With spring training in full swing and both prospects and major leaguers preparing for the start of the 2023 season, Phillies Nation has put together its latest rankings of the top players in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system.
As stated in previous versions of this prospect list, assessments of these prospects are based on the play the Phillies Nation staff has seen covering these players in-person, analysis of film, conversations with scouts, coaches and other player development personnel and information from outlets such as Baseball America, FanGraphs, Prospects Live and MLB Pipeline.
The Phillies enter the season with a trio of high-level right-handed pitching prospects, all of them capable of potentially contributing in the big leagues as early as this year. After that, the organization has a drop off in talent, but there are still a few names that offer high upside in the future.
1. Andrew Painter, RHP
A 2021 first-round pick, Painter dominated the minors in his first full season of pro ball in 2022. Now, he has a real chance to crack the Phillies’ rotation as a teenager later this month. Turning 20 in April, the 6-foot-7 righty has a high-powered fastball, a curveball, a changeup and a slider that misses bats, and he’s been working to add in a cutter to his arsenal. Painter has the stuff to help the Phillies in the short term with the potential to develop into a future ace if he continues on this track.
2. Mick Abel, RHP
Abel, selected in the first round out of high school in 2020, was thought to be a polished pitcher for his age coming out of the draft with more room to grow. And while he hasn’t progressed quite as much as some thought he could, the 21-year-old has been solid so far in his minor-league career as he reached Double-A last season. With good control, Abel should be able to slide into a back-of-the-rotation role in the next couple seasons, perhaps making spot starts later this year if the Phillies need the depth.
3. Griff McGarry, RHP
A high-powered arm with wipeout stuff and control issues, the 23-year-old McGarry has a ton of upside, but still lacks a clear future role. He reached Double-A last season as a starter, overpowering opposing batters. The Phillies then gave him a look out of the bullpen at Triple-A at the end of the season, but never promoted him to the majors due to a blister issue and general ineffectiveness. If he can limit the walks, McGarry could be a nasty starter at some point in the next few years. If not, it’s not hard to envision him as a potential high-leverage reliever.
4. Hao-Yu Lee, INF
An international signing from Taiwan in 2021, Lee had a breakout 2022 in his first full professional season, reaching High-A. The right-handed batter showed off some pop in 79 games as he hit nine homers, while displaying good on-base skills throughout the season. While he’s played shortstop and third base, he projects as an offensive-minded regular second baseman in the future.
5. Johan Rojas, OF
A 22-year-old center fielder who reached Double-A last year, Rojas’ speed is a legitimate game-changer. He stole 62 bases in the minors in 2022 and is a well above-average defender in center. Good things happen when Rojas gets on base and makes solid contact, but his pitch selection tends to hold that back too often. If he can improve in that regard at the plate, there’s a world where the right-handed hitter is a very helpful regular contributor.
6. William Bergolla Jr., INF
Bergolla, an 18-year-old shortstop, was the Phillies’ top international signing last year out of Venezuela. A left-handed hitter, he showed an advanced hit tool in the Dominican Summer League and is a smooth fielder as well. He still has a long way to go in terms of development and will need to add power, but Bergolla has started off well.
7. Justin Crawford, OF
The Phillies took Crawford, the son of former Rays outfielder Carl Crawford, in the first round of last year’s draft. The 19-year-old is an advanced defensive center fielder with plus speed that translates on the bases as well. His bat is not as far along; Crawford has the ability to make contact, but will need to improve on doing more damage when he does and adding power.
8. Andrew Baker, RHP
Baker, an 11th-round pick in 2021, excelled down the stretch as a right-handed reliever who reached Double-A last season. He has a fastball that reaches triple digits and a sharp-breaking slider, and he’s been working on a cutter as well. The 22-year-old could help the big-league bullpen at some point in 2023.
9. Símon Muzziotti, OF
Muzziotti, 24, has not seen the field that much since 2019, with COVID taking away the 2020 season, visa issues costing him most of 2021 and injuries preventing him from playing more than 55 games in 2022. The center fielder started last season as a reserve in Philadelphia when the team dealt with other injuries. A good defender with a solid left-handed hit tool, Muzziotti has the ability to be at least a solid bench outfielder if the Phillies need it again.
10. Alex McFarlane, RHP
A fourth rounder last season, McFarlane is a hard-throwing righty who pitched mostly as a reliever in college at Miami. The Phillies will give him a look as a starter in the minors, but the 21-year-old will need to improve his control. Still, he has tremendous stuff and there’s a path where a move back to the bullpen helps him find success.
11. Carlos De La Cruz, OF/INF
A 6-foot-8 outfielder/first baseman, De La Cruz is an incredibly fun player to watch with the ability to smoke the baseball off the bat. The 23-year-old reached Double-A last year and hit 17 homers in the minor-league season. With such a large strike zone at his frame, De La Cruz has room to improve his pitch selection in order to do more consistent damage, but he has plenty to build off of last season.
12. Gabriel Rincones Jr., OF
A third rounder last year, Rincones is a left-handed hitter with plus raw power who doesn’t always have to pull the ball to do damage. The soon-to-be 22-year-old will have to limit the strikeouts, though, if he wants to rise through the system. Rincones will make his professional debut this season.
13. Emaarion Boyd, OF
Boyd, an 11th-round selection in 2022, has speed to make an impact on the basepaths and in center field. In a handful of Single-A games last year, Boyd showed some promise with the hit tool, but the bat will need to come along for the 19-year-old to reach his potential.
14. Rickardo Perez, C
With players like Logan O’Hoppe and Donny Sands getting traded away and Rafael Marchan shedding his prospect eligibility, Perez is now the top catching prospect in a system that has had solid depth in the position in recent years. Still only 19 years old, the contact ability has been solid for Perez in rookie ball, with room for power to come for the left-handed hitter.
15. Christian McGowan, RHP
McGowan, who only made two outings in 2022 after Tommy John surgery, will be pitching in his first full season in 2023. The 22-year-old will get a chance to start with his fastball-slider-changeup combination. Perhaps a move to the bullpen could happen at some point, allowing him to get a little more velocity out of his fastball, but a role as a starter is definitely there to take if McGowan is feeling healthy.
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