The Phillies have a new top prospect, according to the MLB Pipeline rankings released on August 13. This is the first full update of the team Top 30 rankings since the start of the season. However, the Top 100 and team Top 30 rankings have been updated due to graduations throughout the season. These new rankings also include 2024 draft picks. Additionally, updated farm system rankings will be released by MLB Pipeline. The Phillies farm system ranking has improved since Brian Barber and Preston Mattingly were put in charge.
Philly’s New Top Prospect
MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects In Phillies Organization
Ranked 29th in baseball, Aidan Miller is now the highest-ranked member of the Phillies organization. In 80 games between Low-A and High-A this season Miller has a .241/.356/.405 line with seven home runs and 46 RBI. Miller has 50 runs scored and 19 stolen bases this season. Joining Miller among the Top 50 prospects in baseball is Andrew Painter, who is ranked 34th among the majors. Painter has not pitched since spring training in 2023. This is because of Tommy John surgery keeping Painter out this season. This undoubtedly contributed to this drop in the Phillies rankings.
The Phillies have two more prospects in the new Top 100. The 58th-ranked prospect in baseball is Justin Crawford. In 87 minor league games between High-A and Double-A this season, Crawford has a score of .309/.355/.444 line with seven home runs and 50 RBI. Crawford also scored 64 runs and had 34 stolen bases this season. Rounding out the list is Starlyn Caba who is the 91st ranked prospect in baseball. In 65 games between FCL and Low-A this season, Caba has a .235/.401/.300 line with two home runs and 20 RBI. Caba has 49 runs scored and 45 stolen bases this season.
Other Notable Rankings
Rounding out the top five prospects in the Phillies organization is Eduardo Tait. Tait is the youngest of the Phillies Top 10 prospects at 17 years old. In 64 games between FCL and Low-A this season, Tait has a .301/.354/.489 line with nine home runs and 58 RBI. Tait is the most promising prospect outside of the Top 100 in the Phillies organization. While early, the Phillies 2023 international signing class featuring Tait and Caba could be the best in franchise history. Tait and Caba have the highest ceiling of the Phillies top five prospects.
Phillies 2024 first-round pick Dante Nori is the seventh-ranked prospect in the organization. Meanwhile, the Phillies 2024 second-round pick Griffin Burkholder comes in as the team’s eighth-ranked prospect. John Spikerman, the Phillies 2024 third-round pick, is ranked 12th. Rounding out the Phillies 2024 draft picks in the team’s Top 30 is fourth-round pick Carson DeMartini, who is 17th on the list. Trade deadline acquisitions Seth Johnson and Moisés Chace come in on the 15th and 26th, respectively.
Team Top 30 Prospects That Could See Time In The Majors Soon
Phillies sixth-ranked prospect Mick Abel, 21st-ranked prospect Griff McGarry, and the 25th-ranked prospect Carlos De La Cruz have 2024 MLB ETAs. At least one of these players may appear in the majors once rosters expand on September 1. Both Abel and McGarry are Rule 5 Draft eligible this offseason. De La Cruz is scheduled to be a minor league free agent this offseason. To keep these players long-term would require adding them to the 40-man roster. Giving at least one major league tryout in September is the best evaluation path.
Johnson is an under-the-radar September call-up choice. Next season will be the last minor league option year for Johnson. In addition, Johnson is already on the 40-man roster. While Johnson was just promoted to Triple-A for the first time, he is 25. With 40-man roster status and minor league options in mind, giving Johnson an audition period in September makes sense. The Phillies have the roster flexibility to allow Johnson and one of Abel and McGarry to pitch in the majors in September. This allows the Phillies front office to see what they have in Johnson.
Main Photo Credits: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
