2021 Phillies Top Prospect List via MLB Pipeline
During the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Philadelphia Phillies welcomed top prospect Alec Bohm to the big leagues. Bohm was the Phillies’ first-round draft pick in 2018 and was called up to the majors August 13th of last year. At 24 years old, he slashed .338/.400/.481 with a .881 OPS in 44 games. He had four home runs, 11 doubles, and 23 RBIs in 160 at-bats. What’s even more impressive is that Bohm shined with runners on base. He led the majors with a .452 batting average (19 for 42) with runners in scoring position. His on-base percentage with RISP was .519 – good for third-best in the majors behind All-Star players Juan Soto and Freddie Freeman.
Unlike the rest of the Phillies, Bohm dominated in September hitting .367 with 40 hits. Those numbers are good for fifth and second best in Major League Baseball that month. Bohm finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. No Phillies rookie has taken home the award since 2005 when Ryan Howard won. There was a strong case for Bohm to win the award. He was one of the five best offensive third basemen in the entire league last season.
Spencer Howard made his major league debut last year as well but failed to live up to expectations. Given the fact that 2020 was such a mess for everyone in Major League Baseball, it’s still too early to be concerned about Howard. He’s currently pitching well down in Clearwater for the Phillies, and is hopeful to make the Opening Day roster. The Phillies have yet to determine whether that will be in the starting rotation or bullpen. There’s also a chance they could send Howard down to Triple-A so he can pitch on a regular rotation schedule.
Bohm and Howard were definitely the high-end prospects for the Phillies in 2020. The MLB Pipeline just released the Top 30 prospects in the Phillies farm system. There is definitely some exciting young talent at the lower levels. Howard ranks number one, of course, but there’s a chance we might see some other prospects get called up throughout the 2021 season.
Here’s a look at the Phillies top prospects:
1. Spencer Howard, RHP (MLB No. 42)
2. Mick Abel, RHP (MLB No. 76)
3. Bryson Stott, SS
4. Francisco Morales, RHP
5. Rafael Marchan, C
Complete Top 30 list »
Mickey Moniak checks in at number 12 on the prospect list. Moniak, who is currently fighting for a spot on the Opening Day roster in Clearwater, has looked fantastic so far this Spring for the Phillies. Moniak tripled in Tuesday’s Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Florida. Entering today’s game, he is 5-for-9 with one double, one triple, two home runs, two RBIs, two strikeouts, and a 2.111 OPS in eight appearances. Girardi added that Moniak has led the team in barrels in live batting practice at the Carpenter Complex. The highlight reel this Spring starts and ends with Moniak, who homered twice in a 15-0 route of the New York Yankees last week.
When the Phillies drafted Moniak in 2016, he weighed as much as a wet paper towel. Moniak was only 168 pounds on draft day. Five years later he entered the Phillies 2021 camp weighing 208 pounds. Adam Haseley is now on the injury list to start the 2021 season and the Phillies still have decisions to make in centerfield and who will make the 26-man Opening Day roster.
The following information is from the MLB Pipeline:
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools — 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 55 — Bryson Stott (Simon Muzziotti, Yhoswar Garcia)
Power: 55 — Jhailyn Ortiz (Casey Martin, Kendall Simmons)
Run: 75 — Justin Dean (Cristian Pache)
Arm: 60 — Jhailyn Ortiz (Rafael Marchan, Luis Garcia, Rodolfo Duran)
Defense: 60 — Rafael Marchan (Simon Muzziotti)
Fastball: 65 — Spencer Howard
Curveball: 60 — Damon Jones
Slider: 65 — Francisco Morales
Changeup: 60 — Spencer Howard
Control: 60 — Ethan Lindow
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2020 preseason list to the 2021 preseason list.
Jump: Yhoswar Garcia, OF (2020: 23 | 2021: 13)/Kendall Simmons, 2B (2020: 26 | 2021: 16)/Jamari Baylor, SS (2020: 27 | 2021: 17) — All three of these jumpers have some thing in common: All three have big upsides and are fairly far away. They’re ready to make the next step and could help the Phillies’ system jump up.
Fall: Enyel De Los Santos (2020: 8 | 2021: NR) — The right-hander touched the big leagues in 2018 and 2019, but didn’t make it back in 2020. The Phillies designated him for assignment and 29 other teams passed on claiming him.
