Midseason Prospect Update: Phillies
The Midseason Top 10 Prospect lists are compiled from conversations with front office officials and scouts from all 30 teams. Players who have exhausted prospect eligibility or were in the Major Leagues as of June 22 are not eligible. Draftees from the 2016 draft and July 2, 2016 signees are also not eligible.
SEE ALSO: Midseason Top 100
Slowly but surely, the Phillies’ team of the future is taking shape. Vince Velasquez, one of the key pieces of the haul that sent closer Ken Giles to Houston, has dealt with a few injuries but has been incredibly effective when he’s been healthy. Odubel Herrera, the center fielder they took with the No. 1 pick in the Rule 5 draft two winters ago, has developed plate discipline and transformed himself into an all-star.
| 2019 PROJECTED LINEUP |
| C Jorge Alfaro |
| 1B Rhys Hoskins |
| 2B Scott Kingery |
| 3B Maikel Franco |
| SS J.P. Crawford |
| LF Cornelius Randolph |
| CF Odubel Herrera |
| RF Nick Williams |
| No. 1 Starter Aaron Nola |
| No. 2 Starter Vince Velasquez |
| No. 3 Starter Jake Thompson |
| No. 4 Starter Franklyn Kilome |
| No. 5 Starter Zach Eflin |
| Closer Jeanmar Gomez |
And on the farm, the system continues to reap the benefits of the trades of Giles, all-star lefty Cole Hamels and a few years in a row of having early draft picks. The Hamels deal added three of their top five prospects—otufielder Nick Williams, catcher Jorge Alfaro and righthander Jake Thompson. Williams shows flashes of a profile right fielder, but has struggled with maintaining his effort at times. Alfaro has developed enough behind the plate to make evaluators believe he can stick there long-term, and Thompson has showed the makings of a back-end starter.
From the draft, J.P. Crawford, the team’s first-round pick in 2013, has continued to impress as he’s moved up the ladder. He’s struggled a little bit in Triple-A, but that he’s there as a 21-year-old is an incredibly positive sign. Dylan Cozens, picked in the second round in 2012, is going through a breakthrough and is second in the minor leagues in home runs, behind only teammate Rhys Hoskins.
Just two years after the system looked as barren as can be, a few smart trades, drafts and international signings have turned Philadelphia’s farm system into one of the game’s best.
MIDSEASON TOP 10
1. J. P. Crawford, ss
The No. 1 prospect entering the season, Crawford has done little to fall out of the top spot this season. His development was slowed a touch by a torn ligament in his thumb during the Arizona Fall League that lingered into the spring training and caused him to alter his hitting mechanics a bit. He showed well in a return to Double-A, including an on-base percentage near .400, and has held his own as a 21-year-old in the International League. He still projects as a well-rounded shortstop on both sides of the ball with all-star potential.
2. Nick Williams, of
Pushed to Triple-A this year, Williams shows flashes of the tools it will take to become a classic profile right fielder in the big leagues. That list includes above-average power and a well above-average throwing arm. He still needs to work on maturity, though, having been yanked from multiple games this season for lack of effort.
3. Jake Thompson, rhp
Another part of the haul the Phillies netted in last summer’s Cole Hamels deal, Thompson has been inconsistent this year but can show the makings of a No. 4-type starter. His low-90s sinker is his bread and butter, and his slider and curveball alternate as his top offspeed pitch. The Phillies would like Thompson to work on keeping his delivery in sync.
4. Jorge Alfaro, c
Yet another piece of the Hamels deal, Alfaro has upped his game this year at Double-A. He missed time with an oblique strain, but when healthy has shown his trademark power at the plate and athleticism behind it. He has a well above-average throwing arm as well, and has nabbed 45 percent of runners this year with Reading.
5. Andrew Knapp, c
Knapp fits perfectly in the offensive-minded catcher’s profile. He’s worked hard to smooth his defense behind the plate and has held his own in his first taste of Triple-A. He’s a switch-hitter who shows doubles power from both sides of the plate with strength to put a ball over the fence every now and again.
6. Franklyn Kilome, rhp
A long, lanky righthander, Kilome’s numbers were ugly to begin the year at low Class A Lakewood. Even so, evaluators inside of out of the organization saw the stuff to make him a future rotation piece, including a low-to-mid-90s fastball and an above-average curveball. His main goal right now is keeping his long arms and legs in sync during his delivery.
7. Cornelius Randolph, of
The Phillies first-rounder a year ago, Randolph hasn’t been on the field much this year. He strained a muscle behind his right shoulder blade and had been out of action since April 21 before hitting the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League for a few rehab games. When he returns, the Phillies still project him as a left fielder with profile offense for the position and developing defense.
8. Adonis Medina, rhp
After opening eyes in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League last year, Medina has come out strong in the New York-Penn League. The athletic righthander has used his three-pitch mix to pound the strike zone, and came two outs from a nine-inning no-hitter for Williamsport this summer.
9. Carlos Tocci, of
The story with Tocci is the same as ever: He’s got the tools, but he needs to add strength. He shows feel to hit, and has performed well as a 20-year-old in the Florida State League. He’s got defensive chops enough to stick in center field as well.
10. Dylan Cozens, of
The biggest riser in the Phillies system, without question, has been Cozens. The 22-year-old outfielder is tied with teammate Rhys Hoskins in leading the minor leagues with 25 home runs. There are still questions, however. He’s getting better in the outfield, though he’s not an average defender. At 29 percent, his strikeout rate is also the highest of his career.
RISING
Cozens’ teammate in Reading, first baseman Rhys Hoskins has also made an impact. He’s tied in home runs with Cozens, and he’ll have to continue to hit that way at first base, where his defense is just fringy. He had a monster June (.351, 13 homers) with some longer homers, but Reading caveats apply . . . In his first full season, second baseman Scott Kingery has blossomed into the player the Phillies thought he would be. That is, a middle infielder with a chance for impact on both sides of the ball.
FALLING
Righthander Tom Windle, once thought of as a possible starter, has been moved to the bullpen and has had a rough go of it there as well. He’s had trouble repeating his already funky delivery, and has been tagged for a 6.08 ERA this season . . . Righthander Mark Appel wasn’t having a good year to begin with (3-3, 4.46) but now is out for the season after having surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow.
HURTING
As mentioned earlier, Appel is out for the rest of the season after having surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow . . . Randolph has been out since April 21 with the strained shoulder muscle but has recently begun playing games in the Gulf Coast League . . . OF Roman Quinn is still on the disabled list with a strained oblique muscle . . . Righthander Jimmy Cordero strained his right biceps in spring training and has yet to pitch this season.
COMING ABOARD
Mickey Moniak, of. One of the best players available in Southern California this year, Moniak offers a hit tool that projects to be well above-average as well as enough defensive chops to stick in center field.
Kevin Gowdy, rhp. Gowdy combines a three pitch mix of a low-90s fastball, a potentially plus curveball and a solid changeup with a background that included tutelage under Cubs pro scout Tom Myers.
Cole Stobbe, 3b. Solid all-around player with range and enough arm to stick at third base as well as the bat speed and path to project for an average hit tool with average power.
JoJo Romero, lhp. After transferring from Nevada to Yavapai (Ariz.) CC, Romero showed a low-90s sinking fastball and an average changeup
Cole Irvin, lhp. All the way back from Tommy John surgery he had in 2014, Irvin blends all four pitches with control and command enough to project as a possible back-end starter in the big leagues.
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