulled a lot of this info from.

https://www.romesentinel.com/sports/national/tyler-schoff-talks-about-spring-training/article_20fe0bdc-eae1-11ee-b8df-4b7c27df9264.html

Philadelphia Phillies - Wes Wilson

The irony of knowing a system well is it's hard to tell who is a sleeper anymore. The key I've determined is opportunity. Well, Wes Wilson, 29, may be the man who gets an opportunity. The Phillies have but one spot likely to be held by a rookie this season - Orion Kerkering's BP spot, and he's no sleeper anymore. But Wilson has played well enough in the past ~13 months to where he's a guy who could be the first (or at least one of the first) to take a spot if a position player goes down for the Phillies. He had a monster season at Lehigh that saw him go 30-30, as well as a short loom late in the regular season and a postseason roster spot for a time. The Phillies are no strangers to grizzled rookies (looking at you Chris Coste). Wilson could be the next 30-ish Phillies rookie to play a big role for the team.

2024 MLB Sleeper Prospects - NL West

Well gang, it's that time of year again. It's time for my misguided takes on which prospects might go boom this year. Am I ever right? No, not really, but boy am I gonna keep trying. I'm behind schedule again, so I just wrapped up my first division in advance of tonight's Korea Series Games. Let's get into it.

Los Angeles Angels - Taylor Rashi

Bit of a spicy slection to start us off here. Arizona has a few interesting hitting prospects in the pipeline, and expect Andrew Saalfrank to be a big factor out of the BP this year, but Taylor Rashi, 28, is an interesting name as well. He got a late start last year due to injury, but the former star at UC Irvine and in the Giants system was electric upon returning to action. He's got a 2.28 ERA and 13.1 K/9 at AA in his career, and should start this season at AAA.

Los Angeles Dodgers - Matt Gage

It's always hard to pick for the Dodgers because they generally lack needs and when needed fill them with highly ranked prospects. Matt Gage bucks the trend here. A veteran Minors toiler of 31, Gage has seen short stints with Toronto and Houston the past two seasons, acquitting himself quite well when called upon. He's not to sleepy as a member of the Dodgers 40-man, but he's certainly the most sneaky member of said roster.

San Francisco Giants - Spencer Bivens

There are guys you find and stick to when you follow indy and foreign leagues. The men who do both are some of baseball's biggest unicorns. Junior Guerra and Jason Simontacchi are two such unicorns, and baseball could add another in Spencer Bivens, long a baseball nomad until he finally found a home in the Giants system in 2022. Bivens isn't some toolsy future star, but one thing he is is one of baseball's greatest stories of perseverance. And that's gotta count for something. I recommend reading the following piece on Bivens, it's an interesting one.

https://theathletic.com/3898494/2022/11/15/san-francisco-giants-spencer-bivens/

San Diego Padres - Nick Hernandez, Jayvien Sandridge, and Robert Perez Jr.

There is always at least one team I can't pick one name for. Nick Hernandez, 29, is the safe pick to see MLB action this season, as his track record at AAA shows. Jayvien Sandridge took a curious path to the Padres, one that included playing pro ball, going to college, than returning to the pros with the Reds. The lefty has a cannon for an arm, recording 91 strike outs in 63 innings last year. If he can pare down the walks, he could see San Diego this year. Robert Pérez Jr., 23, is an interesting outfielder who broke out in 2022 at the A levels in the Seattle system before taking a step back at AA last year. He's a strong power threat who could help San Diego piece together their outfield this season.

Colorado Rockies - Brendan Hardy

The Rox have many interesting prospects in their system, but I went and locked in my pick quite quickly this year. Brendan Hardy, 24, was a 31st round upside play by the Mets in 2018, but was stuck in neutral as a prospect until 2022. Prior to that season, Hardy completely overhauled his mechanics, adding velocity, extension, and strong secondary action. The results? A 2.79 ERA and 14.3 K/9. He was even more dominant in 2023, leading to a look in the AFL. For more on Hardy, see the following post from Metsmerized.

https://metsmerizedonline.com/crucial-timing-brendan-hardys-rule-5-push/