Phillies Up-The-Middle Prospects

Nick Maton, Clearwater Threshers, Florida State League, April 30, 2019 - photo credit Bryan Green on Flickr

The Phillies farm system hasn’t been as highly ranked as in previous years, however, they are particularly strong up the middle. The organization has quite a few interesting potential prospects at catcher, second base, shortstop and center field. Let’s take a look at who they are and if they can contribute to your dynasty teams in the coming years.

CATCHER

MLB
Starter : J.T. Realmuto, Age: 30
Contract Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2026
Realmuto resigned with the team this past off-season for 5 years, which is a longer contract than I expected for a catcher. If the National League adopts the DH, Realmuto can slide there in the final two or three years of the contract. His signing gives the organization the league’s best catcher but also gives them time to develop one of many catching prospects in the minors.
Backup:  Andrew Knapp, Age: 29
Contract Status – Final Year of Arbitration in 2022
Knapp is a capable backup but won’t prevent the team from moving on to one of the prospects below when they show they are ready for the majors.

Alternate Site 
Rafael Marchan – 40-man roster
Highest Level: MLB (previously A+)
Marchan was a surprise call-up last year and performed rather well as a 21 year old experiencing his first taste of ball above the A level. Even though he only had 9 at-bats, he slashed .500/.556/.875 and hit his 1st professional home run. Marchan has hit 40 doubles in 765 minor league at-bats so the potential for power is there to go along with his solid hit-tool. if the power does develop, we’re looking at a very solid contributor at the big league level in a few years. His timeline coincides with Realmuto’s projected downswing in a perfect world.

Rodolfo Duran -40-man roster, A+
Highest Level: A+
Where Marchan has a great hit-tool and developing power, Duran has shown power but is below-average with his overall plate approach striking out in about 22% minor league plate appearances.

Edgar Cabral
Highest Level: A+
Awesome mustache notwithstanding, Cabral projects to be a backup catcher if he makes the majors. He hasn’t done much in the minors in the way of hitting.

Logan O’Hoppe
Highest Level: A-
O’Hoppe is known to have a strong work ethic which has impressed his coaches and managers. He has solid power and could continue to develop.

Further down the minors 
Herbert Iser
Highest Level: A-
A 23rd round pick in the 2019 draft who has some power and could turn into a prospect with some reps at the plate.

Abrahan Gutierrez
Highest Level: A
A former J2 signing by Atlanta who came over to the Phillies after his contract with the Braves was cancelled. Gutierrez is a good defender but doesn’t project more than a possible backup if he makes the majors.

Andrick Nava
Highest Level: Rookie
A 2018 J2 signee who showed well during his time in the Gulf Coast League in 2019, he could move up the rankings if the offense continues to show.

Juan Aparicio
Highest Level: A-
Another J2 signee, this time in 2016, who can hit and has developing power. Aparicio is my favorite out of all the catchers further down the minors but he may not stick at at the position because of his below-average defense behind the plate.

SECOND BASE

MLB
Starter – Jean Segura
Contract Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024 (Club Option in 2023)
Segura can play either middle infield spot so if one of the prospects show they can be promoted, he can move across the base to the other side. His contract runs out after 2022 due to a club option for 2023 which gives the Phillies time to see if any of the young players can force their hand to decline the option.

Backup – Scott Kingery
Contract Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2027 (Club Options in from 2024-2026)
Kingery had a solid rookie season but struggled last year after starting his season late due to getting COVID. The hope was that with a fresh start in 2021 he could put his struggles behind him but that wasn’t the case. He looked lost at the plate during Spring Training and was demoted to minor league camp to get back on track. He is still young and signed long term so the team will give him every opportunity to succeed either at second base, shortstop or even in centerfield.

Alternate site
Nick Maton – 40-man roster
Highest Level: AA
Maton has solid approach at the plate and isn’t bad defensively. He’s 22 and is almost ready for a shot at the majors. He projects to be a utility infielder and could steal a few bases, too.

Further down the minors
Jonathan Guzman
Highest Level: A+
The 2015 J2 signing has struggled offensively during his time in the organization but is very good defensively. He’s still only 21 years old but time is running out for him to be anything more than a backup infielder for a major league team.

Casey Martin
Highest Level:  N/A
Martin was the team’s 3rd round pick who fell out of the 1st round due to an injury and an increase in his strikeout rate. He does have the potential to be a great contributor for your fantasy team. Martin has plus speed and power and, with experience, can work on developing his hit-tool.

SHORTSTOP

MLB
Starter – Didi Gregorius
Contract Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2023
Gregorius was a late resigning this off-season and is firmly entrenched as the starting shortstop at least until the 2022 season. His contract expires at the same time some of the players below should be ready to take over the position, if the team doesn’t sign one of the big free agent shortstops during the next free agent class.

Backup – Brad Miller
Contract Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2022
Miller has done a solid job as the team’s backup infielder but his presence won’t stop the team from promoting any youngsters going forward. In about ten years if his baseball card is pulled out of a pack, Miller will affectionately be referred to as a jobber, to give you a sense of his ability.

Alternate site
Bryson Stott
Highest Level: A-
Stott was the team’s first round pick out of UNLV in the 2019 Draft and showed a good approach at the plate in the minors. He’s impressed the coaching staff during his time in camp and is on a quick track to replace Gregorius by the time his contract expires. Stott can help across the board in every category, especially in OBP leagues.

Further down the minors
Arquimedes Gamboa
Highest Level: AA
Gamboa is great defensively but never developed the hit tool to be a consideration for promotion to the majors or to make an impact on your fantasy teams.

Daniel Brito
Highest Level: A+
Brito is similar to Gamboa as they are better in the field than at the plate. He was a J2 signing during the 2014 period and has some speed but probably won’t contribute much to the Phillies or your fantasy teams.

Luis Garcia
Highest Level: A
Garcia did very well for the Phillies in the Gulf Coast League but struggled in Single A ball. Going with the theme, he was a J2 signing known for his great defensive ability but was expected to contribute with the bat. Garcia is still young and his tools need time to develop, which wasn’t helped by the 2020 pandemic. That definitely applies with most prospects, however, but I’m excited to watch Garcia’s progress this year.

Kendall Simmons
Highest Level: A-
Simmons has a good blend of speed and power for a middle infielder with a below-average hit tool. If he continues to get reps, he can develop into a potential 25/15 player in the majors. I have been trying to get shares of him in all of my dynasty leagues.

Jamari Baylor
Highest Level: Rookie
Baylor was the team’s 3rd round pick in the 2019 draft out of high school. He has good bat speed and is a quick runner who could develop power as he matures. He could play either shortstop or second base in the majors as he grows.

CENTERFIELD

MLB
Starter – Odubel Herrera
Contract Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2024 (Club Options in 2022 and 2023)
Herrera’s off-the-field exploits notwithstanding, he projects to start for the team this year. Assuming he isn’t traded and if he produces, he will be around for another few years as he is still young and can contribute to the team with his tools.

Backup – Roman Quinn
Contract Status – Unrestricted Free Agent in 2025
Quinn is one of the fastest players in the organization but, as the saying goes, he cannot steal first base. Quinn is injury-prone and is in danger of being let go. If the injury pattern and lack of offense continues, he will not block any of the minor league players from claiming a spot if they are ready.

Alternate Site
Adam Haseley
Highest Level:  MLB
Haseley is listed here due to injury concerns about him making the Opening Day roster, however, the former 1st round pick looked good during his limited action in Spring Training. He has good tools and, at 25 years old, could be ready to fulfill the potential 20/20 hitter I think he can become in the majors. Haseley will also help in leagues that use OBP as a category.

Simon Muzziotti
Highest Level: A+
Muzziotti was a Red Sox J2 signee in 2015 but signed with the Phillies a year later due to a rules infraction. He has good speed and plays a solid defense in the outfield. His speed and power could get him to the majors.

Johan Rojas
Highest Level: A-
Rojas has looked exceptional during Spring Training, leading the team in stolen bases and showing impressive tools. He’s quickly moving up the ladder and has the potential to be a solid contributor in the majors in a few years.

Corbin Williams
Highest Level: A-
Williams was a 24th round pick in the 2018 draft and doesn’t project to be more than organization fodder.

Yhoswar Garcia
Highest Level: N/A
Garcia hasn’t played for the team yet but the brass is excited about the tools that the “drone” shows. He’s still a few years away from even seeing the majors but the hope is that he can be in consideration for future promise. Garcia is fast, has a good arm and is expected to develop power as he matures. He’s one to keep an eye on.

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.




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