Last year, Baseball America credited the Phillies farm system with having seven of the top 100 prospects in baseball. It was seemingly a watershed year as several young players like J.P. Crawford, Rhys Hoskins and Nick Williams all made their Major League debuts and the team got substantially younger.
With 42-year-old manager Gabe Kapler taking the reigns, the youth movement will likely continue as the team hopes to round into competitive form over the next two seasons or so.
Here is a look at the 10 players Baseball American lists as Philadelphia’s best prospects, and when we expect to see them playing in South Philly:
1. J.P. Crawford, SS
Despite some issues at the plate — he hit just .214 in 70 plate appearances in September with the Phillies — Crawford’s potential remains really high as he still flashes the best glove of any prospect on the Phils’ farm. He will almost definitely be Philadelphia’s opening day starter at shortstop.
MLB ETA: 2018
2. Sixto Sanchez, RHP
Sanchez hasn’t risen past Single-A Clearwater yet but he still is the best pitcher in Philly’s system and could be a future ace. He has the best fastball in the organization and that pop could get him on the fast track. He will probably begin the year in Double-A Reading.
MLB ETA: 2019
3. Scott Kingery, 2B
He’s the best minor league hitter the Phillies have — and he tore through Double and Triple-A in 2017. He has a good chance of making the opening day roster, as the Phillies resisted calls for his promotion all throughout his age-23 season.
MLB ETA: 2018
4. Adonis Medina, RHP
The future mid-rotation starter is still just 20 and has some work to do before making it through the higher levels of the minors, but he still lands in the BA top 100 and has a very high ceiling.
MLB ETA: 2021
5. Adam Haseley, OF
Last year’s No. 8 overall pick his 284 across three different low-minors levels last year and could also be on a fast-majors track.
MLB ETA: 2020
6. Jojo Romero, LHP
Finally some left-handed talent — an area lacking for the Phillies since Cole Hamels’ youth. Romero has four great pitches and has a 2.27 ERA combined over his first two seasons. He’s just 21 but could be Philly bound before you know it.
MLB ETA: 2020
7. Jhailyn Ortiz, OF
Just 18, Ortiz showed average and power in Low-A ball. He has a while to go and some good players blocking him in the outfield but good hitting can make that irrelevant. He’s on a slow-roll to the bigs.
MLB ETA: 2022
8. Jorge Alfaro, C
Alfaro is solidifing himself as the catcher of the future for the franchise. In 29 games with the Phillies this fall he his .318 and smashed five homers. He will start at catcher next season.
MLB ETA: 2018
9. Mickey Moniak, OF
Moniak was the No. 1 overall pick in 2016. He has had ups and downs early in his career but still shows promise and could be a speedy leadoff hitter sometime soon.
MLB ETA: 2021
10. Franklyn Kilome, RHP
The 21-year-old ascended all the way to Double-A last year — thanks to a spectacular curveball. If he can start the year in Triple-A, he could be in the bigs by 2019.
MLB ETA: 2019
