2026 Phillies Preseason Top 30 Prospects - The Top

I will be putting out my midseason Phillies prospect list soon, but I forgot to post my top 8 for the start of the season previously. They were as follows:

1. Aidan Miller
2. Andrew Painter
3. Dante Nori
4. Justin Crawford
5. Keaton Anthony
6. Gabriel Rincones Jr.
7. Aroon Escobar
8. Jean Cabrera

This list has aged less than ideally to say the least. I had Jean Cabrera fairly high up due to a strong season in the unfriendly environs of Reading due a high floor - unfortunately that hasn't borne out. Aroon Escobar has played with a well-rounded approach at levels advanced for his age, but his experience above the Low-A level has shown for sure. He remains a longer-term project. Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Keaton Anthony were guys I had as contenders for the OD roster before injuries. The former hasn't had crazy numbers at AAA, but still has a lot of solid skills that should make him an effective MLB player, and the latter's torrid pace last year should still have him in the Majors in short order, even while blocked at 1B. Justin Crawford and Dante Nori came in close for me, but I leaned towards the latter's more balanced ceiling over the polish and contact-oriented approach of Crawford. Hard to tell if either have All-Star ceilings, but their floors are pretty high. Andrew Painter had a tough last year and it's continued into this year, but I still believe now as I did at the start of the year that his talent is worth holding onto. Finally, Aidan Miller takes the top spot after a season where he really showed all the tools, hitting for power and contact, stealing bases, and improving drastically at SS. Even with his injury concerns, I still believe he's a future star in this lineup.

2026 Phillies Impact Prospects - #6-#1

Continuing on with our list of impact prospects for the 2026 Phillies season, we get to the top 6, where we have a lot of expected names, but likely at least one that might surprise you.

#6 Gage Wood

Gage Wood’s placement on this list derives from a few potential uses he could have to the team this year. He’s already solidly within the game’s top 100 prospects by Baseball Prospectus, and well regarded by most other evaluators - something that naturally informs high trade value and suggests depth at SP that can allow for trades out of that pool of players, but some believe he could pitch in the Majors as soon as right now, and if not, very soon. It’s probable his value on each of these fronts will be even higher next year, but he’s still a very valuable piece for the organization’s plans even in 2026.

#5 Jean Cabrera

Jean Cabrera might be the biggest surprise of this list, but for good reason. The advantage he has on Wood is he’s much further ahead of him on the organizational ladder, which is useful for a variety of purposes. While the team seems interested in adding more SP depth, he entered camp with an outside shot at a SP job, but moreso the SP6 job - a job he could very close to Rangel in. Unlike Rangel, however, his ceiling as a SP is much higher, even if he’s unlikely to ever be a top 3 SP in a contending rotation. If he continues his strong work from last year, however, he could end up as the team’s top rotation fill-in in due order, or as a valuable trade chip, especially with how much teams desire MLB-ready SP.

#4 Aidan Miller

Aidan Miller might have the highest ceiling of anyone in the Phillies farm system, and while he’s likely more of a 2027 play at this point, his strong play in 2025 even while battling injury suggests he could be a Major Leaguer - and a very good one - sooner rather than later. I had him pegged as a longshot to make the team out of camp, presumably at 2B, but after his injury issues and Bryson Stott’s stabilizing, he’ll start in AAA - something that was very likely anyway. That said, I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s up very soon, even with the team likely taking it slow with his injury rehab.

#3 Gabriel Rincones Jr.

I did these rankings before Spring Training on purpose so as to not have the results be influenced by small sample size results and be more predictive, so I had Gabriel Rincones Jr. as having the inside track on the last bench spot as a versatile OF reserve to compliment someone like Adolis García in RF in particular, but after his injury in February, his turn to see MLB action will have to wait - enough to where I would have probably had him behind Miller if I did these rankings now, but I’ll keep them as I had prior to the start of ST. A menace to RHP when he’s healthy, Rincones offers several solid skills, even if few are stellar. He’s got good power-speed production and is a capable corner OF, which could make him an important piece for this team at some point this season.

#2 Andrew Painter

It’s tough to know what we’re going to get from Andrew Painter after a rough 2025, but what we do know is he’ll be given a shot. It does say a lot that he was effectively given a SP job to lose in camp, so it seems like there’s a good shot he’ll go the distance with the team this year - something that would suggest one of the biggest prospect impacts on the team, regardless of how well he plays in the action he gets. One thing that should help him is the team’s bullpen depth, which should allow his innings to be managed well - something that could help him be better as the season goes on and hopefully limit how much he wears down.

#1 Justin Crawford

I give the edge to Justin Crawford over Painter because he’s likely to play more than Painter, and he’s coming off of a better 2025 season. Crawford, too, is a guy who should benefit from a managed role - they have the ability to platoon him a bit with Brandon Marsh, and he could be a very effective 9 hole hitter with his speed and contact ability, allowing him to be a weapon on the basepaths ahead of the top of the order. Overall, he may need some time to develop into an effective contributor, but the team will give him time to take his lumps, and I think that could help him improve as the season goes on - something that I think matters a lot more than being more productive in April or May.

This list, of course, isn't exhaustive, even including the honorable mentions, and there will almost certainly be at least one rookie who sees action for the Phillies this year who I have yet to mention. After all, I wouldn't have had Max Lazar on a hypothetical 2024 list, and certainly not someone like Orion Kerkering in 2023, Seranthony Domínguez in 2018, or Luis García in 2013. Especially in the year following a draft where the team picked up a lot of polished college arms, it wouldn't be shocking to see a completely out-of-left-field prospect make an impact for the team this year.

2025 Phillies Top 30 Prospects

I've been sitting on my Top 30 Phillies Prospects list for this year for a bit, but I'm working on getting my mid-season one done, so I have to get this out now if I want it out. Here's the list:Andrew Painter

1. Andrew Painter
2. Aidan Miller
3. Justin Crawford
4. Eduardo Tait
5. Seth Johnson
6. Gabriel Rincones Jr.
7. Moisés Chace
8. Wen Hui Pan
9. Eiberson Castellano
10. Jean Cabrera
11. Otto Kemp
12. Mavis Graves
13. Mick Abel
14. Dante Nori
15. Devin Saltiban
16. Griff Burkholder
17. Keaton Anthony
18. Andrew Walling
19. Casey Steward
20. Daniel Harper
21. Matt Kroon
22. Max Lazar
23. José Rodríguez
24. Michael Mercado
25. Estibenzon Jimenez
26. Tommy McCollum
27. Tristan Garnett
28. Christian McGowan
29. Aroon Escobar
30. Rafael Lantigua

As has usually been the case, I generally lean towards more MLB ready players and higher floor players, even if that's something I've moved away from some. The top 16 were fairly obvious, and itw as a bit more confusing from there. The top 4 were far from surprising, but I did have Seth Johnson at 5, because my belief was his floor as a good RP was quite high, though the results so far this year suggest that may not have been true. Gabriel Rincones Jr. is an intriguing all-around prospect, and, Moisés Chace, Wen Hui Pan, Eiberson Castellano, all have big-league stuff that should see them up eventually. Jean Cabrera was a little lower because he's always been more a floor guy than ceiling. Otto Kemp was a hard rank at the beginning of the year, but his production last year was enough to get him in the middle of this tier. Mavis Graves landed in above Mick Abel, whose slide ended here after an awful 2024. Graves is more a floor guy as well, but there's reason to believe he could elevate that, while Abel's so far made some of the changes that should see him higher on the list in the next version. Dante Nori, Devin Saltiban, Griff Burkholder all sat in the next group, and I gave Nori the edge because of his floor in the OF.

The next group is a fall-off from the first one, and very fungible. Keaton Anthony is the most ineteresting, and would slot in higher were he not of an odd archetype as a contact-first 1B. Casey Steward is an interesting name I clocked in Spring Training (I tend to try not to take too much out of ST, granted, but his stuff was electric) who seems like he could be a great RP or maybe even a SP. Max Lazar was a guy I quite liked last year, but his struggles late had me wondering if he could really be anything more than a fungible RP. The rest of the 30 is composed generally of pitchers who I sit a little higher on that most, and of course Aroon Escobar, who was low on my list simply because I needed to see more (and I have indeed seen more so far).

2024 Phillies Prospect Rankings AA and A Levels

Next in the preseason prospect rankings we have the AA and A ball levels.

 

Andrew Painter+
Carlos De La Cruz
Ethan Wilson
Marcus Lee Sang
Tommy McCollum
Jordi Martinez
Cristian Hernandez
Konnor Ash
Max Lazar
Matt Osterberg
Triston Garnett
Casey Martin
Baron Radcliff

 

Andrew Painter and Carlos De La Cruz are the obvious #1 and #2 names on this list, but the next few are

interesting. Ethan Wilson had a miniature breakout in 2023 with Reading, while the young Marcus Lee Sang hit

a bit of a speed bump at the level after a strong start at Jersey Shore. Tommy McCollum had impressive 2023

seasons and have the stuff to see time in the Majors this season. Max Lazar was one of the names I was interested

in in Minor League free agency this offseason as a change-of-pace arm with starting experience.

 

Justin Crawford
Wen Hui Pan
Gabriel Rincones Jr.
Wesley Moore
Jack Dallas
Mitch Neunborn
Bryan Rincon
Kendall Simmons
Erubiel Armenta
Andrew Walling
Carlos Betancourt
Cade Fergus
Caleb Ricketts
Hendry Mendez
Robert Moore
Samuel Aldegheri
Jonh Henriquez
 

An interesting A+ list has a lot of interesting new names. Justin Crawford is an obvious #1 and Wen Hui Pan 

and Gabriel Rincones Jr. in the next two spots make sense as well. Wesley Moore is an interesting undrafted

hurler that is very deceptive, and early returns this season continue to show he can be a fast riser. Mitch

Neunborn, who turns 27 this year is an unconventional prospect who made his affiliated debut at A+ last year.

He's one of the more underrated names to watch in the system. A bunch more interesting names, particularly arms,

litter this list.

 

Aidan Miller
William Bergolla Jr.
Emaarion Boyd
Raylin Heredia
Nikau Pouaka-Grego+
Estibenzon Jimenez
Danny Wilkinson
Jordan Dissin
Zach Arnold
Brandon Beckel
Jaydenn Estanista
Jean Cabrera
Alex Rao
Eiberson Castellano
Alex McFarlane

A dominant Clearwater team naturally produces a good list, even with several names having made A+ or higher

later on in the 2023 Minors slate. 2023 1st rounder Aidan Miller looks every part of a future star, while youthful

and projectable names in Bergolla Jr, Boyd, and Heredia are worth following. Villanova alumnus Danny

Wilkinson dominated with 16.8 K/9, while Pottstown native Jordan Dissin held his own in his first full season in

the pros.

2023 Phillies Mid-Season Prospect Rankings - A Levels

I've been lazy and not posted most of my mid-season prospect rankings for the Phillies, so here are the rankings for Low-A and High-A, respectively:

Justin Crawford
Wen-Hui Pan
William Bergolla Jr.^^
Noah Song
Emaarion Boyd
Jordan Dissin^
Samuel Aldegheri^
Alex McFarlane
Estibenzon Jimenez
Nikau Pouaka-Grego+
Eiberson Castellano
Jaydenn Estanista^
Jonh Henriquez
Alex Rao

Gabriel Rincones Jr.^^
Christian McGowan+
Marcus Lee Sang
Hao-Yu Lee
Mitch Nuenborn#
Wesley Moore^^
Tommy McCollum^
Jack Dallas^
Caleb Ricketts^

Obviously some of these players have moved around or are no longer in the system now.

Phillies Prospects on the Rise - April 2023

With April over, the first month of Minor League action is in the books. Thus, let’s look at some players in the Phillies system whose early work has improved their stock the most.

Gabriel Rincones Jr. - A hulking slugger who didn’t play after being drafted last year, Rincones has caught fire as the month has worn on. He now has four home runs in 20 games to go along with 13 stolen bases, 6 doubles, and 14 walks. If he continues to excel, expect to see him at Lakewood in the near future.

David Parkinson - It’s hard to think too highly of Parkinson as a prospect anymore after a disastrous pair of seasons, but the calculating lefty has looked rejuvenated so far for the Fightin’ Phils. Time will tell, but perhaps the year off was just what the doctor ordered here.

Ethan Wilson - It’s hard to take too much stock in a 9 game run, especially at Reading, but Wilson’s early success at the difficult-to-master level after prior struggles is encouraging. A .607 slugging percentage is a key stat here.

Hans Crouse - Crouse’s underlying stats are somewhat concerning, but a 2.31 ERA across 11.2 innings as a multi-inning relief threat are nice to see after a lost 2022.

Wen Hui Pan - The Taiwanese fireballer is off to a stellar start in his professional career at Clearwater, working to a miniscule 0.429 WHIP while mowing down 11 batters on strikes over 7 innings spread out over 3 outings so far. Quite polished for his age, expect the kid gloves to continue to come off on Pan over the next few months as he works into a starting role.

Nick Ward - An independent league get, Ward has shown off all of his tools so far this season, slashing .294/.464/.412 while going a perfect 7-7 on stolen base attempts.

Simón Muzziotti - After a slow Spring, Muzz has been amazing off the jump for Lehigh Valley, mashing .380/.390/.467 while playing strong defense across the outfield.

Noah Skirrow - Skirrow’s stuff isn’t electric, but he’s a strong pitch-to-contact pitcher who continued to succeed at Lehigh Valley. He could get a MLB look this season.

Oliver Dunn - Dunn staged a mini-breakout last season, but a .297/.408/.469 line in his return could show it was no fluke.

Orion Kerkering - A fireballer out of South Florida, Kerkering has yet to concede a run yet this season and pairs a 0.273 WHIP with a 16.0 K/9 rate.

Dalton Guthrie - It’s been more of the same for Guthrie, whose proving his success in 2022 was no fluke. He’s batting a strong .279/.380/.481.

Samuel Aldegheri - Aldegheri looks back in form after a lost 2022 season. In 15.2 innings, the Italian hurler has struck out 25 batters and allowed just 3 walks.

Mick Abel - It might not move the needle on where he’s ranked on top prospect lists, but a strong 4 game start at a hitter-friendly Reading is a great sign for the young Abel.

Wilfredo Flores - Injury concerns have slowed down this toolsy CF-turned-INF, but he’s off to a torrid 15-38 start in his first look at the A+ level.

Jhailyn Ortiz - It’s hard to take much out of just 10 games, but Ortiz has looked much better so far at Lehigh Valley than he did at Reading last season. His .278/.381/.500 slash numbers would be personal bests in full-season action.

Francisco Morales - Morales still carries an unfavorable 3.9 BB/9 rate, but that’s less than half of his number from last season, and his K/9 rate is around the same level as in 2022. Perhaps he’s finally cracked the code.

Jesús Cruz - Cruz has suffered from the same issue that plagued Morales in the past, but he has also walked less batters this season and also has maintained good strikeout numbers. Coupled with strong winter ball work, Cruz could indeed be figuring it out at last.

Jeremy Walker - Walker’s calling card is the ability to go multiple innings as a reliever. After a disastrous past three seasons, Walker’s limiting contact more than ever (7.4 H/9) - a good sign for his continued success.

Jordan Qsar - Qsar is an established Minor league power threat, but early returns at Lehigh Valley show better contact hitting and speed as well. He has 5 home runs and is 5-5 on steals in 22 games.

Esteban Quiroz - An established Minor League hitting threat, Quiroz had a down 2022, but has bounced back quite well so far, posting a .301/.463/.411 at Lehigh Valley, setting himself up to be one of the first names the Phillies could call if they suffer an infield injury.

Vito Friscia - Friscia’s missed time so far, but when he’s played he’s been quite good, slamming 3 blasts in 5 games.

2023 Phillies Prospect Rankings - Rookie Levels

As the 2023 MLB season approaches, so does another season of Minor League baseball. With this in mind, now is a great time to break down the state of the Phillies prospects. As was done last season, I will start at the rookie level. The change this year, however, is I am also going to include guys who topped out in the DSL last year. I already acknowledge that I really don't know a lot about any of these players at the rookie ball level and some of my rankings are approximate, but with some interesting performances in the DSL it stands to reason that incorporating some of these players would be appropriate. In regards to the FCL level, the Phillies side went an unimpressive 26-29 last year, but the DSL clubs both prospered. The White and Red teams finished 1st and 3rd, respectfully, in the San Pedro Division, with the former winning the DSL championship.

Regardless, the list I have made for the rookie levels features the following top 13:

William Bergolla Jr.
Rickardo Perez
Nikau Pouaka-Grego
Maxwel Hernandez
Gabriel Rincones Jr.$
Samuel Aldegheri\/
Jaydenn Estanista
Gavin Tonkel
Mavis Graves$
Braeden Fausnaught$
Jordan Dissin$
Diego Gonzalez
Lou Helmig

This list of course includes several draft picks from the past draft, but is led by several returning names. William Bergolla Jr. had a brilliant season led by a .380 average, which of course wasn't a shock given his pedigree. Rickardo Perez once again leads the GCL names followed again by Nikau Pouaka-Grego. Maxwel Hernandez was perhaps Bergolla's equal on the mound, leading the DSL in his professional debut with a minuscule 0.72 ERA last season. Gabriel Rincones Jr. was the team's 2nd pick last season. After not playing at any professional level after the draft, he's a name that we hopefully will get some more clarity on this year. Some new names in the crowd include Mavis Graves, Braeden Fausnaught, and Jordan Dissin. Graves is a bit of a project who has yet to make his professional debut - Fausnaught, by contrast, was the ace for a strong DII program at West Chester who saw a brief professional debut last season. Dissin was a 12th rounder out of JuCo ball who hit well in summer ball in 2021 and in a tiny FCL debut last season.