1. Luis Garcia, SS
Age: 18 (10/1/00)
Level: Rookie
.369/.433/.488, .119 ISO, 162 wRC+, 1 HR, 8.0% BB, 11.2% K, 12 SB
As a 17-year-old in his first taste of stateside pro-ball, to say that Garcia excelled is an understatement. Signed for $2.5 million, Garcia already features a plus glove that will stick at SS, excellent range, and a strong arm. His defensive actions are smooth with a mature internal game clock. And that is what sticks out with Garcia: Maturity. At the plate, he showed a good eye with mature takes on spin and flashed elite barrel control. A switch-hitter, Garcia stays balanced with a compact, quick swing. He features four tools grading a future 60 or higher. Game power is the one tool that hasn’t manifested. However, his bat-to-ball skills and advanced approach for his age lead me to believe that power will develop. He should start 2019 in the Sally at Lakewood going into his age 18 season. His ability to recognize spin and use the whole field should translate into immediate success in his first taste of full-season ball. This time next year the industry will recognize what I am telling you right now. Superstar in the making. ETA: 2022
2. Adonis Medina, RHP
Age: 21 (12/18/96)
Level: A+
111.1 IP, 4.12 ERA, 3.42 xFIP, 9.94 K/9, 2.91 BB/9, .242 AVG
As much as a I love Sixto, I may love Medina more. While he lacks the velocity of Sixto, Medina runs the FB up to 96 and has plus feel for his SL/CH combo. He will throw any pitch in any count for strikes. So while I watched Sixto hoping to see him use his off-speed to keep hitters off the FB, Medina at times will completely abandon the FB. In his best start of his career, 7IP, 12K, 0 ER, Medina worked over the order third time through with just his SL/CH. It was a masterful display of pitching that shows Medina’s maturity.
Body wise, Medina is athletic with fluid actions and repeatable delivery. There is some body projection left that could increase his velocity up a tick. His ceiling is SP2-3 while flashing ace level production at peak. ETA: 2021
3. Adam Haseley, OF
Age: 22 (4/12/96)
Level: AA
.305/.361/.433, 11 HR, .129 ISO, 127 wRC+, 6.8% BB, 14.2% K, 7 SB
When Haseley is going good, he will wear out left field with above-average power to the gaps. He has a unique stance with a bit of crouch and a slight bat wrap. He is a mature hitter that can use all fields and makes consistent hard contact. Due to that, I think he is a little higher than the 4th OF label I’ve seen floated around. There is some thunder in his bat and with a few teaks, he should be able to flash 60 hit/55 game power with good defense and a strong throwing arm. ETA: 2019
4. Mickey Moniak, OF
Age: 20 (5/13/98)
Level: A+
.270/.304/.383, 5 HR, .113 ISO, 95 w RC+4.7% BB, 21.5% K, 6 SB
Perception vs. reality. Being 1.1 and struggling as a teenager in 2017 and the first half of 2018 has soured people on Moniak. I was in that camp as well and was public about Moniak needing to make some serious adjustments with his approach and swing in order to salvage his career. He did that. Since July 1: .297/.347/.470, 4 HR, .173 ISO, 131 wRC+, 7.6% BB, 16% K. Furthermore, as I watched him throughout the season, he looked physically stronger in the second half.
Player development is about checking off the boxes. Moniak checked a lot of boxes in 2018. From April-June, he consistently dropped his back shoulder, was out on his front foot, and had no chance to hit fastballs much less drive off-speed. From July-September, his swing was much more balanced. he allowed the ball to get deeper before committing and was able to make consistent hard contact on both fastballs and breaking balls. While he may never hit for power and he may never reach the ceiling and hype of being the first overall pick, the strides he made in the second half should start to alleviate the “bust” talk. ETA: 2021
5. Alec Bohm, 3B
Age: 22 (8/3/96)
Level: SS A
.252/.335/.324, 0 HR, .072 ISO, 99 wRC+, 7.6% BB, 14.6% K, 3 SB
Bohm struggled in his first taste of pro-ball and missed some time due to injury. Without reading too much into the numbers, what I saw was a player that was reacting to pitches instead of using his strength to attack pitchers. He was often caught in-between the FB and off-speed, resulting in weak contact. In the NYPL, he posted a 56% GB rate with a 34% pull rate. Those numbers are consistent with what I saw in the GCL and Instructs. His swing was a bit awkward and it looked as if he had trouble sequencing his hips and hands, which slowed his bat down.
He should stick at 3B on his way to Philly where a possible move to 1B is in his future. While he moves well for a big man, his arm was average with average range at 3B. ETA: 2020
6. Spencer Howard, RHP
Age: 22 (7/28/96)
Level: A
112 IP, 3.78 ERA, 2.98 xFIP, 11.81 K/9, 3.21 BB/9, .238 AVG
Howard is a strong, athletic SP with a FB that touches triple digits. Like Romero, his repertoire is based on a SL/CH/Cutter with his SL flashing plus with 2-plane tilt. At worst, Howard could be a late inning reliever due to his FB/SL combo. He made steady progress with improving his command and saw an uptick with his secondaries. ETA: 2021
7. Daniel Brito, 2B
Age: 20 (1/23/98)
.252/.307/.342, 4 HR, .090 ISO, 87wRC+7.1% BB, 17.7% K, 16 SB
Brito is an athletic second baseman that profiles as a plus defender at the keystone. He has soft hands with plus range. As a hitter, Brito has quick hands and a good feel for the barrel. The tools haven’t translated into the stat line, but Brito is a potential future 60 hitter. He stays balanced throughout his swing and uses all fields. ETA: 2022
8. JoJo Romero, LHP
Age: 22 (9/9/96)
Level: AA
106.2 IP, 3.80 ERA, 3.70 xFIP, 8.44 K/9, 3.46 BB/9, .238 AVG
Romero is a bulldog that attacks hitters with four above-average pitches. His FB works in the low-to-mid 90s while his change-up flashes plus with good arm speed. Romero also throws a slider and a cutter and attacks both sides of the plate, leading to weak contact. He has the ceiling of a SP3 that could flash SP2 results at peak. ETA: 2019
9. Enyel De Los Santos, RHP
Age: 22 (12/25/95)
Level: MLB
19 IP, 4.74 ERA, 4.31 xFIP, 7.11 K/9, 3.79 BB/9, .264 AVG - MLB
126.2 IP, 2.63 ERA, 4.09 xFIP, 7.82 K/9, 3.06 BB/9, .221 AVG – AAA
Acquired from San Diego in the Freddy Galvis deal, De Los Santos looks like a steal. He breezed through AAA and made his MLB debut. The stuff is nasty but De Los Santos lacks true swing and miss stuff. Additionally, his command leaves him susceptible to damage the second and third time through the order. Ultimately, I think he ends up in the bullpen where his stuff plays up a tick. However, there is a solid chance that he can hold down a SP4 or 5 with improved command of his secondaries. ETA: 2018
10. Austin Listi, OF
Age: 25 (11/5/93)
.312/.412/.502, 18 HR, .190 ISO, 160wRC+, 12.2% BB, 18.5% K, 0 SB
I’ve always been the high guy on Listi since I saw him barrel everything in Clearwater. He bats out of a crouch with a wide base of support. He allows balls to get deep on him and has an excellent feel for the barrel. Listi is “hitterish”. He has some pop as well but doesn’t sell out for the long ball. With Listi, you’re getting a 55-60 hit tool with 50 game power in left field. Defensively, he won’t win a gold glove, but he is better out there than Hoskins. He is a little older because he left Dallas Baptist after his freshman year to join the Marines. ETA: 2019
11. Ranger Suarez, LHP
Age: 23 (8/26/95)
Level: MLB
15 IP, 5.40 ERA, 4.66 xFIP, 6.6 K/9, 3.6 BB/9, .333 – MLB
124.1 IP, 2.75 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 6.15 K/9, 2.43 BB/9, .242 AVG – AA/AAA
Suarez has been on the fast track after starting 2017 in A ball. An uptick in FB velocity to 94 completely changed his profile. He is a still a pitchability guy with a plus changeup. He knows how to attack hitters and induce weak contact. Suarez’s ceiling is a back-of-the-rotation SP4/5. His stuff doesn’t play up in the bullpen so he will need to continue to stay off the barrel to avoid becoming a AAAA pitcher. ETA: 2018
12. Francisco Morales, RHP
Age: 19 (10/27/99)
Level: SS A
56.1 IP, 5.27 ERA, 3.77 xFIP, 10.86 K/9, 5.27 BB/9, .243 AVG
Morales has a tall, athletic frame. Sets up on the 1st base rubber. Mechanics are clean and easy. He stays tall and has a fast arm with a 3/4 slot. The FB sits 94 with a tight two-plane SL at 83. The SL is the better of the two pitches. Like most young guys, he will lose his release point a bit and struggle with command. When he’s on though, he is pretty nasty. He’ll need to refine his command and change-up, but the K rate against college-aged hitters attests to his immense upside. ETA: 2023
13. Jhailyn Ortiz, OF
Age: 20 (11/18/98)
Level: A
.225/.297/.375, 13 HR, .151 ISO, 93 wRC+, 7.7% BB, 32.6% K, 2 SB
Ortiz really struggled in 2018 after a stellar 2017 against older competition. He has an XL frame and will have to work hard to keep weight off, which is a bit of a concern considering he is still only 20. The likelihood that he grows out of a corner OF spot is high and that limits his appeal. While his plus raw power is enticing, the inability to pick up spin, hit to the opposite field, and make solid contact limit his game power. He is still young and very much raw. ETA: 2022
14. Deivi Grullon, C
Age: 22 (2/17/96)
Level: AA
.271/.310/.515, 21 HR, .242 ISO, 123 wRC+, 5.1% BB, 22.9% K, 0 SB
I liked Grullon last season in Clearwater. He is a thick-framed, solid catcher with a defense-first profile. The power showed up in 2018 with 21 long balls, however, the Reading park effects should temper those expectations. A 48 GB% rate and 5 BB% may limit his offensive potential at the next level. However, his strength should translate to double-digit HR at peak. ETA: 2019
15. Mauricio Llovera, RHP
Age: 22 (4/17/96)
Level: A+
121 IP, 3.72 ERA, 3.33 xFIP, 10.19 K/9, 2.53 BB/9, .218 AVG
Llovera is athletic and repeats his delivery despite some effort. He gets great extension. He throws four pitches. His FB sits 94-95, touching 97 and is a swing-and-miss pitch. His CH, 89 mph, flashes fade and depth with good arm action. The SL, 86-88, shows good horizontal movement. He will back the SL up and uses it to get both righties and lefties out. His curveball is fringey, sitting 80-81, lacks consistent shape and bite. However, he likes to use it as a get-over wrinkle to keep hitters off his hard stuff. I like the arm and think he can become a SP3 at peak. ETA: 2020
16. Cole Irvin, LHP
Age: 24 (1/31/94)
161.1 IP, 2.57 ERA, 3.56 XFIP, 7.31 K/9, 1.95 BB/9, .225 AVG
Irvin features a four-pitch mix, FB, CB, SL, CH; all of which grade out average at best. What he excels at is sequencing and command. Irvin repeats his delivery and pounds the zone. As long as he can stay out of the middle of the plate against big leaguers, he can make an impact at the back of the rotation. ETA: 2019
17. David Parkinson, LHP
Age: 22 (12/14/95)
Level: A+
124.1 IP, 1.45 ERA, 2.64 FIP, 10.21 K/9, 2.53 BB/9, .201 AVG
Parkinson is essentially a Cole Irvin clone. The command and confidence in his off-speed allowed him to dominate younger hitters in the Sally League. He managed to keep runners off the board in a short stint in Clearwater, but his xFIP was 3.42. Not bad but a far cry from his 1.24 ERA in 29 High A innings. A full season starting in Clearwater will be a true test for Parkinson. Irvin has found success at the upper levels of the minors. Parkinson has the pitchability and mound presence to do the same. ETA: 2021
18. Connor Seabold, RHP
Age: 22 (1/24/96)
Level: AA
130.1 IP, 4.28 ERA, 3.86 FIP, 9.12 K/9, 2.28 BB, .224 AVG
Seabold has an average build with minimal projection. His FB sits low 90s and he relies on command to stay off the barrel. The FB is straight and hittable and does not generate swing-and-miss. His curveball has a slurvy feel with consistent shape while his splitter is still a work a progress but projects to an average pitch. Fortunately for Seabold, he flashes plus command and throws all three pitches for strikes. What he lacks in stuff, he makes up for in pitchability. He grades out as a multi-inning reliever/SP5. ETA: 2020
19. Arquimedes Gamboa, SS
Age: 21 (9/23/97)
Level: A+
.214/.304/.279, 2 HR, .065 ISO, 74 wRC+, 10.7% BB, 22.3% K, 6 SB
Gamboa struggled in 2018 against advanced pitching. The young SS, who is a defense-first profile, has a linear swing that produced 47 GB% rate and 48.2% pull rate. Needless to say, I saw a lot of 4-3 and 3 unassisted putouts. Surprisingly, Gamboa is bigger and stronger than one might think. He is athletic with loose actions. Plus range and reads defensively with a strong throwing arm. If the bat comes around, he becomes an intriguing prospect because of his ability to stick at SS. The bat, though, is a long ways off and despite his athleticism, Gamboa offers little in the SB department. ETA: 2022
20. Rafael Marchan, C
Age: 20 (2/25/99)
Level: A-
.301/.343/.362, 0 HR, .061, 110 wRC+, 5.2% BB, 8.6% K, 9 SB
Marchan is an athletic, switch-hitting catcher with good barrel control and feel for hitting. Power has yet to show up, but Marchan makes solid contact and projects to be an above-average defender and thrower at the catching position.
21. Dylan Cozens, OF
Age: 24 (5/31/94)
Level: MLB
.158/.273/.289, 1 HR, .132 ISO, 58 wRC+, 13.6%, 54.5% K, 1 SB
.246/.345/.529, 21 HR, .283 ISO, 141 wRC+, 13.6% BB, 35.6% K, 9 SB
Cozens is a polarizing prospect but he is arriving to the big leagues at the right time. Fifteen years ago, the swing-and-miss issues would be too much to ignore. Now, Cozens has a chance to carve out a career as an everyday player. Best case scenario: He is a more athletic Joey Gallo that will provide thunder near the bottom of the order. Ultimately, even becoming Gallo carries risk and Cozens will go through some growing pains. It remains to be seen if Philly will be patient enough to endure the rough patches in hope of a 30 HR season. ETA: 2018
22. Jose Pujols, OF
Age: 23 (9/29/95)
Level: AA
.295/.365/.503, 22 HR, .209 ISO, 147 wRC+, 9.6% BB, 33% K, 3 SB
Pujols was the most improved player I saw in 2018. In my 2017 looks, he was completely overmatched, unbalanced, and swung at everything. While the K rate is still high and the swing is still a little long, Pujols showed marked improvements in pitch recognition. Not only did his BB rate increase in AA, but he continued to find the barrel. Pujols consistently took outside pitches to right field with authority that allowed his plus raw power to show up in games. His high BABIP, .425 in Clearwater, was not flukey either. While it is unsustainable at the higher levels, it showed a hitter that had a plan and was not afraid to use the whole field. ETA: 2020
23. Darick Hall, 1B
Age: 23 (7/25/95)
Level: AA
.244/.323/.462, 26 HR, .218 ISO, 119 wRC+, 6.8% BB, 22.3% K, 2 SB
Hall is a one-tool guy but that one tool is plus power from the left side. Hall showed good patience at the plate in Clearwater and was able to hunt his pitch and do damage. He mashed 11 HR in 48 games. After his promotion to Reading, his BB rate dropped substantially and he saw an uptick in K rate. He also posted a painfully low .249 BABIP. Those numbers added up to only 15 HR in 80 AA games. I think he is a better hitter than he showed in Reading. While his hit tool grades at 40, he should be able to run into enough solid contact to reach 55 game power. ETA: 2020
24. Matt Vierling, OF
Age: 22 (9/16/96)
Level: A
.321/.365/.496, 7 HR, .175 ISO, 145 wRC+, 5.1 % BB, 15.6 % K, 7 SB
The Phillies drafted Vierling in the fifth round of the 2018 draft out of Notre Dame. He is a strong, physical hitter with average tools across the board. He was too advanced for the Sally and made a good showing with wood after struggling in the Cape Cod League the previous summer. ETA: 2021
25. Kyle Young, LHP
Age: 20 (12/2/97)
59.1 IP, 2.73 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 7.58 K/9, 1.37 BB/9, .222 AVG
Standing at seven feet tall, Young is aiming to become the tallest pitcher in MLB history. He throws 3 pitches: FB/SL/CH. The FB was 88-89 in my look but it was early in the spring. He gets good extension so the FB velo should increase into the low 90s. His SL flashed plus in my look but overall has inconsistent shape and feel. When it’s on, he can put it on the backfoot to RHH, ala Randy Johnson. His CH is firm at present. Young keeps his front shoulder closed and throws from a low 3/4 slot which adds some deception. He is a strike thrower that misses the barrel at present. ETA: 2022
26. Ramon Rosso, RHP
Age: 22 (6/9/96)
Level: A+
123.1 IP, 2.04 ERA, 2.76 FIP, 10.14 K/9, 2.92 BB/9, .211 AVG
Rosso carries a prototypical SP frame at 6’4” and 230 pounds. He has an easy, loose delivery that he repeats and fills the zone up with three pitches. His FB sits 90-92 with late cutting action. The SL generates swing-and-miss with two-plane tilt. His CH is firm but he commands it well and doesn’t slow his arm down. Like most of the Phillies pitching prospects, Rosso has good feel for his off-speeds and throws them with confidence. He isn’t afraid to attack hitters in hitter’s counts with his SL/CH. He profiles as a mid-rotation SP. While he is still young, there isn’t much projection left, but he can add a few more miles on the FB, he becomes a much safer bet to reach his ceiling. ETA: 2020
27. Kyle Dohy, LHP
Age: 22 (9/17/96)
Level: AA
67.1 IP, 2.54 ERA, 3.05 FIP, 14.84 K/9, 5.61 BB/9, .149 AVG
Dohy is an athletic lefty with three plus pitches. His FB sits mid 90s while curve is hard, down hill breaker. The CH is plus with good fade and depth. The variety of pitches should get Dohy to Philadelphia by 2019. His assortment of weapons should slot him as a late -inning RP that can get righties and lefties out. His delivery is max effort and he struggles with command. He has been unhittable as a pro so far after being selected in the 16th round of the 2017 draft. ETA: 2019
28. Victor Santos, RHP
Age: 18 (7/12/00)
Level: Rookie
59.1 IP, 3.03 ERA, 2.50 xFIP, 9.86 K/9, 0.61 BB/9, .268 AVG
Santos has a thick build at 6’1” 220 pounds. His FB touches 93 but will play up a grade due to movement and command. He will get stronger, so I’d expect a few more miles of velocity going into his early 20s. The arm speed is average and he throws from a high 3/4 slot. His CH is future plus with good arm speed, depth, and fade while his SL is a future above-average pitch. He locates all three pitches well and throws his off-speed in hitter’s counts. There is a lot to like here despite Santos being years away. ETA: 2023
29. Jake Scheiner, IF
Age: 23 (8/13/95)
Level: A
.296/.372/.470, 13 HR, .174 ISO, 140 wRC+, 9.5% BB, 15.7% K, 10 SB
Mature hitter with a strong, physical frame. Too advanced for the Sally as a college bat drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 draft. Hit tool will carry the profile. Scheiner consistently finds the barrel, spraying line drives all over the field. He could unlock some more game power with more added loft to the swing. ETA: 2021
30. Simon Muzziotti, OF
Age: 19 (12/27/98)
Level: A
.250/.289/.313, 1 HR, .063 ISO, 5% BB, 12.7% K, 19 SB
Muzziotti is an athletic OF with a mature eye at the plate and excellent feel for the barrel. The numbers aren’t noteworthy from his 2018 season but he is a plus runner with an above-average arm. The ability to make consistent hard contact at such a young age is of note. In order to reach a future plus hit tool though, Muzziotti will need to start hitting more balls in the air. In 2018, he posted a 65 GB%. ETA: 2022