Astros, Phillies World Series Rosters Have Prospect Pedigree

Image credit: Alex Bregman (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

The point of prospects is they become big leaguers. Preferably, big leaguers who can help a team win a championship.

The annual Baseball America Prospect Handbook endeavors to identify the prospects in the minors each year who will one day become major leaguers, and project how big of a role those players will play in MLB.

While predicting the future will always be an imperfect exercise, the vast majority of big leaguers ranked as a Top 30 prospect in a BA Prospect Handbook at some point during their minor league careers. That is especially true for the players in the 2022 World Series.

A total of 49 of the 52 players on the World Series rosters announced by the Astros and Phillies ahead of Game 1 ranked in a Prospect Handbook at least once as a prospect. That includes Game 1 starters Justin Verlander and Aaron Nola, NLCS MVP Bryce Harper, ALCS MVP Jeremy Peña and impact stars Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, Zack Wheeler, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Rhys Hoskins and Nick Castellanos.

The Astros are particularly homegrown. Fourteen of the 26 players on their World Series roster were originally drafted or signed by the organization. All but one ranked among their Top 30 Prospects at some point.

The Phillies, meanwhile, have nine homegrown players on their 26-man roster, all of whom ranked among their Top 30 Prospects.

Below are the 2022 World Series rosters and when those players ranked in a Prospect Handbook.

 

ASTROS

Player	Pos.	Handbook Appearances
Bryan Abreu	RHP	Astros 2019-21
Hunter Brown	RHP	Astros 2020-22
Luis Garcia	RHP	Astros 2018, 2020-21
Cristian Javier	RHP	Astros 2018, 2020
Lance McCullers Jr.	RHP	Astros 2013-15
Rafael Montero	RHP	Mets 2013-15
Hector Neris	RHP	N/A
Ryan Pressly	RHP	N/A
Will Smith	LHP	Angels 2009-10, Royals 2012
Ryne Stanek	RHP	Rays 2014-15, 2017
Jose Urquidy	RHP	Astros 2017, 2020
Framber Valdez	LHP	Astros 2018-19
Justin Verlander	RHP	Tigers 2005-06
Martin Maldonado	C	Brewers 2012
Christian Vazquez	C	Red Sox 2012-14
Jose Altuve	2B	Astros 2011
Alex Bregman	3B	Astros 2016
Yuli Gurriel	1B	Astros 2017, 2020
David Hensley	SS	N/A
Trey Mancini	1B	Orioles 2014-17
Jeremy Peña	SS	Astros 2019-22
Yordan Alvarez	OF/DH	Astros 2017-19
Aledmys Diaz	OF/INF	Cardinals 2015-16
Mauricio Dubon	OF/INF	Red Sox 2015-16, Brewers 2017-19, Giants 2020
Chas McCormick	OF	Astros 2021
Kyle Tucker	OF	Astros 2016-19

PHILLIES

Player	Pos.	Handbook Appearances
Jose Alvarado	LHP	Rays 2017
Brad Hand	LHP	Marlins 2009-11
Ranger Suarez	LHP	Phillies 2018-19
Andrew Bellatti	RHP	Rays 2016
Connor Brogdon	RHP	Phillies 2020-21
Seranthony Dominguez	RHP	Phillies 2018
Zach Eflin	RHP	Padres 2013-15, Phillies 2016
Kyle Gibson	RHP	Twins 2010-13
Nick Nelson	RHP	Yankees 2019-21
Aaron Nola	RHP	Phillies 2015
David Robertson	RHP	Yankees 2008-09
Noah Syndergaard	RHP	Blue Jays 2011-13, Mets 2014-15
Zack Wheeler	RHP	Giants 2010-11, Mets 2012-13
J.T. Realmuto	C	Marlins 2011-15
Garrett Stubbs	C	Astros 2017-20
Alec Bohm	3B	Phillies 2019-20
Rhys Hoskins	1B	Phillies 2016-17
Nick Maton	INF	Phillies 2020-22
Jean Segura	2B	Angels 2010-12
Edmundo Sosa	SS/3B	Cardinals 2014-21
Bryson Stott	SS	Phillies 2020-22
Nick Castellanos	OF	Tigers 2011-14
Bryce Harper	OF	Nationals 2011-12
Brandon Marsh	OF	Angels 2017-21
Kyle Schwarber	OF	Cubs 2015
Matt Vierling	OF	Phillies 2019, 2022