Baseball America is in the process of releasing its annual lists of the Top 10 prospects in every major league organization.
BA’s Top 10 list of Phillies prospects was unveiled on Wednesday morning and it has a familiar name leading the way.
For the second year in a row, right-handed pitcher Spencer Howard is in the top spot.
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A couple of notable players have dropped off the list, one for the right reasons, one for the wrong reasons. Third baseman Alec Bohm, who ranked second on the list last year, graduated to the major leagues and made a terrific showing in Philadelphia on his way to finishing in a tie for second place in National League Rookie of the Year voting.
Outfielder Mickey Moniak, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, fell off the list after ranking ninth last season.
One notable newcomer to the list: Pitcher Mick Abel. He was the team’s top pick in the 2020 draft and the Phillies liked what they saw of the 19-year-old, power-armed right-hander in the Florida instructional league last month.
You can check Baseball America’s always-interesting Top 10 prospect lists here.
MLB
Here’s a quick look at the Phillies Top 10, according to the publication:
1. Spencer Howard: The 24-year-old right-hander did not distinguish himself in six big-league starts in 2020, but he gained valuable experience and there’s still a lot to like. The Phillies need him to take a regular turn in the rotation in 2021. We reviewed his season here.
2. Mick Abel: The 19-year-old right-hander has an electric mix of pitches. He was the first high school pitcher taken in the 2020 draft and has top of the rotation potential.
3. Bryson Stott: The 23-year-old shortstop was the Phillies’ first-round pick in 2019 out of UNLV. He’s “a solid all-around player who doesn’t have many holes in his game,” according to BA.
4. Francisco Morales: Another big, right-handed pitcher, Morales is 6-5, 260 pounds and 21 years old. He has a power arm and projects as a mid-rotation starter or late-game reliever, depending on the development of his off-speed stuff.
5. Rafael Marchan: The Little Catcher Who Could is one of Joe Girardi’s favorite players. He gained some valuable experience in the majors in 2020. We reviewed his season here.
6. Luis Garcia: Switch-hitting middle infielder was one of the top international prospects when the Phillies signed him for $2.5 million in the summer of 2017. A year later, he won the Gulf Coast League batting title (.369). The Phillies got aggressive and pushed him to the South Atlantic League in 2019. Physically, Garcia was not ready for the assignment and hit under .200. Evaluators are still very high on Garcia. He’s only 20 years old, he’s added strength to his frame and he remains a strong defender.
7. Yhoswar Garcia: A 19-year-old outfielder from Venezuela, the highly touted Garcia received a $2.5 million signing bonus but has yet to play in a professional game in the Phillies’ system first because of an age discrepancy when he signed and later because of the pandemic. They call him “The Drone” because of the speed and athleticism he shows running down balls in center field. He projects to have an impact bat.
8. Simon Muzziotti: A true centerfielder with speed and good contact skills, Muzziotti, 22, was a Florida State League all-star in 2019 and is expected to be added to the Phillies’ 40-man roster by Friday night’s 6 p.m. deadline to protect him from being selected in the Rule 5 draft.
9. Johan Rojas: This 20-year-old from the Dominican Republic has a bat worth watching and the ability to play three outfield positions.
10. Nick Maton: Versatile infielder is back on the list for the second year in a row. He’s 24, can play anywhere in the infield, swings from the left side and opened some eyes in big-league camp last spring and again at the alternate training site this summer.
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