Phillies 2023 Top Prospects – Notes On More

Not every player in the system is a prospect, and not every prospect made the top 50 prospects. Here are some minor leaguers with interesting backgrounds, major league tools, or previous pedigree. This list is not exhaustive, so I apologize if someone is missing.

Just Signed International Players

• Starlyn Caba, SS – The pre-signing reports would put Caba into the top 10-15 prospects in the organization. He should stay at shortstop and has shown good feel for contact, but power is a question. If he has a good summer in the DSL, he will be a top 10 prospect in the system.
• Wen-Hui Pan, RHP – Pan is about the age of a college sophomore and looks to have a good fastball, a starter’s arsenal, and control issues. This puts him in a similar position to a Christian McGowan and Orion Kerkering group of prospects.

Relievers and Depth Starters

• Cristian Hernandez, RHP – Hernandez was trending as a back end starter to end 2021, but he struggled in the rotation and moved to the bullpen. His velocity is more in the high end of his range (93-95), and he has an assortment of pitches from his starting time. He does not have overwhelming stuff for a reliever, but good control and his collection of average-ish pitches give him a chance to be an up and down arm. 
• Brett Schulze, RHP – Schulze missed 2021 due to Tommy John surgery and didn’t pitch in a game until July. He sits mid 90s with a pair of breaking balls and fringe average control as he works back from missed time.
• Erubiel Armenta, LHP – Armenta’s control took a step back in 2022, but he still features a mid-90s fastball with good characteristics and a plus changeup. He has middle relief upside if he can throw more strikes.
• Rafael Marcano, LHP – Marcano has been limited by injuries the last two years, but made it to Jersey Shore as a starter. His velocity has decreased some, but he has missed bats at multiple levels. He is trending as a minor league depth starter, but maybe a move to the bullpen could pull out a bit more.
• Billy Sullivan, RHP – Sullivan is a hard throwing, max effort reliever. His velocity was down a bit (more 94-96) in 2022, and his control was poor for much of the year. He is not far off of an up and down middle reliever outcome with a few adjustments.
• Daniel Harper, RHP – Harper was the Phillies 17th round pick in 2022 and a prototype Phillies reliever pick. In his brief debut his fastball was around 95 with big spin (>2600 RPM), and he throws a high spin hard cutter and slider as well.
• Rodolfo Sanchez, RHP – Sanchez moved to the bullpen full time in 2022. He is a short right-handed pitcher sitting 93-95, T96. He mostly used his mid 80s slider, and largely scrapped his changeup. His control was not always sharp.
• Nicoly Pina, RHP – Pina missed 2022 due to Tommy John surgery and came back over the summer. His fastball sits 94-95, but he can get it up to 97. The pitch has good characteristics, and he has added a splitter and will still show a plus slider. His control is well below average. 
• Dominic Pipkin, RHP – Pipkin still has good velocity, but poor secondary pitches and command continue to cause poor results. The Phillies started the year with him in the bullpen, and he struggled greatly. They moved him back to the rotation, and he was moderately better. 
• Taylor Lehman, LHP – Lehman is another returnee from Tommy John. He is a big lefty with a fastball that sits 90-94, but he can get it up to 96. He has a pair of good breaking balls. He struggled with command in the AFL, but threw a good amount of strikes before that.
• Blake Brown, RHP – Brown is a short, hard throwing righty with questionable command. He missed all of 2022 to injury.
• Josh Hendrickson, LHP – Hendrickson came back from Tommy John surgery throwing slightly harder (meaning he was just scraping 90), but he is a command control lefty starter.
• Ethan Lindow, LHP – The Phillies used Lindow as a long man with Jersey Shore before sending him to Reading. He still throws in the upper 80s, and that caught up with him in AA. He has good control and offspeed pitches, but he needs to find another 2- 3 mph in order to be a viable major league prospect, and at 24 that is probably not coming.
• Han Crouse, RHP – Crouse stumbled in 2021 and then showed up in 2022 with greatly reduced velocity and eventually missed the year to injury after being shelled. He doesn’t have the fastball or offspeed pitches to relieve, and he doesn’t have the control and arsenal to start. He will need to make a big jump somewhere to get back on the map.
• Chase Antle, RHP – A velocity spike in 2020 led the Phillies to sign Antle as an NDFA that year. Various injuries have cost him the last two seasons.
• Josh Bortka, RHP – Bortka was the Phillies 16th round pick after showing good stuff in the Draft League. He is a big RHP with big spin on his fastball, slider, and curveball, with the fastball sitting about 93 in his pro debut.
• Keylan Killgore, LHP – Killgore is coming off of Tommy John surgery and features a 3 pitch mix out of the bullpen with a low-90s fastball, a changeup, and a slider.
• Mason Ronan, LHP – Ronan is one of a group of Draft League draftees/signings in 2022. He has some control problems, but he has a fastball that sits 91-94, a low 80s slider that features spin rates around 2600-2700 RPM, and a split changeup.
• Andrew Walling, LHP – Walling is another nondrafted free agent reliever. In his pro debut, his fastball was up to 96 but sat about 93. He threw a single curveball, but primarily used a slider as his secondary pitch. He does not have the big spin of some of the other relievers.
• Maikel Garrido, LHP – Garrido is a large lefty reliever, and on the older (23) side for a complex level arm. He barely pitched in 2022, but he features a fastball and slider with big spin and velocity, but he struggles to throw strikes.
• Damon Jones, LHP – Jones features a low to mid 90s fastball and a pair of good breaking balls. Control has been a problem for him throughout his career, and he will miss a bunch of time with a shoulder injury.
• Tyler McKay, RHP – McKay is a big righty with a mid to low 90s sinking fastball, good changeup, and ok slider. He struggled to miss bats in AA and profiles as more of an org arm.
• Sam Jacobsak, RHP – Jacobsak missed a lot of time since signing in 2020. His fastball sits in the low 90s, touching up to 93-94. His big weapons are a pair of breaking balls with spin rates around 2800 RPM. The slider and curve are bat missing enough to make him interesting, but the fastball quality may be a limiting factor against upper minors hitters.
• Malik Binns, RHP – Binns is a big (6’7”) righty who is still fairly new to pitching. He has been up to 95, but sits lower than that. He has had major control issues and is on the older (24) side. He will be pitching for Great Britain in the WBC.
• Jason Ruffcorn, RHP – The Phillies gave Ruffcorn slot value in the 8th round in 202,1 and so far that has gone poorly. He was a closer in college with good control, but he struggled to throw strikes or miss bats in pro-ball. He is mostly low 90s, and his pitches don’t have some of the plus characteristics of some of the other minor league relievers.
• Alex Garbrick, RHP – Garbrick was a 5th year college pick for the Phillies in the 17th round of the 2021 draft. He has struggled with control, and his old issues came back to bite him after he got off to a hot start. Garbrick throws a whole host of pitches, with a sinker and 4S fastball that he can get up to 97, a pair of breaking balls with high (2700-2800 RPM) spin, and a changeup. 
• Tyler Phillips, RHP – Phillips is a local kid that the Phillies claimed off waivers in 2021. He used to be a well regarded prospect in the Rangers system. He had Tommy John surgery in late 2021, and the Phillies re-signed him to a 2-year minor league contract. He is only 25 and appears to be healthy. He was previously a sinker/changeup, plus control back end starter type.
• Cam Wynne, RHP – Wynne was the Phillies last pick in the 2021 draft. Like most Phillies arms he is a bag, sort of raw reliever, who struggled with control in college. Wynne’s fastball sat in the low 90s, but has touched 96-97. His primary offspeed was a low 80s slider, but he threw a cutter, a curve, and a changeup at times. 

Low Minor Fliers

• Jose Pena Jr., RHP – Pena is a big bodied RHP, who the Phillies took out of HS in the 6th round of the 2021 draft. His velocity was down a bit in 2022, peaking at only 94 in tracked appearance. His best secondary is a big spin curveball, but he also throws a changeup. Pena has struggled with control, but doesn’t turn 20 until over the summer.
• Samuel Aldegheri, LHP – The Phillies signed Aldegheri out of Italy in 2019, and he made his pro debut in 2021. Injuries limited him to just 12.1 innings in 2022. He is mostly low-90s, but was up to 94 in 2021, and features a good curveball and developing changeup.
• Andrick Nava, C – Nava was a big money signing in 2018, and hit at his first two pro stops in 2019 and 2021. He is a contact oriented switch hitter, who has struggled to hit for power (and average in 2022). There are questions about his ability to stick behind the plate.
• Arturo De Freitas, C – De Freitas is a defense first catcher who struggled at the plate in 2022. He had a minor injury that cut his winter league season short, but he should be healthy now.
• Leandro Pineda, OF – Pineda looks the part of an athletic outfielder, but his power has been lagging and his approach needs work. He likely does not get to where he needs to, but he is something to work with.
• Jonathan Petit, RHP – The Phillies brough Petit stateside after he was dominant as a 20 year old in the DSL in 2021. His FCL numbers weren’t as sterling, but he was up to 94, with a slider and curveball and good control. He had a successful VWL season as well. Petit is a bit on the older (turns 22 in April) side so the Phillies will likely push him.
• Jordan Dissin, C – Dissin is a big body catcher who had a good 10 game appearance in the FCL. He was the Phillies 12th round pick out of a California JuCo despite being a local kid.
• Gustavo Sosa, C – Sosa is a solidly built catcher who showed good power in the draft league coming into the draft. He has historically struggled with contact and approach, but had a small sample pro appearance.
• Gavin Tonkel, OF – Tonkel was a project when the Phillies took him in the 10th round in 2021. He has athleticism and speed, but was very raw. Unfortunately, he collided with part of the outfield and suffered a concussion that cost him the entire FCL season.
• Felix Reyes, OF/1B – Reyes is a big slugger with large raw power and really poor contact. He has struggled the last two years on trips to Hi-A Clearwater.
• Gabriel Cotto, LHP – Cotto throws a little bit harder these days, but is still barely touching 90. His slider is a really good pitch, but he is almost 23 and the velocity has just not come far enough.
• Cade Fergus, OF – Fergus is a good defensive center fielder who has good raw power if he can get to it. He also struck out 51 times in 115 pro plate appearances.
• Chad Castillo, 1B/OF – Castillo is another small school smasher drafted by the Phillies this past year. He hit the ball hard, but not at the high end, and played primarily first base. He has too much hit and miss to be optimistic about his long term future.
• Lou Helmig, OF – Helmig is a large left-handed hitting German slugger who struggled to impact the ball in 2022. He is a corner outfielder, and his swing is a bit long and stiff. He has a high risk of never getting past A-ball, but he also does not have much experience facing professional arms.
• Otto Kemp, 3B – Kemp was an NDFA signing this summer after mashing the last two years at Point Loma Nazarene. He did not put up big numbers for Clearwater, but had some of the highest exit velocities.
• Estibenzon Jimenez, RHP – The Phillies jumped the 20 (now 21) year old Jimenez from the DSL to the FCL, and then to the Threshers for his last two starts. The short righty is up to 94 with a four seam fastball with run. He has a slider and changeup as well, and was able to throw a good amount of strikes at every level. He probably is not far off of the back end starters on the back of the list.
• Ezra Farmer, OF – Farmer is the rare NDFA high school signing. He has some projection and athletic twitchiness, but will be a long term project.
• Pedro Martinez, SS – Martinez was once a prospect of some note with the Cubs and then the Rays. He put up good numbers before the pandemic, but put up enormous swing and miss numbers in 2021 and missed most of 2022 to injury. The Phillies took Martinez in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft, so they will see if they can resurrect the career of the now 22 year old. He can play all over the infield, and showed enough bat back in 2019 that he has the upside to be a utility infielder, even if that is a distant outcome.
• Tristan Garnett, LHP – Garnett is a big lefty who can get his fastball up to 94 (even if it will sit a bit lower). His changeup is probably his best secondary pitch, but he has a slider and has broken off a few curveballs. He threw a bunch of strikes in Clearwater, but has had control problems in the past.
• Wilson Valdez Jr., RHP – The son of a former Phillies shortstop turned reliever, Valdez also moved from the infield to the mound this year. His high 70s slider showed some promise, but his fastball was more 89-91, topping out at 93. He still has a long way to go and is entering his age 23 season, but the story is fun.

DSL Notables

• Jerffson Pena, OF – Pena was signed at the end of the 2021 signing period, so 2022 was his debut. He is an athletic center fielder who struck out a bit much, but has some interesting tools.
• Maxwell Hernandez, RHP – Hernandez was the ace of the White team this summer, and one of the best statistical pitchers in the DSL. He is a solidly built RHP who was sitting 89-91 earlier in the season, but was more 90-93 for the playoffs. He has a slider that was 77-80, but his best pitch was a low 80s changeup that befuddled DSL hitters. He throws plenty of strikes, and he has some interesting back of the rotation traits.
• Raylin Heredia, OF – The Phillies signed Heredia for $300,000 at the start of 2021, but he only played in 2 games his first season. He is an aggressive hitter at the plate, who hit a ton of line drives and kept the ball off the ground. He is still raw, but was one of the steady producers on the DSL White team. 
• Saul Teran, RHP – Teran is a shorter RHP. He mostly worked out of the bullpen to open the year, but moved to the rotation to end the season. His fastball sits 90-94 with armside run, but he struggled to hold the higher end of the range deeper into starts late in the season. Throws a low 80s slider and threw a few changeups as well. Had a couple poor appearances, but otherwise was one of the reasons DSL Phillies White won the championship.
• Jonh Henriquez, RHP – Henriquez is already 23 and just signed this year after requesting a tryout. He had some control issues in his brief appearance, but his fastball was dominant, sitting 94-97 with good carry. He also threw a low 80s slider. The Phillies will bring him stateside and see if he can be a quick moving reliever.
• Danyony Pulido, RHP – Pulido is a 20 year old short RHP who put up a 1.82 ERA while hitting up to 94 with his fastball, as well as throwing a changeup and a slow curveball. He struggled to throw strikes consistently in both of his seasons.
• Nolan Beltran, SS – Beltran was one of the Phillies big signings in 2022 and did not impact the ball much for the DSL Phillies (despite reports of impressive exit velocities as an amateur). He did walk a ton, and played a solid second base, though he struggled with errors at short.
• Hermes Astudillo, RHP – Astudillo finished up his 3rd season in the DSL, and it wasn’t the most impressive statistically. He did sit 90-94 as a short right hander.
• Javier Fuenmayor, RHP – Fuenmayor has been a bit of a workhorse and swingman the last two seasons in the DSL. He is a 6’2” righty with a 4 pitch mix and a fastball that sits 89-94.
• Marco Soto, SS – Soto has a coach’s profile picture, but is actually a 19 year old switch hitting shortstop. He didn’t show much power, but has a good approach and feel for contact. He should be stateside in 2023.
• Manolfi Jimenez, OF – Jimenez is another athletic outfielder, though he is more of a right fielder in the long term. He posted good strikeout rates for the level, but faded strongly down the stretch. He probably gets another year in the DSL.
• Leonardo Rondon, C – Rondon was a catcher turned second baseman when he signed for $350,000 in 2021. After a rough first season, he moved back behind the plate in 2022. He was one the better hitters in the DSL, hitting .340/430/.476 with low strikeout rates. He is not the best defender behind the plate and was at first base more than he was at catcher. He is a short, solidly built hitter, and is already stateside this spring. If he can catch, he might be interesting.

Previously Ranked Prospects

• Kendall Simmons, IF – Simmons continues to make loud contact and had a bright 17 games in Jersey Shore to end the year. There are still massive questions about how much contact he will make and where he ends up defensively.
• Casey Martin, SS – Martin is a good defensive shortstop, but his bat is the problem. He greatly reduced his strikeout rate, but his walk rate collapsed, and his contact quality was poor. He is entering his age 24 season having hit .181/.235/.281 in A-ball in 2022.
• Freylin Minyety, IF – Minyety showed some ability to hit and possibly have positional flexibility in 2021. In 2022, he did the opposite, where he did not show impact with the bat (.017 ISO on the season) and lacked a position.

I Just Think They Are Neat and They Don’t Fall into Another Category

• Vito Friscia, C/1B/OF – Friscia is a 40th round pick from the last draft with a 40th round.He has a good approach and is a good AA/AAA contributor, but does not have enough offensive impact for his positions. He has future coach written all over him, but for now is a really solid minor league veteran.
• Rixon Wingrove, 1B – Wingrove is a big Australian slugger who strikes out too much and hits for no power vs LHPs (in very limited work). He likely never hits enough to be more than a Reading legend in 2023.
• Jared Carr, OF – Carr has posted large strikeout rates and saw his power evaporate for Jersey Shore. He found a bit more power with Adelaide this winter, but the contact issues persisted. He has shown to be a pretty good outfield defender.
• Anthony Quirion, C – Quirion was a 3B/C in college, but has moved almost entirely behind the plate in 2022. His numbers in affiliated ball were buoyed by a massive number of hit by pitches with Clearwater. He has some high end exit velocities and was one of the best hitters this winter on the Claxton Shield winning Adelaide team.