If the last set of prospects represented the highs of the Phillies system, this group represents a but why it is thought so lowly of. The Phillies have a number of interesting catching prospects, with 4 of them here, and while they all might be major league contributors, and some regulars, but relying on the future to come from young hitters still in short season ball is not confidence inspiring. There are also reminders of the promise of yesterday that has not worked out, in guys like Jhailyn Ortiz and Mauricio Llovera who took steps back in 2019. It isn’t that these prospects or bad, but there is a soft part of the Phillies system where there is not a second wave of depth that isn’t four years away.
Index: 1-10 | 11-20 | 21-30 | 31-40 | 41-50
All ages are for major league opening day.
30. Logan O’Hoppe, C
Age: 20 Acquired: 23rd Rd, 2018 Draft
B/T: R/R H/W: 6’2” 185lbs
2019 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| WPT (SS) | 45 | 177 | 5 | 3 | 6.8% | 27.7% | .216 | .266 | .407 |
Role: Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – High school catchers are one of the riskiest groups of prospects because of the long development track. O’Hoppe should stick behind the plate, but he has some offensive holes that could derail him.
Summary: The Phillies have had a lot of success drafting players out of Long Island, and O’Hoppe, a late round overslot selection, is no exception. He plays defense well enough to stick behind the plate, but he can be stiff receiving and blocking and profiles as more of an average defender long term. The same stiffness carries over onto the offensive side, where O’Hoppe’s swing can get slow and uppercutting. He can work a count some, but his swing and miss is slightly concerning. O’Hoppe does have a solid idea of what he is doing at the plate and worked with the Williamsport coaches on working the other way, so he wasn’t just trying to pull everything. This looks like a lot of holes, but O’Hoppe has solid power and should make enough contact to make it work. Those skills coupled with the ability to stay at the position defensively give O’Hoppe a chance to be an everyday catcher. The Phillies have a lot of catchers in their system, but O’Hoppe should get plenty of at bats at DH to make up for lost time. He could also be a trade target for other teams looking to take advantage of the Phillies’ depth.
2020 Outlook: O’Hoppe hit well enough at Williamsport to move up a level to Lakewood. He will play a bunch of catcher, but is likely to see time at other positions in order to get offensive reps while the other catchers get some time behind the plate.
ETA: 2023
Previous Rank: 23
29. Andrick Nava,C
Age: 18 Acquired: 2018 International Free Agent
B/T: S/R H/W: 5’11” 175lbs
2019 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| GCL (Rk) | 44 | 166 | 1 | 1 | 4.8% | 12.0% | .314 | .349 | .372 |
Role: Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – Nava hit extremely well for a 17 year old in the GCL regardless of position. He is a teenage catcher, so his developmental timeline is still extremely long, and he already has worries about his ability to stick behind the plate.
Summary: The Phillies have opted to send their top July 2 catchers to the Dominican Summer League for a season of seasoning before bringing them stateside. However, Nava forced the issue and proved to be one of the best pure hitters in the GCL at age 17. A switch hitter, Nava shows an advanced feel for contact, and while he doesn’t show much game power now, he shows raw power, and it will translate to games as he matures. He is not a great defender yet, but he shows enough tools to possibly stick behind the plate long term. Given the catching depth in Lakewood, it is likely that Nava will start in Extended Spring Training before being one of the top players for the Williamsport Crosscutters.
2020 Outlook: Nava’s offensive output in the GCL might lead the Phillies to push him to Lakewood, but the level is already going to have multiple of his similarly ranked catching prospects. The more likely outcome is that the Phillies will keep him back in Extended Spring Training and then send him to Williamsport.
ETA: 2024
Previous Rank: UR
28. Jonathan Guzman, SS
Age: 20 Acquired: 2015 International Free Agent
B/T: R/R H/W: 6’0” 156lbs
2019 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| LKW (A-) | 123 | 514 | 3 | 31 | 6.2% | 18.9% | .251 | .298 | .316 |
Role: Second Division Regular
Risk: High – Guzman has the defensive skills to be a plus defender at both middle infield positions. The problem remains his bat, which continues to be well below average due to a lack of strength, and while young, he lacks the frame to put on a bunch of muscle.
Summary: Even as we continue to improve in baseball analysis and see players for the individuals that they are, there are certain types of players that will always exist. Just like the crafty lefty starter, or the power arm fastball/slider reliever with questionable control, there will always be the shortstop with the great glove that can’t hit. Guzman doesn’t have major contact issues, he can draw a walk, and he is fast. What he isn’t is strong. He has poor raw power, and there is not a lot of hope that he could ever exceed below average. It might be just enough to make it work if his glove plays to its best. Guzman is a plus defender at shortstop and second base (he traded reps on the middle infield with Luis Garcia). If given a full year of games, there is a chance that Guzman might give league average overall value, but not many contending teams give an everyday spot to an offensive black hole. With 26 man rosters, there is a clear path to a utility infielder ceiling given his defense and speed. He just needs to be a better hitter than Michael Martinez.
2020 Outlook: Guzman hit pretty well at Lakewood given his physical limitations, so there is little need to hold him back for another year. He probably splits time in the middle infield with Bryson Stott in Clearwater.
ETA: 2023
Previous Rank: 20
27. Juan Aparicio, C
Age: 19 Acquired: 2016 International Free Agent
B/T: R/R H/W: 5’11” 175lbs
2019 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| WPT (SS) | 32 | 121 | 1 | 3 | 7.4% | 18.2% | .374 | .446 | .570 |
| LKW (A-) | 22 | 74 | 1 | 0 | 4..1% | 25.7% | .191 | .230 | .279 |
Role: Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – There is a lot to like about Aparicio’s potential offensive upside as a catcher, however it is never a positive sign when a teenager’s ability to stick behind the plate is a large question. There is a lot of development ahead for Aparicio, but he needs to remain mostly at catcher for it to be meaningful.
Summary: The Phillies seem to sign a Latin American catcher each year who can just hit. Aparicio, a big money signing in 2016, is not the latest, but the thick Venzuelan was probably the loudest of the group in 2019. A converted infielder, Aparicio is not a great defender behind the plate, but he shows enough tools there to possibly stick there long term. At the plate, Aparicio is one of the guys that just hits. He strikes out a bit much and at times doesn’t walk consistently, but he makes plenty of hard contact. Aparicio has solid power, but won’t be a huge home run hitter. However, he had a monster 33% line drive percent with Williamsport, and he just peppers the gaps for doubles and triples. He was much poorer with Lakewood to end the year, but it does little to knock Aparicio’s long term outlook. Given his defensive limitations, it is likely that Aparicio continues to get reps at first base (especially since he is likely to be sharing a level with at least two other catching prospects in 2020), and while his bat won’t work there as a full time position, he is a guy who could play C/1B/DH once the DH comes to the NL.
2020 Outlook: Aparicio only got a slight look at Lakewood in 2019, so a return trip splitting time once again with Logan O’Hoppe makes sense for both players.
ETA: 2023
Previous Rank: UR
26. Deivy Grullon, C
Age: 24 Acquired: 2012 International Free Agent
B/T: R/R H/W: 6’1” 180lbs
2019 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| LHV (AA) | 108 | 457 | 21 | 1 | 9.0% | 29.1% | .283 | .354 | .496 |
| PHI (MLB) | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 22.2% | .111 | .111 | .222 |
Role: Backup Catcher
Risk: Low – Grullon is almost a finished product and major league backup right now. There are still a few areas of improvement in his receiving, but he is ready for a major league role now.
Summary: After his prospect status came back from near death last year, Grullon followed up with another solid minor league season. He is a big strong hitter with plus power from a stiff swing. His contact abilities can be suspect, and his strikeout rate skyrocketed in AAA. He did show the ability to draw a walk, but it is not a skill he has ever shown consistently in his career. Behind the plate, Grullon has never graded out well on framing metrics, despite a good reputation when he was younger. He is not an oaf, but he is also not overly athletic, and it shows in his receiving and blocking. He is still a solid defender and probably will see a big boost in receiving working more with the MLB catching coaches. His arm is still at least plus plus, though he needs to shorten his transfer and release some. He has too many holes to be an everyday player behind the plate, but he has a chance to be a capable backup as soon as the Phillies find themselves needing one.
2020 Outlook: Grullon is firmly entrenched as the Phillies 3rd catcher, and given how much J.T. Realmuto plays, he won’t be called on much unless there is an injury.
ETA: 2019
Previous Rank: 19
25. Jhailyn Ortiz, OF
Age: 21 Acquired: 2015 International Free Agent
B/T: R/R H/W: 6’3” 215
2019 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| CLW (A+) | 115 | 478 | 19 | 2 | 7.5% | 31.2% | .200 | .272 | .381 |
Role: Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – Ortiz has a boom/bust profile. If he makes enough contact, he is going to hit a bunch of home runs in the middle of a team’s lineup. If he continues his current pitch recognition and contact problems, he won’t reach the majors at all.
Summary: Before he even signed with the Phillies, Ortiz’s pitch recognition was drawing questions from scouts. There have been some whispers about eye issues, but offseason LASIK did not help Ortiz put a dent in his strikeout rate. He still has enormous raw power and just turned 21 at the start of the offseason. Ortiz doesn’t need to completely solve his contact issues to have a major league future, but he needs to reverse recent trends soon to show he has any hope of putting things together. His defense, and in particular his future defensive position as he gets slower and thicker, is still a question for some, but he has done a great job keeping in shape as he has matured. There have been enough late bloomers to not write off Ortiz until he is in his late 20s, but things are not looking rosy.
2020 Outlook: The Phillies aggressively pushed Ortiz last year after a poor year, but the jump to AA is larger than the jump between A ball levels, so it is likely they hold him back to repeat Clearwater until he has some success.
ETA: 2023
Previous Rank: 14
24. Kyle Glogoski, RHP
Age: 21 Acquired: 2017 International Free Agent
B/T: R/R H/W: 6’2” 183lbs
2019 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | GS | W-L | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB% | K% |
| LKW (A-) | 8 | 3 | 3-1 | 27.2 | 1.3 | 4.6 | 0.3 | 7.6% | 42.5% |
| CLW (A+) | 11 | 11 | 2-2 | 52.2 | 1.88 | 5.8 | 0.3 | 9.2% | 20.7% |
Role: #4 Starter
Risk: High – Glogoski is still fairly new to high level pitching, and his stuff is not overwhelming. He will need to continue the growth he has had in his first two seasons in order to have a major league career.
Summary: The Phillies signed Glogoski out of New Zealand before the 2018 season. He is one of the first teenage prospects from the country, and he did not have a ton of experience pitching, and very little against top level competition, before he signed. He was interesting, but not special in his first season. After an offseason of pitching in the ABL for Auckland, he forced his way to Lakewood with a good Extended Spring Training. He didn’t stay there for long, forcing his way to Clearwater after 8 games. He had less success there, walking more batters and striking out fewer. His stuff is still not overwhelming. His fastball will sit 88 to 92. His curveball shows some makings of an average pitch, but his changeup took a step forward in 2019. He has solid control and a surprising feel for the game given his background. He just turned 21 and still has some room in his body to fill out some. The interesting source of potential growth for Glogoski is his background. He has had less time than most of his peers to develop his offspeed pitches. He probably will move a bit slower going forward than he did in 2019.
2020 Outlook: Glogoski made 11 successful starts in Clearwater, so a promotion to Reading would not be too aggressive. However, he might need to wait for the log jam in front of him to clear up a bit, making a May or June promotion to AA after a Clearwater start more likely.
ETA: 2022
Previous Rank: UR
23. Ethan Lindow, LHP
Age: 21 Acquired: 5th Rd, 2017 Draft
B/T: R/L H/W: 6’3” 180lbs
2019 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | GS | W-L | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB% | K% |
| LKW(A-) | 23 | 13 | 5-2 | 94.2 | 2.66 | 6.9 | 0.4 | 5.2% | 27.0% |
| CLW (A+) | 3 | 3 | 0-2 | 16 | 1.69 | 9.6 | 0.0 | 3.0% | 24.2% |
Role: #4 Starter
Risk: High – Lindow has the secondary pitch repertoire of an advanced arm, but his fastball remains below average.In order to be a long term contributor, he will either need to be an outlier in terms of his command and pitch mixing, or he will need to experience velocity growth in the next few years.
Summary: It is really easy to look at high school pitchers and assume they will just add velocity as they mature. It is supposed to be harder to develop things like changeups and control. For Lindow it has been the complete opposite. His fastball is just more consistent than high school, but that means he sits 87 to 90, touching 91. He has a solid curveball, an above average changeup, and a good slider (or cutter). He can mix all four pitches, and his command is advanced for a pitcher of his age. Overall, his feel for pitching and his control on the mound is impressive. However, his below average velocity holds back his whole profile. Right now Lindow profiles at the back of a rotation, with a low end #4 ceiling. If he were to add 3 mph and be in the 90 to 94, touch 95 range of some of the other Phillies arms he would profile more as a #3. Lindow won’t turn 22 until after the season, so it is not unreasonable that he still could make those gains. The Phillies were aggressive with his promotion last year, and they could be so again this year as his stuff is unlikely to be challenged in the low minors.
2020 Outlook: Lindow dominated Lakewood and was good in Clearwater, but it was only 3 starts, so it seems he will open the season there with a promotion to Reading imminent if he dominates low level hitters again.
ETA: 2022
Previous Rank: 45
22. Mauricio Llovera, RHP
Age: 23 Acquired: 2014 International Free Agent
B/T: R/R H/W: 5’11” 200lbs
2019 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | GS | W-L | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB% | K% |
| REA (AA) | 14 | 12 | 3-4 | 65.1 | 4.55 | 8.3 | 1.0 | 9.8% | 25.3% |
Role: #4 Starter/Late Inning Reliever
Risk: High – Llovera has shown the pitches to profile in either role, but his injury and loss of stuff last year casts doubt on whether he will ever be at the level he was at in the past.
Summary: Even though his future job may be in the bullpen, the Phillies decided that for now Llovera will stay in the rotation. An arm injury in early July sapped some of the electricity from the stocky righty’s arm before it ended his season prematurely. In the rotation, Llovera has been 92-95, touching 97. His secondary pitches lack consistency, with his slider getting flat at times, and his splitter flashes plus potential, just not every pitch. If he does move to the bullpen, it is likely he has a pitch mix similar to Hector Neris where he leans on the splitter and fastball, only throwing a slider occasionally to throw off a hitter. Llovera can throw the ball in the strike zone, but he is not a command pitcher, hitting quadrants of the zone and not spots. He is a fairly stocky guy and his delivery has some effort to it, and that has made a lot of people speculate that the bullpen is the better place for him. The last time he was in that role, he was more 94-97 touching 99, and there is some thought that the added power would help his secondary pitches as well. For now, the Phillies have some AAA RP depth ahead of him, so they can give the rotation thing one more chance. If he can stick in a rotation, he might have a low end 3, high end 4 starter upside. Much of the spring will be about where his arm health is.
2020 Outlook: While Llovera’s long term role might be in a bullpen, the Phillies seem committed to having him be a starting pitcher this spring, so a return trip to Reading is at least his first stop. If he struggles in the rotation, they could move him to the bullpen before the end of the year.
ETA: 2021
Previous Rank: 15
21. Jamari Baylor, SS
Age: 19 Acquired: 3rd Rd, 2019 Draft
B/T: R/R H/W: 5’11” 190lbs
2019 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| GCL (Rk) | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 8.3% | 16.7% | .273 | .333 | .455 |
Role: Solid Regular at a Middle Infield Position
Risk: Extreme – Baylor is a high school hitter with an extremely small pro track record, so any definitive statement about his future is coming from a very small sample size.
Summary: Baylor popped up late in the Spring when his tools all took a jump, especially at the plate. He is a good athlete and showed the ability to make consistent contact thanks to a quicker bat. This also has led to him showing at least average power, especially to his pull side. Baylor is a plus runner and has a good arm, but like many high school shortstops, many people believe he is likely to move off of the position. The most likely position to move to would be second base, but he probably could handle a move anywhere on the diamond. Injuries in the GCL restricted Baylor to just 4 games (2 soon after he signed, and 2 at the end of the year), so there was not much chance to see what he would look like against good pitchers. There is a lot to be excited about with Baylor, but he has a limited track record of success, so he is riskier than most already risky high school hitters.
2020 Outlook: Baylor played very little in pro-ball, and Lakewood likely has middle infielders for 2020, so he likely will start in Extended Spring Training before heading to Williamsport.
ETA: 2024
Previous Rank: N/A