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The Rankings: (last year's ranks in parenthesis)
- Jorge Alfaro
- Andrew Knapp (3)
- Deivi Grullon (1)
- Gabriel Lino (10)
- Logan Moore (5)
- Chace Numata (HM)
- Edgar Cabral
- Austin Bossart
- Gregori Rivero
- Willians Astudillo
It's not often the top catching prospect in baseball gets traded, though its not often that a player like Cole Hamels is made available either. With Kyle Schwarber officially graduating, Jorge Alfaro became the defacto king of the mountain...err plate. Jorge Alfaro is a tremendously intriguing prospect between his raw power, speed (for a catcher) and arm. 2015 was a bit rough for Alfaro, between the less than ideal production and a nearly season-ending ankle injury that kept him out until early September. He would hit in a few Gulf Coast League games before eventually heading for winter ball. He is still only 22 years old and won't turn 23 until June of next season. Alfaro has a number of things to work on, namely his defense and plate discipline. If he isn't cut out at the former, there is a decent chance he is moved to the outfield eventually.
Andrew Knapp moves up a spot from last year. If you haven't heard, he has been pretty good (and is still playing baseball in the Arizona Fall League). The 2015 Paul Owens Award Winner finished with .308/.385/.491 triple slash across High-A and AA ball. What is more surprising is his AA line, which was a mind-blowing .360/.419/.631 with 11 HR in 214 at bats. He was the hottest hitter in minor league ball for two months. The switch-hitter also seemed to figure out how to bat better as a right-handed hitter, which was a trouble spot for him the past couple seasons. Why isn't he ranked ahead of Alfaro? All of Alfaro's raw tools (power, speed, arm) far surpass Knapp's. Knapp is also similarly challenged behind the plate still and might not ever been strong enough back there to be an everyday receiver. My guess is Knapp begins in AAA next season while Alfaro takes on AA.
The rest of the list is a mish-mash of safety and projection. Grullon falls from the top catching prospect to #3. He spent all season in Lakewood as a 19 year old and struggled at the plate. However, he did finish with a very strong August/September and ended the season with 8 HR. He is a terrific defensive catcher with a plus arm that might not ever hit all that well. Willians Astudillo is still an anomaly of the baseball world. He doesn't really have a position, but he hits the hell out of baseballs (though with very little power). He isn't a good athlete and doesn't play any other positions well enough to stick. In all honesty, if he didn't hit he wouldn't be on this list. Gabriel Lino, Logan Moore and Chace Numata all have decent shots at getting calls up to the majors in a backup role. Logan Moore is the much better receiver of the three, but doesn't do much with the bat. Both Cabral and Bossart are 2015 draft picks who had excellent seasons in short-season/rookie ball at the plate and are worth keeping an eye on. Rivero is a defensive catcher that the Phillies brass seem to have taken a liking to and Rafael Marchan was one of two big IFA signings by the Phillies this past season. Marchan was the 23rd ranked IFA according to Baseball America. We shall see how aggressive the Phillies are with him next season and if he starts stateside.