If the bottom of the system started (or starts, depending on the order you are reading this) to make you question what a prospect is, this part of the list gets into real prospects with MLB upside. That said, the shallowness of the system is clear, as is some of the work the Phillies have done to remedy that. To me there is a small tier break between #31 and #32, but really this group represents depth from the 2025 draft class and real actual major league relief depth. A rarity of sorts on recent lists, this kicks off with 3 young shortstops who are projects with offensive upside, which will be a challenge for the hitting development to turn someone sort of raw into someone who can be traded or help the team. The back part of this group has some interesting development and scouting successes, some of which could be MLB depth pieces in the near future.
All ages are as of Opening Day – March 26, 2026
22. Romeli Espinosa, SS
Age: 17 (6/5/08)
Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2025 by the Phillies
B/T: R/R
H/W: 6’4” 169lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHIW (DSL) | 41 | 168 | 2 | 12 | 6.0% | 20.2% | .282 | .363 | .430 |
Role: Average Regular?
Risk: Extreme – Espinosa has the normal DSL red flags; overly aggressive approach, problem with breaking balls, poor contact quality, and defensive inconsistencies. He also has a frame that, given his age, is going to change dramatically over the next few years and that will change how we view him.
Summary: Espinosa got one of the larger bonuses in the Phillies 2025 signing calls, and did not turn 17 until early June of last year. His size immediately jumps out on the field, he is a very lanky 6’4” with a frame that should put on good muscle while retaining above average athleticism. He already flashes above average to plus raw power due to good bat speed and length of his levers on his swing. He doesn’t consistently get to that power in the air, and his swing length can lead to some poor contact quality. His hands are noisy, and he is probably going to need to quiet them because his swing will always be a bit long. He is an aggressive swinger who can be fooled by offspeed pitches. Better pitchers will likely try to work in on his hands, but that isn’t really a thing DSL pitchers can do. He is at least a plus runner who might be plus plus when underway. It is really hard for tall shortstops to stick at the position, but he is decent at it right now, using his speed to cover a lot of ground. He has plus arm strength, but his throws, transfers, and footwork all suffer the inconsistencies you expect from a teenager. He played a little third base this year, and that is likely the position he would be pushed to if he needed to move down the spectrum. It isn’t hard to see the highlights and frame and dream he is a future impact player with plus tools everywhere, but he has an enormous distance to go and there are a lot of pitfalls he hasn’t faced yet.
2026 Outlook: Espinosa has a real chance to be moved stateside to the FCL where he will be one of the youngest hitters in the league. He will need to show more consistency at the plate and in the field.
ETA: 2030
Previous Rank: N/A
23. Matthew Ferrara, SS
Age: 18 (6/4/07)
Acquired: Drafted in the 9th Round of the 2025 Draft by the Phillies
B/T: R/R
H/W: 6’0” 183lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLW (A-) | 15 | 64 | 1 | 1 | 7.8% | 35.9% | .130 | .266 | .204 |
Role: Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – Ferrara had a really rough debut, but as an 18 year old thrown into full season ball for 15 games you can excuse a lot of that. His future outcome is more of a placeholder for what we might learn about him as he actually starts his career.
Overview: The Phillies signed Ferrera to an overslot deal more aligned with a 4th round pick than the 9th round. He wasn’t on most draft rankings, but made ESPN’s list and Baseball America notes he was rising late in the process. He was on the young side for the draft and has some physical projection remaining. He had a patient approach in his brief debut, but had an alarming amount of swing and miss against offspeed pitches while posting mediocre impact numbers. He played exclusively second base in his pro debut but he probably will get a taste of short and third over the next few years.
2026 Outlook: It will be interesting to see how the Phillies balance time in Clearwater, but there should be space for Ferrera and Dawson. Ferrara likely gets time at second, short, and third during the season.
ETA: 2030
Previous Rank: N/A
24. Logan Dawson, SS
Age: 19 (6/15/06)
Acquired: Drafted in the 16th Round of the 2025 Draft by the Phillies
B/T: L/R
H/W: 6’3” 190lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLW (A-) | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.0% | 50.0% | .333 | .500 | .333 |
Role: Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – Dawson struggled against college arms in the Draft League and then played 1 game after signing. He is a while away from knowing what he is.
Overview: Dawson was more highly regarded than Matthew Ferrara heading into the draft, but was selected 7 rounds after his fellow New Jersey shortstop and was signed for a more modest bonus than expected. Dawson is nearly a year older than Ferrara, and he has a bigger frame and bats from the left side. Dawson played mostly shortstop with Trenton in the Draft League, and was there in his one game in the Phillies organization as well. Given his size, it is easy to see third base being his eventual position, but he will likely join Ferrara in moving around the infield positions. Dawson has more of an uppercut swing which should hopefully allow him to tap into his power as he fills out. But as Baseball America noted in their pre-draft writeup, this makes him vulnerable to elevated velocity, which will be something to watch for as he makes his full season debut.
2026 Outlook: Dawson will likely cycle through the infield spots at Clearwater to open the year. Dawson is on the older side, and the Phillies could look to push him up late in the year.
ETA: 2030
Previous Rank: N/A
25. Seth Johnson, RHP
Age: 27 (9/19/98)
Acquired: Drafted in the 1st Round of the 2019 Draft by the Rays. Traded to the Orioles. Traded to the Phillies along with RHP Moises Chace for LHP Gregory Soto
B/T: R/R
H/W: 6’1” 205lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | GS | W-L | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB% | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHV (AAA) | 39 | 4 | 5-5 | 60.2 | 4.75 | 8.6 | 0.6 | 12.9% | 24.7% |
| PHI (MLB) | 10 | 0 | 1-1 | 12.2 | 4.26 | 7.8 | 2.1 | 7.4% | 31.5% |
Role: Middle Reliever
Risk: Medium – Johnson has flashed plus pitches, but he has never had results that match his stuff. Johnson moved to the bullpen after the start of the season, and showed an uptick in stuff, but not the consistency needed for a pitcher that needs to make the major league roster.
Overview: The Phillies moved Johnson to the bullpen early in the 2025 season. He had an interesting run in the majors, but never put together continued success appearance to appearance in both the majors and AAA. After moving into the bullpen, Johnson’s fastball would occasionally sit 97-99, but would just as often be 94-97. He gets flat with some ride, but at each level it has been hammered by opposing hitters. He phased out his big curveball over the course of the season, fully shelving it by September. His slider has been his best bulk pitch, and he has been able to throw it for outs both in and out of the zone. This season he worked on improving his changeup, and he flashes one that could be a great pitch for him. He will need it, because he held right handed hitters in check, but has struggled against lefties. Johnson is on the verge of the majors, and with the Phillies getting an extra option year on him, there is a little less pressure on him to immediately perform.
2026 Outlook: With the Phillies receiving an extra option year on Johnson, he likely goes to Lehigh Valley to open the year. He will be in the mix throughout the season as bullpen depth and could establish himself as a mainstay in the major league bullpen.
ETA: 2024
Previous Rank: 15
26. Gabe Craig, RHP
Age: 24 (7/3/01)
Acquired: Drafted in the 5th Round of the 2025 Draft by the Phillies
B/T: R/R
H/W: 6’5” 209lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | GS | W-L | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB% | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLW (A-) | 3 | 0 | 0-0 | 3.0 | 0.00 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 10.0% | 50.0% |
Role: 6th/7th Inning Reliever
Risk: Medium – Craig is about as ready a college reliever as you will see. He has a mature arsenal, throws strikes, and has a good track record against top competition. He doesn’t have the upside to suffer a setback in stuff or to project to close out games.
Overview: Craig barely pitched in his first 5 years of college, but in 2025 he put up a 0.56 ERA while allowing 13 hits and 3 walks in 32 innings, while also striking out 51. His mid 90s fastball did not show great movement in pro ball, but it missed bats in college. In addition to the fastball, he throws an equal number of a mid 80s big sweeping slider that he might throw even more as a pro. He threw a changeup with the Threshers, and his arsenal could do with a weapon against left handed batters. Craig throws a ton of strikes and should breeze through the lower minors. If he has success, he could make it to the majors quickly. He is on the large side, but is already 24, so it is hard to see his stuff taking another big leap.
2026 Outlook: Craig should start the year with Jersey Shore, and will move through the minors as fast as his stuff will allow. There is a chance he makes it all the way to the majors, but more likely he tops out in AA.
ETA: 2027
Previous Rank: N/A
27. Brian Walters, RHP
Age: 23 (11/28/02)
Acquired: Drafted in the 8th Round of the 2025 Draft by the Phillies
B/T: R/R
H/W: 6’3” 194lbs
2025 Stats: Did not pitch professionally in 2025
Role: 6th/7th Inning Reliever
Risk: High – Walters put up good, but not elite stats at Miami in his only season pitching a meaningful amount of innings.
Overview: The draft report on Walters is a prototypical reliever. He has a sinker and sweeper and decent command. However, Walters comes from University of Miami where a number of pitchers have taken steps forward after entering pro-ball including Brian’s brother Andrew. Walters has already reportedly added a cutter, a natural pairing with his sweeper, and his fastball was reportedly more upper 90s touching 100 than 94-95 touching 98. Walters has a changeup, so the Phillies may give him a chance to start in 2026 with a bullpen fallback still available. If they put him in the bullpen to open the year, he becomes a candidate to move quickly through the system.
2026 Outlook: It sounds like Walters will get a chance to start in 2026, likely with the Threshers. It will probably be 3-4 inning appearances to start and then go from there on determining his role. If he moves back to the bullpen he could possibly move quickly.
ETA: 2028
Previous Rank: N/A
28. Zach McCambley, RHP
Age: 26 (5/4/99)
Acquired: Drafted in the 3rd Round of the 2020 Draft by the Marlins. Selected by the Phillies in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft.
B/T: L/R
H/W: 6’2” 225lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | GS | W-L | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB% | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEN (AA) | 11 | 0 | 1-0 | 21.1 | 2.11 | 5.5 | 0.4 | 8.5% | 37.8% |
| JCK (AAA) | 36 | 0 | 1-3 | 40.2 | 3.32 | 7.3 | 0.4 | 8.9% | 30.8% |
| Total | 47 | 0 | 0-7 | 62.0 | 2.90 | 6.7 | 0.4 | 8.8% | 33.1% |
Role: Middle Reliever
Risk: Low – McCambley put up good numbers in a hitter friendly AAA environment, but his lack of a good fastball limits his upside and makes him susceptible to left handed hitters.
Overview: McCambley was selected by the Phillies in the Rule 5 draft and looks like a pitcher that probably already should have been on the up and down part of a team’s 40 man roster. His fastball averages about 94 and can get up to 96. It has neither good plane or movement, but McCambley was able to land it in the zone for strikes. He already limits how often he throws it (23% of the time), instead using his cutter a majority of the time and even his sweeper more than his fastball. His sweeper had a whiff rate of 50% and held opposing batters to a .131 wOBA. His cutter had less individual success, but likely kept his fastball from being hit around. For someone with this style arsenal it is unsurprising that he kept right handed hitters to an OPS of just .490 last year, 200 points lower than lefties hit him. As a former starter, he does have a changeup, but barely threw it last year as a full time reliever. He will need to find another pitch or better plan against lefties in order to pitch in high leverage situations.
2026 Outlook: The Phillies have six spots locked into their bullpen and that limits the number of available spots for McCambley to make the team. If he makes the Phillies he likely pitches in lower leverage and multi inning situations against pockets of righties. If he does not make the Phillies he stands a chance of being claimed by another team or returning to the Marlins and making the majors for them at some point this season.
ETA: 2026
Previous Rank: N/A
29. Alirio Ferrebus, C
Age: 20 (9/12/05)
Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2023 by the Phillies
B/T: R/R
H/W: 6’2” 174lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHI (Rk) | 25 | 106 | 4 | 0 | 10.4% | 16.0% | .267 | .368 | .478 |
| CLW (A-) | 44 | 174 | 1 | 2 | 3.4% | 16.1% | .219 | .272 | .275 |
| Total | 69 | 280 | 5 | 2 | 6.1% | 16.1% | .236 | .308 | .348 |
Role: Bat First Second Catcher
Risk: High – Ferrebus has a plus ability to make contact and average raw power, however he swung at everything after graduating from the complex and is not a lock to stick behind the plate.
Overview: For the second season in a row Ferrebus started at a level where he was clearly one of the best hitters and then was promoted to a level where his approach completely disappeared, and then he missed a large chunk of time due to injury. Ferrebus has a good looking right handed swing and a real knack for getting the bat to the ball. He will flash above average to plus raw power, but he does not consistently square up the ball in a way that shows off his strength. He showed patience in the FCL, but in the Florida State League he chased at one of the worst rates in the league while also not punishing pitches in the zone. Despite very impressive contact rates both in and out of the zone, it is probably a portent of poor pitch recognition. Rather than strikeouts, the consequence of this approach has been poor contact quality. Ferrebus hits the ball on the ground frequently and rarely pulls the ball in the air. Defensively, he is on the larger side and does not have the feel and athleticism to look natural behind the plate. In the long term you are hoping he grows into being average, but it is unlikely he ever becomes a good defender. There are a bunch of “ifs” about Ferrebus, but he has the offensive skills to be a plus offensive player for the position, and that is going to give him some chances with the Phillies or other teams until he proves he can’t do it.
2026 Outlook: The Phillies catching depth is poor, so Ferrebus is going to get plenty of opportunity to attempt to stick behind the plate. The Threshers typically have 3 catchers, and he could be rotating between catcher, first base, and DH alongside someone like Will Vierling.
ETA: 2029
Previous Rank: 26
30. Dylan Campbell, IF/OF
Age: 23 (7/2/02)
Acquired: Drafted in the 4th Round of the 2023 Draft by the Dodgers. Traded to the Phillies for International Signing Pool.
B/T: R/R
H/W: 5’10” 205lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JS (A+) | 58 | 243 | 7 | 15 | 9.1% | 23.9% | .221 | .302 | .390 |
| REA (AA) | 64 | 271 | 7 | 18 | 10.7% | 19.2% | .209 | .295 | .347 |
| SUR (AFL) | 19 | 74 | 4 | 4 | 18.9% | 23.0% | .304 | .419 | .625 |
| Total | 122 | 514 | 14 | 33 | 9.9% | 21.4% | .215 | .298 | .367 |
Role: Platoon Bench Bat
Risk: Medium – Campbell’s statistical outcomes mask what he is good at and how he will be used. He has positional flexibility and can hit left handed pitchers, which gives him an actual major league role.
Overview: Campbell was acquired by the Phillies from the Dodgers for international money they could use to bulk out their already winning bid to Roki Sasaki. He is not a great hitter, but he isn’t a bad one either. He isn’t passive or aggressive at the plate, and posts fine contact rates. He is pull and flyball heavy at the plate which keeps his BABIP down, and maximizes the tools he has while putting a bit of a cap on his overall outcomes. It is really hard to look at his overall profile and see a starting caliber player, but he is tailor made for a specific MLB role. He has true positional flexibility, being a fine center fielder who can cover both outfield corners, as well as move onto the infield dirt to be a playable second baseman. He also got reps at third and first in the Arizona Fall League, which helps his chances of sticking on the end of a bench. He was absolutely dreadful against RHPs all season, hitting .188/.274/.345 off of them, but on the other side he hit .293/.366/.431 against lefties. He didn’t face many lefties in the AFL (just 11 PAs), but hit half of his home runs off of them, while being respectable against righties. In the era of 4 man benches, a player who can play infield and outfield, including either center or short, has real value, and it is even better if that player has platoon splits that can be deployed.
2026 Outlook: Campbell will likely return to Reading to open the year. He is Rule 5 eligible after the year, and given his profile he could force his way onto the 40 with good results between AA and AAA.
ETA: 2027
Previous Rank: N/A
31. Saul Teran, RHP
Age: 24 (3/20/02)
Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2021 by the Phillies
B/T: R/R
H/W: 6’1” 165lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | GS | W-L | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB% | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLW (A-) | 15 | 0 | 2-1 | 18.0 | 1.00 | 6.5 | 0.0 | 4.3% | 44.9% |
| JS (A+) | 22 | 0 | 3-0 | 26.0 | 1.38 | 5.5 | 0.0 | 13.0% | 23.0% |
| REA (AA) | 3 | 0 | 0-0 | 4.1 | 2.08 | 8.3 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 11.8% |
| Total | 40 | 0 | 5-1 | 48.1 | 1.30 | 6.1 | 0.0 | 8.6% | 30.1% |
Role: Middle Reliever
Risk: High – Teran has a major league level breaking ball and a below average fastball. He has already had less success against better hitters.
Overview: Teran was average for his first 3 seasons, but hinted that there was a good pitcher present. He broke out in 2025 with a great year across three levels. He struggled to miss bats and got fewer chases after moving up from Clearwater. Teran’s fastball velocity bounced back this year and he mixed in a sinker more, with both averaging around 94. Neither has plus movement, but mixing in both has kept hitters off of them. Teran’s slider has added both velocity and sweep each year and was a dominant pitch for him. Teran can throw his pitches in the zone, but given his fastball quality he needs hitters to expand the zone on his slider to have success. If he can keep his fastballs out of the high danger areas, he can work ahead enough to spam his slider. Teran is on the older side and has already had enough leaps that he does not look to have that last gear to be a late inning reliever.
2026 Outlook: Teran should start with Reading and will need to show he can get strikes and strikeouts in the upper minors without his fastball getting killed. He will be Rule 5 eligible again after the year and will be competing against players already on the 40 for being RHP relief depth.
ETA: 2027
Previous Rank: UR
32. Brad Pacheco, RHP
Age: 20 (6/9/05)
Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2023 by the Phillies
B/T: R/R
H/W: 6’0” 175lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | GS | W-L | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB% | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHI (Rk) | 12 | 12 | 2-6 | 45.1 | 6.15 | 9.1 | 0.8 | 7.1% | 23.2% |
Role: Back End Starting Pitcher / Middle Reliever
Risk: Extreme – Pacheco is entering his age 21 season with a total of 62.1 not particularly inspiring innings. He is still fairly raw and a far way from any major league role.
Overview: At his best, Pacheco will show good arm speed and a pair of fastballs that will sit 92 to 95 with some 96s and 97s. Neither pitch has great shape, but he shows the ability to elevate the 4-seamer consistently. This is important because his most successful pitch in the low minors has been a big slow curveball that needs to be a chase pitch off of a high pitch. He has shown strides with his change, and it has to be his best pitch in the long term, but lacks consistency. He needs a pitch in the high 80s like a slider or cutter because he should be de-emphasizing his fastballs. Consistency has also been a problem for Pacheco, who had a throw away disastrous season debut (0.1 IP 6 H 7 ER 1 BB) followed by 4 just run of the mill bad games. He did end the season on a good run (7 GS 31.2 IP 2.56 ERA 20 H 7 BB 36 K). Also on the positive side, Pacheco finally made a bunch of starts in a row after barely pitching for 2 years.
2026 Outlook: Pacheco should compete for a rotation spot with the Threshers, and given how little he has pitched, he probably has some runway to see if he can stick in a rotation. If he struggles again, he could get bumped down for part of the FCL season.
ETA: 2029
Previous Rank: 20
33. Kehden Hettiger, C
Age: 21 (5/25/04)
Acquired: Drafted in the 11th Round of the 2023 Draft by the Phillies
B/T: L/R
H/W: 6’1” 205lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLW (A-) | 8 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 18.8% | 31.3% | .800 | .250 | .120 |
| JS (A+) | 85 | 355 | 8 | 1 | 12.4% | 29.3% | .232 | .330 | .389 |
| REA (AA) | 7 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 15.4% | 23.1% | .182 | .308 | .318 |
| Total | 100 | 413 | 9 | 2 | 13.1% | 29.1% | .218 | .322 | .365 |
Role: Backup Catcher
Risk: High – Hettiger showed a lot of improvement on both sides of the ball in his second full season, but there are questions about both his ability to catch and ability to hit.
Overview: Hettiger’s first full season went about as bad as it could have gone, but 2025 was a step in the correct direction. After going 5 for 53 vs LHPs as a switch hitter last year, Hettiger only hit from the left side in 2025, going a more respectable 17 for 82 as a lefty against left handed pitching. He still has platoon splits, but it was a clear move from disaster to just poor while also cutting down on the number of swings he needed to maintain. He also traded extreme passivity and good contact abilities for still a patient, but more balanced approach with a bit more swing and miss in it. He still has a bit of an upper cut swing, which keeps the ball off the ground and has holes for pitchers to exploit, but allows him to maximize the power on the contact he does make. He caught nearly two thirds of the games he played in this year, up from about 50% in 2024. He also greatly improved as a thrower, nearly doubling his caught stealing percent. He still looks a bit stiff behind the plate, but he has a real chance to stick at the position. It is likely, like most young catchers, that Hettiger’s bat will be what lags, and his ceiling is probably a low batting average backup catcher who will take a walk and occasionally put a charge into one.
2026 Outlook: Hettiger probably spends the majority of the year in Reading, with a possible end of year cameo in Lehigh Valley. He might struggle as he puts more work in behind the plate.
ETA: 2028
Previous Rank: UR
34. Felix Reyes, 1B/OF
Age: 25 (3/26/01)
Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent in 2020 by the Phillies
B/T: R/R
H/W: 6’4” 195lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REA (AA) | 95 | 395 | 15 | 13 | 4.6% | 15.4% | .335 | .365 | .572 |
| LHV (AAA) | 6 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 7.7% | 19.2% | .261 | .320 | .391 |
| Total | 101 | 421 | 16 | 13 | 4.8% | 15.7% | .331 | .362 | .562 |
Role: Platoon Corner Bat
Risk: High – Reyes swings a lot, and it is really hard to maintain his numbers while doing so. He also would be on the short side of a platoon without much positional flexibility.
Overview: Statistically Reyes had one of the best seasons in the minor leagues across all organizations. He has plus plus raw power and plus plus contact rates, which should be the foundations of an impact player. This season his breakout was fueled by also getting to the correct sort of contact, with a sharp drop in ground balls and pop-ups and a strong increase in line drive and fly ball rate. He does not pull the ball as much as he could, and that shows in a pedestrian HR/FB rate given his raw power. The problem at the plate is that he swings a lot, and while he reversed the poor contact trend in 2025, that tends to be something that leads to either a spike in poor contact or strikeouts against better pitching. Especially since he isn’t just overly aggressive in the zone, he boasts a very high chase rate and susceptibility to offspeed pitches. He also rarely walks, leaving his value dependent on his batted ball outcomes. This does not pair well with his lack of positional value. He is ok, but not great in the outfield corners, and playable at first. He can stand at third base, but he really is not going to give positional flexibility or value. He demolished left handed pitchers, and traditionally the short side of a platoon has been valued less than the strong side, though the dearth of right handed hitting outfielders might shift that. He is a complicated prospect who probably will need to prove it year over year in the majors to be valued by teams.
2026 Outlook: Reyes should be with the IronPigs and will need to show that he can hit better pitches at a high rate. If he hits his way through AAA pitching he will probably get a MLB look from someone at some point.
ETA: 2026
Previous Rank: UR
35. John Spikerman, OF
Age: 22 (4/2/03)
Acquired: Drafted in the 3rd Round of the 2024 Draft by the Phillies
B/T: S/R
H/W: 6’0” 190lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | PA | HR | SB | BB% | K% | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHI (Rk) | 10 | 36 | 0 | 3 | 25.0% | 27.8% | .192 | .417 | .231 |
| CLW (A-) | 28 | 115 | 3 | 12 | 9.6% | 32.2% | .238 | .330 | .376 |
| JS (A+) | 24 | 106 | 0 | 15 | 17.0% | 28.3% | .217 | .362 | .277 |
| Total | 62 | 527 | 3 | 30 | 14.8% | 30.0% | .224 | .355 | .319 |
Role: Speed and Defense 4th Outfielder
Risk: High – Spikerman is not a good enough defender to make it purely with his glove, and his underlying metrics indicate he has a long way to go at the plate.
Overview: Spikerman’s first full season got off to a slow start with an injury that cost him most of the first two months of the season. After being promoted from Clearwater to Jersey Shore, he saw a spike in walk rate with a slight decrease in strikeouts. What we see in the swing and approach data is a player who just did not swing. He does not chase, but he does not swing in the zone often either, and when he does he has terrible contact rates, in particular against offspeed. Not unexpectedly, he also shows poor raw power while also putting a lot of balls in the air, in particular weak flyballs. Overall, it is a fairly bleak offensive picture. He is a plus runner who can play a good center field, but the Phillies have already pushed him to the corners in deference to their more complete prospects. It was his first season, and it was only 62 games, so there is time and a defensive profile where he could turn it around into something useful.
2026 Outlook: Spikerman will likely return to Jersey Shore, but the Phillies will be incentivized to push him to AA if he succeeds there. There are other center fielders in the organization that could solidify Spikerman lower down on depth charts.
ETA: 2028
Previous Rank: 28
36. Andrew Walling, LHP
Age: 26 (10/29/99)
Acquired: Signed as an Undrafted Free Agent with the Phillies in 2022
B/T: L/L
H/W: 6’2” 220lbs
2025 Stats:
| Team (LVL) | G | GS | W-L | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB% | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team (LVL) | G | GS | W-L | IP | ERA | H/9 | HR/9 | BB% | K% |
| JS (A+) | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | 1.0 | 0.00 | 18.0 | 0.0 | 0.0% | 40.0% |
| REA (AA) | 37 | 0 | 3-5 | 41.5 | 4.10 | 6.9 | 0.2 | 9.9% | 24.9% |
| LHV (AAA) | 5 | 0 | 1-1 | 5.0 | 3.60 | 5.4 | 1.8 | 17.4% | 30.4% |
| Total | 43 | 0 | 4-6 | 47.2 | 3.97 | 7.0 | 0.4 | 10.5% | 25.8% |
Role: Middle Reliever
Risk: Medium – Walling has struggled with his command for stretches of time and has had solid, but not dominant, strikeout rates.
Overview: Walling had a strong 2024 season, but struggled to record outs for Reading both before and after an injury. Starting in July, Walling was much better with his strike throwing and contact suppression. Additionally, Walling’s velocity started to creep up as the season went along, touching up to 97 down the stretch. Walling actually does not throw his true fastball much, instead leading with a low 90s cutter most of the time. He will pitch off of that with a mid 80s sweeper to both righties and lefties that he can use for chases or land in the zone. All of Walling’s offerings move gloveside, including his fastball, and he was better against righties than lefties because he can get inside on their hands. It is rare to say for a pitcher, but if he is going to be more 94-97, he should throw his fastball a little bit more since he can be too chase dependent with his breaking balls, leading to high walk rates. He isn’t exactly like current Phillies reliever, Matt Strahm, but there are some parallels, and Walling really does not have that many adjustments to go to be on the fringes of a major league bullpen for a couple of seasons.
2026 Outlook: Walling is likely on the line between AA and AAA, and could start in Reading in deference to 40 man roster and veteran minor league relievers. The Phillies have very little left handed pitching depth, so if he can put up good results in AAA he could quickly have a major league role.
ETA: 2027
Previous Rank: 38