Phillies Outside Looking In - Who Just Missed The Top 50 List

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Even though our Top 50 Prospect Month has been completed, it’s not the time to rest for anyone looking to gain an advantage over other owners in their fantasy leagues. Many drafts are underway and, by now, you already know Alec Bohm and Spencer Howard. Heck, you even know Francisco Morales and Bryson Stott. But what about the players who aren’t as well known but can shoot up these rankings over the next few months? Or what about those players who you have heard of but maybe aren’t worth a draft pick? Well, here are some of the Phillies prospects who just missed my Top 50 list and a little insight into each one to help you decide if they are worth that pick. You can read more about the prospects who did make the top 50 list here, if you haven’t already. If I left anyone out that you would like to know more about, please let me know. Next time, we’ll take a more in-depth look at the prospects invited to Spring Training, some of whom are on these lists.

Victor Santos, RHP (Mid Season Rank: Unranked)

Opening Day Age: 19, DOB: 07/12/2000
2019 Highest Level: Lakewood A
2019 Stats: 27 G, 13 GS, 4.02 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 105.1 IP, 89 K, 18 BB, 7.6 K/9, 4.94 K/BB
Fantrax Ownership: 2%

Santos throws in the low 90s with great control. He doesn’t walk many and stays in the zone, which is usually a good thing. But, with his low velocity, he needs to continue the command he’s shown in his time in the organization and could develop into a 3-starter in the majors.

Bailey Falter, LHP (2019 Mid Season Rank: 31)

Opening Day Age: 22, DOB: 04/24/1997
2019 Highest Level: Reading AA
2019 Stats: 14 G, 14 GS, 3.84 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 77.1 IP, 62 K, 15 BB, 7.2 K/9, 4.13 K/BB
Fantrax Ownership: 1%

Falter has average command and a fastball that sits in the high 80s/low 90s. He depends more on location instead of velocity and doesn’t have a third pitch, which limits his ability to help your fantasy team. He could develop into a 4th/5th starter type in the future.

Josh Stephen, OF (2019 Mid Season Rank: Unranked)

Opening Day Age: 22, DOB: 09/22/1997
2019 Highest Level: Reading AA
2019 Stats: 113 G, 403 PA, .271/.342/.483 48 R, 12 HR, 47 RBI, 7 SB, 27.3 K%, 9.7 BB%
Fantrax Ownership: 1%

Stephen hit 8 home runs in over 700 at-bats in previous years then went off for 12 home runs in only 403 at-bats for Reading last year. He is an 11th round pick from the 2014 draft and has moved up one level each year. He projects to be a 4th outfielder type if he makes the majors. Strikeouts have been a problem for him since being drafted which limits his potential. Don’t let the numbers that were inflated by Reading’s ballpark fool you here.

Manuel Urias, RHP (2019 Mid Season Rank: Unranked)

Opening Day Age: 19, DOB: 03/08/2001
2019 Highest Level: Dominican Summer League Rookie
2019 Stats: 13 G, 13 GS, 1.84 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 61 IP, 55 K, 8 BB, 8.1 K/9, 6.88 K/BB
Fantrax Ownership: 0%

A free agent signing back in March 2018, Urias has looked very sharp in his time with the Phillies. His strikeouts went up and his walks decreased in his 2nd year in the Dominican League and could start the year stateside which will give us a better read on his abilities. As of now, Urias is someone to keep an eye on in deep leagues. His 0% ownership should change quickly so be ready to jump on him soon. I like what he’s shown in his limited time so far.

Jonathan Guzman, SS (2019 Mid Season Rank: 38)

Opening Day Age: 21, DOB: 08/17/1999
2019 Highest Level: Lakewood A-
2019 Stats: 123 G, 514 PA, .251/.298/.316 55 R, 3 HR, 40 RBI, 31 SB, 18.9 K%, 6.2 BB%
Fantrax Ownership: 0%

Guzman has been solid defensively but has showed nothing with the bat in his three years with the organization. He does have speed, stealing 31 bases in 123 games for Lakewood last year. He’s still young but doesn’t look more than a utility type player if he makes the big leagues.

Abrahan Gutierrez, C (2019 Midseason Rank: 45)

Opening Day Age: 20, DOB: 10/31/1999
2019 Highest Level: Lakewood A
2019 Stats: 83 G, 332 PA, .246/.314/.318 23 R, 4 HR, 27 RBI, 3 SB, 19.3 K%, 8.7 BB%
Fantrax Ownership: 1%

Gutierrez signed with the Phillies after his contract with Atlanta was voided as punishment for their International Signings. He’s more polished defensively and doesn’t show much in power or speed. He’s still young at 20 years old and could develop into a backup catcher at the big-league level.

Cornelius Randolph, OF (2019 Mid Season Rank: Unranked)

Opening Day Age: 23, DOB: 06/02/1997
2019 Highest Level: Reading AA
2019 Stats: 102 G, 389 PA, .247/.324/.399 42 R, 10 HR, 44 RBI, 9 SB, 26.2 K%, 9.5 BB%
Fantrax Ownership: 4%

Former 1st round pick still doesn’t show much at the plate and his stock has fallen. This is probably his final chance to stick around the organization. When Randolph was drafted, he was originally a shortstop where his potential would have played better for fantasy purposes. However, the team moved him to the outfield where his numbers wouldn’t have been as impressive. Either way, his stock has tumbled and it’s time for fantasy owners to cut bait if they haven’t already.

Zach Warren, LHP (2019 Mid Season Rank: Unranked)

Opening Day Age: 23, DOB: 06/09/1996
2019 Highest Level:: Clearwater A-
2019 Stats: 40 G, 0 GS, 3.86 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 60 IP, 44 K, 45 BB, 13.5 K/9, 1.75 K/BB
Fantrax Ownership: 1%

Warren has pitched very well out of the bullpen with a mid 90s fastball and solid offspeed offerings. He has averaged 13.2 K/9 since the team drafted him in 2017. Warren has been invited to Spring Training and while he probably won’t make the team to open the season, he should be a call-up if the team needs bullpen help later this year.

Dominic Pipkin, RHP (2019 Mid Season Rank: Unranked)

Opening Day Age: 21, DOB: 11/05/1998
2019 Highest Level:: Lakewood A-
2019 Stats: 24 G, 12 GS, 6.40 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 71.2 IP, 44 K, 45 BB, 5.5 K/9, 0.98 K/BB
Fantrax Ownership: 1%

Pipkin’s command has been poor and he hasn’t struck out many hitters in his two years in the organization. He has a good, mid-90s fastball but needs to further develop his offspeed stuff to make an impact.

Matt Kroon, 1B (2019 Mid Season Rank: Unranked)

Opening Day Age: 23, DOB: 12/05/1996
2019 Highest Level: Clearwater A+
2019 Stats: 106 G, 403 PA, .242/.313/.361 48 R, 5 HR, 36 RBI, 18 SB, 28.2 K%, 7.4 BB% (across two levels)
Fantrax Ownership: 0%

Kroon always had a high OBP up until last season, where he struggled with strikeouts once again. He has moderate power and may still develop into a bench-type player in the future.

Ben Pelletier, OF (2019 Mid Season Rank: Unranked)

Opening Day Age: 21, DOB: 08/22/1998
2019 Highest Level: Lakewood A-
2019 Stats: 107 G, 411 PA, .197/.275/.350 43 R, 13 HR, 40 RBI, 2 SB, 31.6 K%, 7.5 BB%
Fantrax Ownership: 0%

Pelletier was a 34th round pick by the Phillies back in the 2015 draft. His home runs shot up this year in Lakewood and he’s continuing to develop his hit-tool and could develop into a solid leadoff hitter if all goes well in the upper levels.

Arquimedes Gamboa, SS (2019 Mid Season Rank: Unranked)

Opening Day Age: 22, DOB: 09/23/1997
2019 Highest Level: Reading AA
2019 Stats: 113 G, 421 PA, .188/.305/.270 35 R, 3 HR, 28 RBI, 21 SB, 26.6 K%, 14.0 BB%
Fantrax Ownership: 3%

Gamboa is ranked higher on some lists due to his outstanding defensive abilities but for fantasy purposes, it won’t help much except to keep him in a lineup. He does have great speed so if the bat can develop, he could be a sneaky source of steals.

Trevor Bettencourt, LHP (2019 Mid Season Rank: Unranked)

Opening Day Age: 25, DOB: 07/21/1994
2019 Highest Level: Reading AA
2019 Stats: 2 G, 0 GS, 3.38 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 2.2 IP, 5 K, 2 BB, 16.88 K/9, 2.5 K/BB
Fantrax Ownership: 0%

Bettencourt was hurt for most of the year but showed good strikeout ability and solid command out of the bullpen in previous years. Good candidate to pitch in relief for the big league team sometime this year.

Daniel Brito, 2B (2019 Mid Season Rank: Unranked)

Opening Day Age: 21, DOB: 01/23/1998
2019 Highest Level: Clearwater A+
2019 Stats: 103 G, 379 PA, .243/.296/.325 37 R, 4 HR, 32 RBI, 6 SB, 19.3 %, 5.8 BB%
Fantrax Ownership: 2%

Brito is in the same situation as Gamboa – solid glove, some speed but below average power and below-average hit-tool. He started his career off strong in the Rookie league but hasn’t adjusted well as he’s moved up to face advanced competition.

David Parkinson, LHP (2019 Mid Season Rank: Unranked)

Opening Day Age: 25, DOB: 12/14/1995
2019 Highest Level: Reading AA
2019 Stats: 22 G, 22 GS, 4.24 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 119 IP, 118 K, 39 BB, 8.9 K/9, 3.03 K/BB
Fantrax Ownership: 3%

The organization’s 2018 MILB Pitcher of the Year recipient, Parkinson relies more on finesse than power. His fastball hits the high 90s consistently and he projects as a back-end starter in the majors. He could see time in the majors due to the uncertainty in the rotation after Nola, Wheeler and Arietta.

Tony Bps

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.