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Draft Aftermath and Deadline 2024 – Phillies Nation

Draft Aftermath and Deadline 2024 – Phillies Nation

The Phillies’ top prospects include Aidan Miller, Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter. (Graphic: Grace Del Pizzo of Phillies Nation. Photos: Cheryl Pursell and Cliff Welch, Icon Sportswire)

The Phillies upended the farm system by adding new players to the organization in the Major League Baseball Draft in July, then both added and removed potential players before the trade deadline.

After all the recent changes, Phillies Nation The Phillies have put together their latest ranking of the top prospects in their system. Three members of the final Top 15 list — right-hander George Klassen, left-hander Samuel Aldegheri and infielder William Bergolla Jr. — were traded by the Phillies for major league additions. In that order, there are three newcomers to the list: two draft picks and a player acquired in a trade.

As noted in previous versions of this prospects list, the evaluations of these prospects are based on the gameplay. Phillies Nation The staff personally approached these players, analyzed film, interviewed scouts, coaches and other player development personnel, and obtained information from sources such as: Baseball America, FanGraphs And MLB Pipeline.

1. Andrew Painter, Right-Handed Pitcher

A 2021 first-round draft pick out of high school, Painter appeared destined for a spot in the Phillies’ rotation at age 19 last spring before injuring his elbow. His recovery from Tommy John surgery will keep him out all of this season, but Painter still has ace-level potential at 6-foot-7. There should be a clear case for him to make his big-league debut during his age-22 season in 2025 — likely with a somewhat limited workload.

2. Aidan Miller, INF

Miller, 20, was drafted 27th overall last summer — perhaps brought on by a fractured left hamate bone suffered during his senior year of high school — and his right-handed bat has exploded since he entered professional baseball. Possessing projectable power, Miller has also impressed with his approach. He has stuck to shortstop as he moved up to High-A, but will likely slot in at third base in the future.

3. Starlyn Caba, SS

An 18-year-old shortstop prospect, Caba is a special defender with the tools to make a real impact on that end of the field. In rookie ball, he showed great on-base skills with tremendous speed on the bases, which earned him a recent promotion to Single-A. The power will need to come for the switch hitter, but Caba is still a long way off and has plenty of potential to grow.

4. Mick Abel, Right-Handed Pitcher

A 2020 first-round pick, Abel has struggled in the majors this year with a disastrous season in Triple-A. The dominance that was considered his calling card early in his career has fallen away, causing him to walk more batters and get hit around. His stock has certainly fallen, but he still has the makings of a top prospect if he can get things going.

5. Eduardo Tait, C.

Tait, a 17-year-old left-handed-hitting catcher, has exciting potential behind the plate. He hit the ball hard in rookie ball, really showed off his power in his brief stint in Single-A, and has a strong arm defensively. He’s a long way from the big leagues, to be sure, but that combination of skills is promising for a young catcher.

6. Justin Crawford, OF

The son of former All-Star Carl Crawford, Crawford is a first-round pick in 2022. He’s a top-tier defensive center fielder with impact speed and can hit the ball hard. He’s had trouble hitting too many ground balls, which can limit the left-handed hitter’s ceiling, but Crawford has been a solid starter in Double-A after being recently promoted.

7. Dante Nori, O.F.

The 19-year-old Nori, the 27th overall pick in this year’s draft, is a left-handed hitter and outfielder with effective contact and speed. A bit older than the high school picks, Nori is a starting pitcher who needs to add power. However, his improved approach in the batting order and the value he can add on the bases and in center field could set him up for success.

8. Griffin Burkholder, OF

Burkholder, a second-round pick this year, is another outfielder with great speed that the Phillies added in the draft. A right-handed hitter, the 18-year-old has a powerful swing and plenty of offensive potential to go with his talent as a runner.

9. Bryan Rincon, SS

Another young, two-way shortstop with plenty of defensive ability, Rincon projects to be a solid contributor at center fielder. As a 20-year-old in High-A, he lacks some of the offensive potential of someone like Caba, but he has the tools to make him a big-league prospect in the future. Rincon hasn’t had a chance to play this summer, having been on the injured list since May.

10. Michael Mercado, Right-Handed Pitcher

The Phillies acquired Mercado from the Rays before this season, and the right-handed pitcher quickly found himself in the big leagues after a dominant performance in Triple-A. Mercado, who was thrust into a rotation position in the majors due to some injuries in Philadelphia, was given a tough task because he was overexposed and had trouble getting control. However, if he can continue to develop in Triple-A, he has the power to be quite effective in a relief role.

11. TJayy Walton, OF

Walton, a fourth-round pick last year, is a powerful right-handed hitter who can wreak havoc in the bullpen. He struggled to hit for average in his first full season in Low-A as a 19-year-old, but should have the tools to be a solid hitter and outfielder.

12. Jean Cabrera, Right-Handed Pitcher

Cabrera won the Paul Owens Award for the best pitcher in the Phillies’ system in 2021 after a strong showing in the Dominican Summer League. Now in the Double-A rotation at 22, he remains the lanky right-hander he was when he first started. His skills aren’t dominant, but he should be able to continue to climb the ranks as a starter.

13. Seth Johnson, Right-Handed Pitcher

Johnson — acquired from the Orioles along with another prospect in a trade for Gregory Soto — missed most of 2022 and 2023 due to Tommy John surgery, but is set to return for a full season in 2024. A slightly older prospect at 25 years old in Double-A, the right-handed pitcher is a starter with a fastball in the mid-90s mph and has been effective and healthy this year.

14. Emmaarion Boyd, OF

Boyd, an 11th-round pick in 2022, has speed that makes him a serious threat defensively and especially on the bases. The 20-year-old has struggled to hit for much average or power in High-A, but his unique skill set gives him enough upside that the bat should continue to improve.

15. Christian McGowan, Right-Handed Bowler

McGowan, 24, a seventh-round pick in 2021, missed most of 2023 due to injury and spent much of this season on the IL before making a recent return to Double-A action. He struggled to stay on the mound, but the right-hander has impressive power. A move to the bullpen would make sense and potentially allow him to move up the system faster.

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