2023 Phillies Prospect Rankings - High-A

While the club went only 51-81 last season, the Clearwater Threshers saw a lot of talent appear in their lineups and rotation last season. Which players who topped out there, however, have the most promise? Let's break it down.

Hao Yu Lee^
Christian McGowan
Tristan Garnett^
Erubiel Armenta
Victor Vargas
Cristian Hernandez
Rixon Wingrove
Marcus Lee Sang^
Sam Jacobsak
Jordan Fowler^
Nick Ward#
Andrick Nava
Baron Radcliff
Jordi Martinez
Rodolfo Sanchez^

The projectable Lee of course ranks first year after a tantalizing first full professional season. Could another year of growth and better health see Lee rise to prospect stardom in 2023? McGowan is still woaking his way back from Tommy John Surgery, but his tantalizing upside preserves his rank here. Garnett is a finesse guy who may face a tougher test this upcoming season, whereas Armenta, Vargas, and Hernandez have better stuff. Keep an eye on particular on the last of that group, whose stuff may play up as a reliever (as evinced in the AFL). Power hitters Wingrove, Ward, and Radcliff are power-first prospects who took great strides last season. Finally, keep an eye on Lee Sang, a 2019 11th rounder with CF experience who just turned 22 as a project guy who could open eyes this season.

2022 Phillies Mid-Season Prospect Rankings - A+

Hitting struggles have persisted all year for the A+ Jersey Shore Blue Claws, who sit at just 31-55 at the All-Star Break, but the club has been boosted by strong pitching production out of a core made up mostly of former high school draftees. Here are the club's top fifteen prospects:

Andrew Painter
Mick Abel
Kyle Glogoski
Christian McGowan
Ben Brown
Ethan Wilson
Erubiel Armenta
Andrick Nava
Victor Vargas
Rixon Wingrove
Carlos De La Cruz
Cristian Hernandez
Luis Garcia
Rafael Marcano
Albertus Barber

Painter of course of the biggest name on this list as the consensus top prospect in the system having just turned 19 and already dominating at the A+ level. Abel at #2 is no surprise, but Glogoski takes the wide open #3 spot having shown well in his return from an injury-crossed 2021 season. Brown is having a breakout season, and could see his stock rise even more if he can translate his A+ success into AA success. Armenta slides a bit thanks to less impressive production in his second go at the A+ level. Nava looked poised for a breakout season in his first year above the rookie level, but he was sent down to Clearwater after his hot stretch ran out. Two names increasing their stock this season have been Vargas and Wingrove, both of whom have rebounded this season after nightmarish 2021 campaigns. Hernandez, Garcia, Casey Martin, and Nicolas Torres, on the other hand, have struggled to perform at the A+ level, with the hitters particularly taking a hit after having already played at the A+ level prior.

2022 Phillies Prospect Rankings - A+

Many of the best prospects in the Phillies system started 2021 at the A+ level, such as Bryson Stott and Logan O'Hoppe. However, few ended there. the A+ list is one of the weakest lists in the Phillies system, but there are certainly some prospects worth noting. Here they are.

Erik Miller
Griff McGarry
Johan Rojas
Albertus Barber*
D.J. Stewart
J.P. Woodward
Manuel Silva
Gabriel Yanez
Victor Lopez
Nicolas Torres
Luis Garcia
Casey Martin
Carlos Francisco
McKinley Moore
Ben Brown
Dominic Pipkin
Bubby Rossman*

Yeah, that's the whole list. It certainly has a few surprises. Most would probably rank Johan Rojas and Luis Garcia higher. That said, I feel neither has really come into their own as hitters yet, so I remain a bit skeptical. Miller was probably ticketed for AA even just to start off 2021 if he was healthy, but he ultimately was not. He only managed 12.2 innings of work last season and only played one A+ game. That said, his numbers were still strong, as he lowered his career Minors ERA to 1.48 and finished the season with a 12.6 K/9 on the Farms. He may be a reliever going forward, but he certainly has upside. Barber missed all of 2021 with an injury, but he impressed as a UDFA in 2019 out of the bullpen. Rounding out the top five is Stewart, a former 39th round high school pick who came into his own last season as a potential infield power threat.

Beyond this group is a slew of mostly relievers, underpreforming starters, but also a few others Nicolas Torres, in the tenth spot, impressed at 21 after a promotion to A+. If we see more of the same in 2021 then he may get a boost in the rankings. Martin was the club's second pick in 2020, but fizzled after a promotion to Lakewood early in the season and failed to re-establish himself after being sent back down to Clearwater thereafter. This is a big season for him. Moore and Rossman, meanwhile, are newcomers. The former was just picked up in return for Adam Haseley, but has yet to really establish himself as a professional. The later, meanwhile, is that type of independent ball signing teams quite like - a high strikeout guy who they can hope they can mold into a dynamic reliever. Don't expect either to become a great player, but it's worth knowing these names just in case they do.