Philadelphia Phillies Top 50 Prospects (2022)

Phillies Top 50 graphic design by @designsbypack on Twitter

The Phillies minor league system has been ranked in the bottom part of the majors lately but don’t let that stop you from finding some under-the-radar players here. Their last three first round picks all have the potential to be at least solid major league contributors. Some recent International signings are starting to show improvement giving us intriguing options to consider. The team is strong at catcher and younger starting pitching depth in the low minors. While there is no “Wander Franco” here, a number of these players have the potential to contribute to your dynasty leagues in the future. Although it’s too early to judge, it seems the organization has turned a corner in the last two drafts with some much better selections than previous years.


Phillies Minor League Affiliates:
Lehigh Valley IronPigs – AAA
Reading Fightin Phils – AA
Jersey Shore BlueClaws – High-A
Clearwater Threshers – Low-A
FCL Phillies – Rookie

Prospects1500 Tiers:
Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above-average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential of making the majors, or have a high likelihood of making the majors, but provide minimal impact (e.g. middle reliever, low-ceiling UT guys)
Tier 5: Players of interest, worth keeping an eye on who have an outside chance of making a team’s 40-man roster.

Levels listed for each player are the highest level player reached in 2021.

Tier 1

The organization currently does not have any players in this category.

Tier 2

1. Johan Rojas, OF, 21, High-A
Rojas was signed during the 2017 J2 period and has hit well during his time in the organization. He has a great blend of speed and power, hitting 11 home runs while stealing 34 bases last year. For a free swinger, he doesn’t strike out much. Rojas is a very exciting player and has the tools to be a big contributor in the future. Buy low on him in dynasty leagues while you still can.

2. Mick Abel, RHP, 20, High-A
The team’s first round pick in the 2020 draft impressed during his 14 games in A+ before being shut down in July due to shoulder tendinitis. He is expected to be fully healthy for spring training, though. Abel throws a high 90’s fastball along with a good curve, slider, and change-up. He projects to be a top of the rotation starter who should see time in the majors in late 2023.

3. Bryson Stott, SS, 24, AAA
Stott advanced over three levels in 2021 and hit at each one of them and even played extremely well in the Arizona Fall League. Combined, he slashed .299/.390/.486 with 16 home runs and 10 steals. He did even better in the desert, going .318/.445/.489 against some of minor league’s best players. Stott was already told by GM, Dave Dombrowski through the media, that he is under consideration for the starting shortstop role for 2022. If the team doesn’t fill the position in free agency and Stott has a good Spring Training, the job should go to him considering Didi Gregorius isn’t much competition. Even though he doesn’t have one standout tool, Stott has at least average tools across the board and should be able to fill up a box score. As he matures, more power is a possibility but he has a very safe floor that will help dynasty teams.

4. Andrew Painter, RHP, 19, Rookie (FCL)
The team’s most recent 1st round pick lived up to his billing as he pitched extremely well in the FCL striking out 12 in 6 innings without giving up a run. He features a mid 90’s fastball with solid curve, slider, and change-up. He’s still young so we won’t be seeing him in the majors for a few years but it’ll be exciting watching him develop and potentially form a great 1-2 punch with Abel.

Tier 3

5. Logan O’Hoppe, C, 21, AAA
No player in the organization this season raised his stock more than O’hoppe who started the year in A and ended it in AAA. He hit a combined 17 home runs across the three levels with a slashline of .270/.331/.458. He struggled a bit in AAA but came back strong in the Arizona Fall League batting .299/.440/.519. O’Hoppe has a great eye at the plate, hits with power, and does well defensively. He likely needs to spend a few months in AAA before hitting the majors and is seemingly blocked by J.T. Realmuto but those things usually work themselves out.

6. Francisco Morales, RHP, 22, AAA
Morales was very inconsistent last year going through stretches where he looked like an ace then other times he looked like he should be out of baseball. He’s ranked this high due to the tantalizing tools he possesses – a high-90’s fastball, a great slider, and solid change-up. He’s a big pitcher who is durable and has a smooth delivery. If he can get the walks under control, he can be a top-of-the-rotation starter in a few years. With a successful season, he will move up a tier but, until he improves the command and consistency, he’s in this tier.

7. Hans Crouse, RHP, 23, MLB
Crouse came over from Texas along with Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy for Spencer Howard near the trade deadline and appeared in two games for the major league team where he pitched to mixed results. The team sent him to the Arizona Fall League where he led the circuit in strikeouts at the time his season there ended after 16 innings. Crouse could help the team as a mid-rotation starter if he can get his control issues behind him.

8. Jhailyn Ortiz, OF, 23, AA
The Phillies added Ortiz to their 40 man roster this off-season to avoid potentially losing him in the Rule V draft and it was an expected move. Ortiz hasn’t lived up to the hype when they signed him in 2015 for a $4m bonus but he has been steadily improving year over year. Last year, he hit .250/.346/.488 with 23 home runs over 340 at bats across two levels. Ortiz’s power is his calling card and a rebuilding team would surely have gambled on him if he was left unprotected. Look for him to start the year again in AA with a potential late-season call-up not entirely out of the question.

9. Ethan Wilson, OF, 22, Low-A
Wilson was the 49th overall pick in the 2021 draft out of South Alabama. The outfielder has great power and hits very well with solid plate discipline. So why did he last so long in the draft? His defense. But with the potential for the National League to add a DH to the rule-book, it could make the Phillies look smart by taking him. He struggled a bit for Clearwater but let’s see how he does with a full season in 2022.

10. Luis Garcia, SS, 21, High-A
The Phillies added Garcia to their 40 man roster this off-season to protect him from being selected in the Rule V draft. Unlike with Ortiz above, this was an interesting move considering he just turned 21 years old, hasn’t reached AA yet and was over-matched in A ball. The team has faith that the numbers he put up in 2018 were real and he will develop into a starting major league shortstop. Garcia is fast and has some power and if his hitting ability continues to improve, he could be an exciting player. Since his stock has dimmed recently, it’s a good time to see if he’s available from a disgruntled owner in your league.

11. Matt Vierling, OF, 25, MLB
Vierling was a surprise call-up for the Phillies appearing in 34 games at every outfield position along with first base. He also played some third base in the minors giving the team a versatile bat off the bench going into 2022. Vierling has hit at every stop in the minor leagues, showing the ability to get on base, hit line drives, and even steal some bases. While he doesn’t project to hit for more than 25 home runs, he can still give a solid floor for your dynasty leagues. Keep your eye on him as the team fills out its roster in the coming months. If they give him a chance to start the season in the lineup, he could be a sneaky late-round success story.

12. Rafael Marchan C, 22, MLB
The groundwork for Marchan to make the team as the backup catcher was laid when Andrew Knapp wasn’t tendered a contract and signed with Cincinnati. Marchan has always been great defensively behind the plate and that continued this past season in the major leagues. The power may develop eventually but he’ll likely never hit more than 10 home runs in a season in his prime. He does have an improving hit tool with a swing tailored to hit the ball evenly across the field. Marchan seems like he’ll be a borderline starter in deeper leagues who won’t hurt you with the bat if you wait until the later rounds to pick a catcher.

13. Bailey Falter, LHP, 24, MLB
Falter’s velocity increased last year and he was called up to the majors appearing in 22 games, starting one for the big league team. While his ERA was 5.61, his WHIP was a solid 1.18 and he averaged 9.1 K/9 leading to a 3.79 FIP, which suggests better results could be in his future.

14. Yhoswar Garcia, OF, 20, Low-A
Garcia’s season ended after only 18 games due to injury but he’s expected to be fully healthy for spring. Right now his speed is his best tool which he showed off in his debut game last year, stealing 4 bases right away. He totaled 11 for the year with an 85% success rate. Garcia is expected to remain in center field on the defensive side. He’s also expected to grow into some power as he matures. Garcia is one of the most exciting players in the organization and his future is bright. Now is the time to get in on him in dynasty leagues before he has a full season to put up numbers.

Tier 4

15. Jamari Baylor SS, 21, Low-A
16. Casey Martin, 2B, 22, High-A
17. Logan Simmons, SS, 21, Low-A
18. Jordan Viars, OF, 18, Rookie (FCL)
19. Erik Miller LHP, 23, High-A
20. Alexeis Azuaje, 2B, 19, Rookie (FCL)
21. Simon Muzziotti, OF, 23, AAA
22. Damon Jones LHP, 27, MLB
23. Hao Yu Lee, 2B, 18, Rookie (FCL)
24. Mickey Moniak, OF, 23, MLB
25. Nick Maton, 2B, 23, MLB
26. Rafael Marcano, LHP, 21, Low-A
27. Starlyn Castillo, RHP, 19, Low-A
28. JoJo Romero, LHP, 25, MLB
29. Rickardo Perez, C, 18, Rookie (DSL)
30. Griff McGarry, RHP, 22, High-A
31. Luke Williams, OF, 25, MLB
32. Cristopher Sanchez LHP, 26, MLB
33. Cristian Hernandez, RHP, 21, Low-A
34. Carlos De La Cruz, OF, 22, High-A

Some players in this tier have already appeared in the major leagues, as noted above, but they don’t project to be more than utility players. Miller has the potential to be a solid starter if he can harness his control and stay healthy. Simmons, Martin and Baylor are all intriguing middle infielders due to their power/speed capabilities but they each need to refine the hit tool to move higher in the rankings. Muzziotti has the makings of a throwback type of lead-off hitter. Two players in this tier to keep your eyes on are McGarry and Hernandez – young starters who pitched very well this past season. Jones hasn’t found the same success he had earlier in his career and was moved to the bullpen where he could help with strikeouts and holds. Romero pitched well in the majors before undergoing Tommy John surgery and won’t be available until late 2022. Azuaje is a 2018 J2 signing who has a good blend of speed and power with on-base skills. It’s going to be fun watching him develop and mature over the next few years. Viars and Lee have the best chance among these players to take the leap to a higher tier in our Mid-season Top 50.

Tier 5

35. Baron Radcliff OF, 22, Low-A
36. Ethan Lindow, LHP, 23, AA
37. Dominic Pipkin, RHP, 22, High-A
38. James McArthur, RHP, 26, AA
39. Micah Ottenbreit, RHP, 18, Rookie (FCL)
40. Yemal Flores, OF, 17, Rookie (DSL)
41. Andrick Nava, C, 20, Rookie (FCL)
42. Marcus Lee Sang, OF, 21, Low-A
43. Jason Ruffcorn RHP, 23, Low-A
44. Christian McGowan, RHP, 21, Low-A
45. Billy Sullivan, RHP, 22, AA
46. Colton Eastman RHP, 26, AAA
47. Darick Hall, 1B, 26, AAA
48. Adam Leverett, RHP, 23 AAA
49. Jordi Martinez, LHP, 21, Low-A
50. Noah Skirrow, RHP, 23, AA

There is a mix of young talent here along with older veterans who are running out of time to make an impact. Radcliff has power for days but could fall the route of Hall – strikeout-prone, power-hitting DH-type. Nava and Flores are two youngsters to keep an eye on with the potential to contribute if they continue to develop. Ruffcorn, Mcgowan and Ottenbreit are 2021 draft picks looking to get on track this season. Lindow and Eastman seem like they’ve been around forever and still haven’t gotten a chance in the majors with all the problems the major league staff has had in recent years.

Bonus Players:

Adonis Medina, RHP, 25, MLB
The team designated Medina for assignment on December 1st but there have been rumblings of him coming back on a new deal. He’s a former top 10ish prospect in past rankings but has struggled at every level above High-A. If the team does resign him, I’d slot him in the Tier 4 range but he’s running out of time to make an impact.

William Bergolla, SS, 17, International signee
Bergolla was the team’s top free agent signee during this year’s J2 period. He’s a shortstop out of Venezuela with a solid all-around game who is expected to develop power as he matures. We will run through more about him and their other signings once they are all announced in the upcoming weeks.

Tony Bps Spina is a lifelong baseball fan hailing from the City of Brotherly Love - Philadelphia! Tony has loved baseball since 1980 and has followed the Phillies through good and bad times. Tony is married with 3 kids and works for a financial institution but has enough free time to play in 20 fantasy baseball leagues with 75% of them being Dynasty Leagues. He lives a few blocks away from Citizens Bank Park and attends many Phillies games per year in addition to their minor league teams in Lehigh Valley and Reading. He can be reached on Twitter at @TonyBps1.




4 Comments

    • Jarrett, thank you for reading. Rosso would stay in Tier 4 for me. He had good numbers coming up the minor leagues but bombed during the few games he appeared in the majors. I would have liked to see the team give him more of a chance, though.

    • Hi Jarrett,
      Bergolla is so young and not much is known about him but from what I’ve read so far, I would probably slot him at the end of Tier 3 for now with potential for more once he gets time in the minors. I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops in the future.

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