Prospect Lists - Phillies and Overall - 2022-2026

[andyb]

I think you are ignoring the pitching development side. We have made major organizational advances in recent years on modifying a young pitcher's arsenal. I agree on the hitting side we have been mediocre in development.

As for scouts, I think we are average. Internationally weaker than domestically in recent years. We have been drafting from relatively low positions. We have also traded midlevel prospects that clouds our development record. I just don't like the raw stuff of the pitchers we drafted this past year after Wood. It just seems we went more low risk/funky delivery than to go for pitchers like McFarlane or McGarry or Kerkering that had raw stuff but needed refinement. The Cal State-Fullerton period of our pitching development a decade or so ago was not a bright point to look back on.

[dicemen99]

I think you are ignoring the pitching development side. We have made major organizational advances in recent years on modifying a young pitcher's arsenal. I agree on the hitting side we have been mediocre in development.

As for scouts, I think we are average. Internationally weaker than domestically in recent years. We have been drafting from relatively low positions. We have also traded midlevel prospects that clouds our development record. I just don't like the raw stuff of the pitchers we drafted this past year after Wood. It just seems we went more low risk/funky delivery than to go for pitchers like McFarlane or McGarry or Kerkering that had raw stuff but needed refinement. The Cal State-Fullerton period of our pitching development a decade or so ago was not a bright point to look back on.

I agree with this. Development on the pitching side has been much better than on the hitting side. We've been at least above average at talking raw stuff and developing that into resources that have helped the big ball club directly or via trades.

I'm just throwing this out there without much thought or research behind it, but hitting development (or lack thereof) may also be a scouting problem at a fundamental level. Or a drafting philosophy problem. To me we have not concentrated on the hit tool and power potential in terms of adding position players. We seem to overvalue speed and positional versatility. Unless you're drafting high in the first round, you need to pick the tools you draft. Maybe I'm wrong, but that is what a surface view of recent history looks like to me. We're not taking enough risk on that side of the draft. Our ideal profile is Bryson Stott.

[allentown]

I think you are ignoring the pitching development side. We have made major organizational advances in recent years on modifying a young pitcher's arsenal. I agree on the hitting side we have been mediocre in development.

I think you are correct. We develop pitchers far better than we develop position players. This is why I endorse more bonus money for pitching prospects.

[Philsmania]

Yeah if you told me I could replace either the entire scouting staff or the entire development staff, I'd choose the latter.

I don't know. We've seen a good bit of turnover on the development side--four farm directors in the last ten years (Jordan, Bonifay, Mattingly and now Murton)--while we've had very little on the scouting side--only two scouting directors during that time (Almaraz and now Barber). The latter has been the constant and if disappointment has been a constant, perhaps that's where we need to turn.

[Squire]

Actually on further review given the current status of Aidan Miller and Dante Nori maybe we ought to think about getting new doctors/trainers.

[zambonir]

Hey don't leave out Painter.

[andyb]

Assuming he signs ESPN slots Spangler 5th. I might have put him ahead of Nori because of the much higher ceiling.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47684227/2026-top-10-prospect-rankings-all-30-mlb-teams-kiley-mcdaniel#phi

[Squire]

Having thought about it - my current list is

1. Wood
2. Renteria
3. Miller
4. Spangler
5. Marquez
6. Rincon
7. Nori
8. McFarlane
9. Obermueller
10. Heredia

[andyb]

I think that is my top 5 too though I might be inclined to rank them Renteria, Miller, Wood, Spangler, Marquez.

There are so many unknowns in that group that it almost does not matter what order. I am just sold on Marquez being the 5th at this point. I do not know how to factor in Nori's injury but I do think his season shows that it was wrong for him to mostly skip Jersey Shore. The week or two at the end of the year promotions really do not mean too much as everyone is getting prospects an extra look for a week or two with the longer season. Rincon has been better this year, but also has more experience so not really jumping over him yet.

And then we have the 2 guys repeating Clearwater (Burkholder and Ferrebus). Wonder if they are possible promotions for the second half (full season minors off till Friday). I would like to see each at a higher level even if the steady playing time at Clearwater is good for them in other ways like to show health. Burkholder has tools so theoretically he could play at higher levels while his hit tool catches up.

[andyb]

Mitch Rupert Top 20 here from Bluesky (click embedded image).

Before the minor league games get started again, and before we start adding in guys from the draft, I wanted to drop my Top-20 rankings of Phillies minor leaguers. I look forward to the conversation about this.

[image or embed]

— Mitch_Rupert ( @mitchrupert.bsky.social ) July 16, 2026 at 10:58 AM

[Squire]

Baseball America updated their Phillies Top 30 post draft and it will either make you feel great about our draft or awful about our system

Tyler Spangler - 5th
Will Gasparino - 6th
Caden Bogenpohl - 8th
Ruger Riojas - 12th

[zambonir]

Question amidst the Gage Wood talk elsewhere - could Riojas pitch for the Phillies this year? I mean, probably not, just like Wood last year. But does his age and stuff at least make it plausible to ask?

[Matt_Winkelman]

No. There is at least development that probably has to occur with pitch usage and probably some shapes. He is more of a kitchen sink guy so you aren't just asking him to go lean on two plus plus pitches. When you are looking at guys who could move that quickly you are talking about dominant fastball relievers with a good off-speed or just pro ready guys who were dominant in college like Aaron Nola

[EDmuch]

Dang, not a lot there to offer in trades.

[fish]

Wood
Renteria
Miller
Spangler
Marquez
Rincon
Nori
McFarlane
Obermueller
Heredia

I'd go Parra at #6. I realize it's DSL, but he already looks like the most polished hitter in the system. Most hitters in the Phillies system (including the major league roster) always look like they are trying to feel their way through it. Parra looks like he's up there with a plan- like he's into the game and what the pitcher is trying to do and doing it with a pretty polished swing with plenty of ability to keep getting stronger. I think he and Renteria have the highest ceilings in the system, at least before seeing what the 2026 draft guys can do.

[andyb]

Gelb with a deep dive on the system and the prospects we might be about to trade. Lot of focus on Marquez fitting the pattern of a high riser with value.

Scouting the Phillies’ farm system ahead of trade deadline

[fish]

Gelb with a deep dive on the system and the prospects we might be about to trade. Lot of focus on Marquez fitting the pattern of a high riser with value.

We also got details describing Aidan Miller's condition as a degenerative disc and that it may be necessary to repeat the procedure he had, and that Nori has had a stress fracture in his hip.

[zambonir]

It was identified as the same thing (discogenic pain and facet inflammation in the lumbar spine) at the time of the procedure, and the part where he might have to have it multiple times is not new info either. Still better than more invasive surgery but still not great.

[andyb]

Glad that they think Renteria is close to untouchable. Slightly worried they are talking him up as such.

[BostonRoss]

Wasn't Painter untouchable?