By Chris Kline
January 10, 2007

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2007.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)
Phillies Chat  Chris Kline	Pre-Order the 2007 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team

TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Carlos Carrasco, rhp 2. Kyle Drabek, rhp 3. Adrian Cardenas, ss/2b 4. Edgar Garcia, rhp 5. Scott Mathieson, rhp 6. Josh Outman, lhp 7. Michael Bourn, of 8. J.A. Happ, lhp 9. Matt Maloney, lhp 10. Greg Golson, of

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Adrian Cardenas Best Power Hitter Mike Costanzo Best Strike-Zone Discipline Carlos Ruiz Fastest Baserunner Greg Golson Best Athlete Greg Golson Best Fastball Carlos Carrasco Best Curveball Kyle Drabek Best Slider Josh Outman Best Changeup J.A. Happ Best Control J.A. Happ Best Defensive Catcher Tim Gradoville Best Defensive Infielder Freddy Galvez Best Infield Arm Welinson Baez Best Defensive Outfielder Greg Golson Best Outfield Arm Greg Golson

PROJECTED 2010 LINEUP

Catcher Carlos Ruiz First Base Ryan Howard Second Base Chase Utley Third Base Mike Costanzo Shortstop Jimmy Rollins Left Field Pat Burrell Center Field Aaron Rowand Right Field Adrian Cardenas No. 1 Starter Cole Hamels No. 2 Starter Brett Myers No. 3 Starter Carlos Carrasco No. 4 Starter Kyle Drabek No. 5 Starter Freddy Garcia Closer Scott Mathieson

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2006 1997 Scott Rolen, 3b Cardinals 1998 Ryan Brannan, rhp Out of baseball 1999 Pat Burrell, 1b Phillies 2000 Pat Burrell, 1b/of Phillies 2001 Jimmy Rollins, ss Phillies 2002 Marlon Byrd, of Nationals 2003 Gavin Floyd, rhp Phillies 2004 Cole Hamels, lhp Phillies 2005 Ryan Howard, 1b Phillies 2006 Cole Hamels, lhp Phillies

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2006 1997 *J.D. Drew, of Dodgers 1998 Pat Burrell, 1b Phillies 1999 Brett Myers, rhp Phillies 2000 Chase Utley, 2b Phillies 2001 Gavin Floyd, rhp Phillies 2002 Cole Hamels, lhp Phillies 2003 Tim Moss, 2b (3rd round) Phillies 2004 Greg Golson, of Phillies 2005 Mike Costanzo (2nd round) Phillies 2006 Kyle Drabek, rhp Phillies

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Gavin Floyd, 2001 $4,200,000 Pat Burrell, 1998 $3,150,000 Brett Myers, 1999 $2,050,000 Cole Hamels, 2002 $2,000,000 Chase Utley, 2000 $1,780,000

Phillies LINKS

Phillies' Team Page Phillies Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Phillies Top 10 Prospects 2006 Draft: Phillies (Basic Database) 2006 Draft: Phillies  (Advanced Database) 2006 Draft Report Cards: NL East  Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2007 Prospect Handbook

After dealing Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle to the Yankees at the trade deadline, the Phillies appeared to turning the page and starting to rebuild. But with Abreu gone, the clubhouse suddenly came together and homegrown talents Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Cole Hamels led an improbable run at the wild card.

Though Philadelphia fell three games short of the Dodgers for the wild card, the Phillies served notice that they will be legitimate contenders in the National League East in 2007. Howard set a club record with 58 homers and won the league MVP award. Utley set a franchise record for second basemen with 32 homers and scored an NL-best 131 runs, four ahead of Rollins, who hit a career-high 25 homers. Hamels went 7-4, 2.60 over the final two months, which may be the first step in establishing himself as one of the game's top southpaws.

Furthermore, the Phillies re-energized the fan base in a city known to have more brotherly love for the NFL’s Eagles or even the NHL’s Flyers. Now the next task is to end a 13-year postseason drought.

To do that, Philadelphia will rely heavily on its homegrown core, which also includes Pat Burrell and Brett Myers. The farm system may make a couple of new contributions as well. Carlos Ruiz has flown under the radar during his eight-year pro career but could be Mike Lieberthal's successor at catcher. Outfielder Michael Bourn, lefthander J.A. Happ and righties Joe Bisenius and Zach Segovia probably will begin the season in the minors but are close to being ready if needed. The Phillies also had high hopes for righthander Scott Mathieson--who floundered in his 2006 big league debut--but he'll miss most or all of 2007 after having Tommy John surgery.

Though the system has churned out Howard, Utley and Hamels in recent years, it has lacked depth. As a result, general manager Pat Gillick had assistant GM Mike Arbuckle got more involved in the draft. The club's scouting director from 1993-2001, Arbuckle oversaw drafts that included Scott Rolen, Adam Eaton, Rollins, Randy Wolf, Burrell, Ryan Madson, Myers, Utley and Howard.

In 2006 the Phillies kicked off their draft with a pair of intriguing picks who rank second and third on this prospect list. They gambled the 18th choice on mercurial righthander Kyle Drabek, who had one of the best arms but also one of the most questionable makeups available. In the supplemental first round they grabbed sweet-swinging shortstop Adrian Cardenas, Baseball America's High School Player of the Year.

Philadelphia's minor league affiliates combined for a .526 winning percentage, eighth-best in baseball, highlighted by low Class A Lakewood. The BlueClaws went 84-55 during the regular season and won the South Atlantic League playoffs behind a rotation led by the organization's top prospect, righthander Carlos Carrasco, and lefties Josh Outman and Matt Maloney.

For a team planning to contend, the Phillies surprisingly added three players in the major league Rule 5 draft at the Winter Meetings. Live-armed righthanders Jim Ed Warden and Alfredo Simon could claim spots in the bullpen, though defensive-minded catcher Ryan Budde seems a stretch to make the club.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)

Pre-Order the 2007 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team