TGP Top Phillies Prospects: #10 - #1

The state of our system is (still) strong.

#10 - Jhailyn Ortiz, RF

20 yr. old
2015 International Free Agent
2018 stats - 454 PA, .225/.297/.375, 13 HR, 47 RBI, 2 SB, 35 BB, 148 K

Jay (ranked him 10):
I think we can all agree that Jhailyn’s 2018 was one of disappointment after extreme (at least for me) excitement going into the season. As our friend Winkelman mentions here, not only did he miss parts of the season with a shoulder injury, there were concerns being reported that his vision at the plate was a main culprit for his struggles. It may be time for Ortiz to ditch the glasses and move to contacts. Otherwise, the power is among the elite status both in the organization and minor league ball. There isn’t any reason to think that he can’t show what he did in 2017 (.302/.401/.560 in 187 PA) again.

Cormican (ranked him 10):
I am officially no longer predicting the player who is going to set the minors on fire next year. I owe past apologies to Ortiz, Jose Pujols, Mitch Walding and Jesse Biddle. I’m a huge fan of the ceiling, but there’s some work to be done on the approach and while he’s able to play the outfield now I am curious how long that will last. The range/speed is not very good, though the arm is plus. The raw power is neck and neck with Pujols for best in the system. He’s never going to be a plus hitter, but if he can hit in the .250-.270 range he may be able to pair that with 30+ HR/year and that plays wherever his glove takes him on the diamond.

Victor (ranked him 10):
Obviously a good chunk of Ortiz’s value is tied to where he’ll end up on the field. The hope is that he can handle right field for at least a chunk of his Major League career, and there could be some value in a corner outfielder who can put up .240/.320/.480 or something of the sort. But the risk is that he ends up at first base, and doesn’t make enough contact to even crack a .225 or .230 average. Seeing a fully healthy Ortiz in 2019 would be a sight for sore eyes, though, even if he doesn’t quite it all together quite yet.

#9 - Mickey Moniak, CF

20 yr. old
2016 1st Round Pick
2018 stats - 465 PA, .270/.304/.383, 5 HR, 55 RBI, 6 SB, 22 BB, 100 K (Clearwater)

Jay (ranked him 9):
Yes, Moniak was a #1 overall pick and it would have been very cool and neat if he were putting up superstar numbers. He isn’t, and no one drafted after him is either. It was a sucky draft and we need to live with that. Now then, Moniak salvaged what could have been a lost year by putting up these numbers from May 25 through the end of the season: .303/.346/.464 in 293 PA. If he can keep that up through a full season, we can start discussing how he isn’t a total bust and can factor into future Phillies plans (either on the field or via trade bait). The defense is just barely above average still and the baserunning skills still need a massive improvement. Let’s hope things go well in Reading for Mickey.

Cormican (ranked him 9):
2016 was a bad draft, but if Moniak can play more like his second half last year, at least he won’t have to hear about how some other player should have been picked instead of him. All of his tools took a step back after the draft, but it’s not any fault of his as there are lots of reports he’s a hard worker. He’s still only 20, so there’s time for improvement and I ranked him where I did because the improvement at the end of last season suggests to me that he is adjusting.

Victor (ranked him 9):
I can’t think of anyone needing the Reading bump more than Moniak, for his sake, for the organization’s sake, for everyone who’s doubted him over the last few years. Can he hit a breaking ball? It’s the question that will continue to be asked as he moves through the system. He did make some mechanical changes to produce those better numbers towards the back end of the season, and we’ll see what an overhaul of the minor league coaching staff may do for Moniak (and others, too, of course). The hope at this point is you continue to see the hit tool develop and see if any of that power plays out. Reading can certainly help with the latter, and if what many others have said about the batting eye there is true, perhaps the former, as well.

#8 - Enyel De Los Santos, RHP

23 yr. old
Acquired in 2017 trade for Freddy Galvis
2018 stats -
126.2 IP, 104 H, 41 R, 37 ER, 43 BB, 110 K (Lehigh Valley)
19 IP, 19 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 8 BB, 15 K (Phillies)

Jay (ranked him 8):
Yes, you read that right above...he was acquired for one, Freddy Galvis. EDLS didn’t have much of a challenge in the International League and looked fairly competent outside of one really bad start after he had been recalled to the majors. His floor is pretty high right now as either an above average 5th starter or reliever. EDLS will need to continue to work on his command as he likely begins the 2019 season in Lehigh Valley again.

Cormican (ranked him 8):
EDLS is probably the least exciting guy for me in the top 10, but that’s not to say he isn’t good. He could be a mid-rotation starter and at worst an MLB reliever. He’s got a plus fastball and an average changeup and 2 breaking balls that are both below to fringe average, depending upon how optimistic you might be. If his command/control and one breaking ball improve he’ll be a heck of a return for Galvis.

Victor (ranked him 8):
He’s certainly in an interesting spot heading into 2019. Though Zach Eflin will probably be in the rotation, and Jerad Eickhoff may be the first person the team looks to in case of injury, De Los Santos won’t be far behind. He showed some promise in the Majors last season, and his plus fastball is certainly an asset. It’s just not clear what his best off-speed pitch will be, and he needs to figure that out at some point. He may end up being a reliever, and that’s not the worst result here, but if we see progress out of the change-up and slider, De Los Santos is a serviceable #5.

#7 - JoJo Romero, LHP

22 yr. old
2016 4th Round Pick
2018 stats - 106.2 IP, 97 H, 49 R, 45 ER, 41 BB, 100 K (Reading)

Jay (ranked him 6):
Romero has been fast-tracked since being drafted out of high school. He spent his 21 year old season in Reading and had some mixed results despite the positive outcomes overall. He was really trending upwards until his season was cut short with an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Romero has a good mix of pitches with an above-average fastball. Since he didn’t get a full year in Reading, it will be interesting to see whether he’s held back or if he continues that aggressive push towards Lehigh Valley. I like his upside and think a #3 starter isn’t out of the realm of possibility if he continues to make improvements.

Cormican (ranked him 7):
JoJo is kind of the lefty Enyel who may have already reached Enyel’s ceiling. EDLS probably gets the first call to the Majors if a starter is needed, but JoJo may be the better option if one is needed long term. You can basically take everything I said about EDLS, make it a lefty and make all of the fixes I mentioned. Provided he show all of that when he comes back from injury.

Victor (ranked him 7):
The only difference right now between Romero and EDLS is that Romero truly has an outstanding off-speed offering to turn to, which is his change-up. The fastball velocity has been all over the map, but he should sit 91-93 mph with the ability to touch 94 regularly. He’ll likely start in Reading, but Lehigh Valley may come calling pretty early.

#6 - Luis Garcia, SS

18 yr. old
2017 International Free Agent
2018 stats - 187 PA, .369/.433/.921, 1 HR, 32 RBI, 12 SB, 15 BB, 21 K (Gulf Coast Phillies West)

Jay (ranked him 5):
The official rising star of the organization. In his state-side debut, Garcia put up the gaudiest of numbers as a 17 year old. Not only was he young for the league, he absolutely obliterated opposing pitching. The hit tool and vision at the plate look like it can be elite AND he’s rated as an above average defender. Garcia could be fast-tracked to Lakewood to be challenged or break with Williamsport to get his feet wet. With another strong season, Garcia could be THE top prospect in the Phillies system.

Cormican (ranked him 6):
I have a long standing, well documented rule about ranking guys based on short season results. Garcia was a highly regarded signing, so he was top 10 for me regardless of results, but the results were so good. Now, pretty much the entirety of the GCL West team seemed to be hitting like it was a 1980’s video game. The eye seems to be pretty good, the defense is well reviewed and the speed is plus. I think he’ll go to Lakewood, as the Phillies have a track record of doing that with IFA prospects who hit in the GCL, and I’m very curious to see how the results look over a full season. As Jay says, Garcia might be 8 months away from being the top prospect in the system. I do expect he’ll struggle with that big a jump in levels, but he has plenty of tools to show if he can adjust.

Victor (ranked him 6):
There’s a long way to go with Garcia in terms of the body and filling out, but the tools are advanced for someone his age. All he did was hit last year, and what he did was certainly impressive. He’ll likely never be a power middle infield bat, but he repeats his swing and swing mechanics from the left side incredibly well for someone his age, though his approach from the right side lags behind a bit. In the field, he’s shown a plus arm, and he’s a plus runner, too. If he does indeed go to Lakewood to begin the season, it’ll certainly be an aggressive push from the organization.

#5 - Spencer Howard, RHP

22 yr. old
2017 2nd Round Pick
2018 stats - 112 IP, 101 H, 52 R, 47 ER, 40 BB, 147 K (Lakewood)

Jay (ranked him 7):
Howard is another name that is going to get more national attention if he keeps up what he is doing. Howard boasts a mid-90’s fastball that has movement and an array of average to above-average secondary pitches. He can flat out dominate a game, as evidenced by his two double-digit strikeout games this season. His biggest area of improvement will need to be his command, like many other young pitchers. Howard hasn’t been a starter for very long and his path to the majors might not exactly be a quick one depending on how the Phillies handle his development.

Cormican (ranked him 6):
After the 2017 draft, I wrote that Howard’s ceiling was a #3 based off his cutter or changeup improving. As it turns out I think his ceiling is a #2 starter thanks to his fastball also improving a grade. The track record isn’t long, which adds some risk, but since’s he’s only been a starting pitcher for less than 2 years, there’s reason to believe that there was untapped ceiling and the improvement is for real.

Victor (ranked him 3):
I think there’s reason to be excited enough about Howard to push him to the #3 slot. That’s based on the fastball that’s able to sit 94-97, topping out at 98, along with a change-up that falls off the table and has some late fade. The curveball isn’t far behind the change-up, with some 11-to-5 break to it. Though he doesn’t have much of a track record yet as Dan says, the late-season performance is hard to overlook. He could be a mid-rotation starter in Philadelphia by 2021.

#4 - Adam Haseley, OF

22 yr. old
2017 1st Round Pick
2018 stats -
354 PA, .300/.343/.415, 5 HR, 38 RBI, 7 SB, 19 BB, 54 K (Clearwater)
159 PA, .316/.403/.478, 6 HR, 17 RBI, 0 SB, 16 BB, 19 K (Reading)

Jay (ranked him 5):
Haseley, even before he was drafted, struck me as the definition of “Master of None”. That isn’t to say he doesn’t have any standout skills. I like him in the outfield (he can fake it in center field) and has a hit tool that will likely ride him to an MLB debut either this season or next. Haseley will need to tap into some more power or his stay in the majors could be a tenuous. All reports indicate that he’s an incredibly hard worker who loves to learn from the coaching staff. I can see him, upon reaching the majors, being a great clubhouse presence.

Cormican (ranked him 4):
Haseley showed good plate discipline, approach and contact skills. The power isn’t there yet, but he makes consistent hard contact, so I believe it is coming. He may have more doubles power than home run power, but he has potential to be a high OBP guy with above-average defense in the OF, the flexibility to play all 3 spots reasonably well and possibly average power. That would give him a first division regular ceiling. His floor is probably 4th OF, but I’m confident that he gets to enough contact and power to be an average or better starting outfielder.

Victor (ranked him 6):
Haseley has had the tools to be a fundamentally sound guy since the day they drafted him. There were some bumps in the road, as to be expected, but the hit tool is there, the power should allow him to hit around 15 homers a year, and his approach is sound, too. You could probably stick him in any outfield spot, which is certainly valuable, though center is far from a strength. This was about as safe a pick as the Phillies could have made, and he could make his MLB debut this year.

#3 - Alec Bohm, 3B

22 yr. old
2018 1st Round Pick
2018 stats:
27 PA, .391/.481/.522, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 2 SB, 2 BB, 0 K (Gulf Coast Phillies West)
10 PA, .222/.200/.222, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 0 BB, 4 K (Gulf Coast Phillies East)
121 PA, .224/.314/.290, 0 HR, 12 RBI, 1 SB, 10 BB, 19 K (Williamsport)

Jay (ranked him 3):
It wasn’t an ideal professional debut for Bohm, who couldn’t tap into that raw power and struggled in all aspects of the game. A bad debut however does not define his future and potential. The hit tool and raw power are elite carrying tools that can’t be discounted presently and for the next few seasons. With that, Bohm will need to settle and make adjustments both at the plate and in the field. He isn’t the slickest of fielders at the hot corner, but there isn’t reason to believe he can’t stick there until he gets older. With uncertainty in free agency and with their current third baseman, Bohm features very prominently into the Phillies future plans.

Cormican (ranked him 2):
There are legit questions about Bohm’s eventual position, but the Phillies aren’t exactly playing Brooks Robinson at the hot corner currently, so barring a big step back in defense, I think he’ll be there for several seasons. What’s more important is the bat. Both hitting and power, as that will be what gets him to the majors. The ceiling might be a guy who slashes something like .260/.350/.500, which would make him something like Matt Carpenter with less glove. I also love the story that he became good friends with Luis Garcia, since the hope will be that they make up the left side of the big league infield in a couple years.

Victor (ranked him 4):
You try sometimes to not put a ton of stock into a pro debut after getting drafted. Guys have long years, they have to adjust from college ball to the pro game, etc, etc. However, the reports on Bohm weren’t exactly glowing, and he simply seemed to not be showing off the bat speed and quick wrists that made him rise up the draft boards in the first place. They’ll give him every chance to stick at third base, and hopefully there’s no consideration of moving him off the hot corner unless there’s some sort of massive change in his body or technique. Down the road, he should show above-average in-game power. That’s what was lacking when we last saw him, and hopefully he’s healthy heading into 2019. If he is, there’s no reason why he won’t get consideration for #1 next year.

#2 - Adonis Medina, RHP

22 yr. old
2014 International Free Agent
2018 stats - 111.1 IP, 103 H, 59 R, 51 ER, 36 BB, 123 K (Clearwater)

Jay (ranked him 2):
Medina is a kid with top of the rotation potential, but probably best pegged for a #2-3 starter if everything comes together. He has a mid 90s fastball with a very good changeup and off-speed pitch to mix in. Medina was a bit more hittable this season as he got his first taste of the Florida State League and he’ll want to work on locating his pitches a bit better when he enters AA this season.

Cormican (ranked him 3):
Medina has a plus fastball, change and slider all with at least average control/command. Most of the time. The problem is that sometimes he is dominant and looks like a possible #2 or better starter and sometimes he goes through funky cold stretches where he struggles to get anyone out. If he can get consistently above average control and command he’s just a step behind Sixto for ceiling.

Victor (ranked him 2):
Go across the board, and Medina is right where he should be developmentally at this point. The fastball is plus, while the change and slider could be plus offerings with a bit more refinement. The slider is probably the best of the secondaries at the moment. He’ll likely start in Reading. Can he improve his command? If so, he’s got all the tools to be a #2 starter, with the floor of a mid-rotation guy.

#1 - Sixto Sanchez, RHP

20 yr. old
2015 International Free Agent
2018 stats - 46.2 IP, 39 H, 14 R, 13 ER, 11 BB, 45 K (Clearwater)

Jay (ranked him 1):
What more can be said about Sixto that hasn’t already the last few years? A 20-year-old that can top triple digits on his fastball and has two other above-average pitches he can mix in as well. The kid looks incredibly poised every time he is out there and works fast. If there is one hesitancy with Sanchez is his propensity to miss time via injuries. After hitting 95 innings in 2017, he was limited to just half of that last season. Sanchez was scheduled to pitch in the Arizona Fall League, but faced similar setbacks that had him sit that out as well. HOWEVER, it’s said he will be ready for Spring Training and the start of the 2019 season. Sanchez is a Top 25 prospect in the league and the Phillies one true blue-prospect.

Cormican (ranked him 1):
Sixto has ace level stuff, but an ace workload in the majors would be roughly twice his current career high in innings. That’s not as big a red flag as it sounds, as Sixto just finished his second year of full season ball and he had a normal, healthy workload in his first year and a normal workload in short season the prior year. Still, he’s a six foot pitcher (with some suggesting that height being a touch generous) and the track record for short pitchers tends to be max effort deliveries leading to injury. Sixto’s delivery is not max effort and it seems the Phillies were being cautious last year by shelving him in the fall. It will be key for Sixto to have a healthy, effective 2019 and building his innings up beyond the ~100 he pitched in 2017.

Victor (ranked him 1):
Out of abundance of caution, the Phillies sidelined Sanchez for a good chunk of 2018. There simply was no reason to push him, but this is the year you’d like to see more innings from him. The organization wasn’t about to take a chance with a tight neck, which could lead to compensation, which could lead to overthrowing, which can lead to shoulder problems... and so on. Amazingly, he’s still just 20, and time is on his side right now. What’s the one thing I’d want to see most out of him this year? Continuing to develop his slider. He may have three plus secondaries to offer in the Major Leagues. It’s clear why he’s the Phillies’ top prospect.