Phillies’ Prospects Named To MLB’s Top 100 List
On Saturday night MLB.com announced its Top 100 Prospects List for the 2017 season. The list is meant to give fans who are unable to pay complete attention to Minor League Baseball an idea of how their favorite club’s organizational progression. As was expected, the Phillies had three of their own future stars make the list. And after a successful minor league season through which the organization played its way into minor league relevancy, three players on the top 100 list may have even seemed a little lower than expected. More so than other franchises in baseball, the Fightins pride themselves on depth of the farm system as opposed to having a handful of top prospects.
Although there is much to be excited about in relation to the release of MLB’s rankings, one Phillie’s exclusion is a cause for concern. After being ranked the 49th prospect in baseball at the conclusion of last season, Nick Williams found himself off the list after Saturday’s announcement. Williams, who was expected to be a September call-up for the big league team before collapsing in terms of production and attitude, was one of the most heralded prospects in the system throughout the first half of the season. He was acquired from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade and was expected to fill the hole in a corner outfield spot before the team signed Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders this offseason.
Quite frankly, Williams did not deserve to make the list. He struggled mightily during the second half of 2016, and will have to play his way back into the spotlight before being given a chance in Philadelphia. However, the trio of young Phillies that were included on the exclusive list are expected to become franchise cornerstones at Citizens Bank Park, and their progression will be something to keep an eye on.
#7- JP Crawford, SS
It would be safe to assume that every single Phillies fan has grown weary of hearing about how great of a prospect Crawford is and how he will be such a game-changer come his debut. Another season and another top-10 ranking for the 2013 first-round pick later, JP finds himself expected to start yet another season in the minor leagues.
Upon arrival to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the first half of last season, Crawford struggled to hit his stride at the plate. He batted .244 for the Iron Pigs and was not granted a call-up for the September roster expansions. Due to his minor league struggles, he was dropped from the 2nd-overall prospect post that he held at the end of 2016 to the #7 spot that is currently in possession of.
The Phillies have proven time and time again that they will be making no promotions unless a player has completely earned his new role. Despite Crawford’s off-the-charts potential and high ranking, he will have to prove himself just as much as the 30th round draft pick in order to make his way to the next level.
Crawford will be given a Spring Training invite, and, unless an unforeseen circumstance arises, he will begin the 2017 season with Lehigh Valley. As the 7th-overall prospect in baseball, the spotlight will be on the 22-year-old shortstop from the get-go. And whether it be from fans, media, or members of the organization, the pressure will be on for him to make the leap to Major League Baseball. The best of the best thrive under pressure, and pressure is the name of the game for top-10 prospects. All signs point to success for Crawford in the future, but, like all other players on the top-100 list, there is still everything to prove.
#19-Mickey Moniak, OF
Many forget that the Sixers were not the only Philadelphia franchise to acquire a number-1 overall pick in their respective league’s draft. In June the Phillies drafted Moniak, a former UCLA commit, making him the team’s first first overall pick since drafting Pat Burrell in 1998.
Mickey had a positive start to his professional baseball career while playing for the Gulf Coast League Phillies, the rookie-league affiliate team. He batted .284 after making the jump from high school baseball in Southern California to pro-ball against some of the brightest young talent in the entire game. He is the highest ranked prospect from the 2016 draft on the top-100 list. The left-handed hitter will spend his first full professional season between Low-A and High-A.
One of the most relevant storylines within the Phillies’ minor league teams during the 2017 season will be Moniak’s progression. He is projected to be a top-tier outfielder with blazing speed, but there is much to be improved upon in the batter’s box. As he will not be making his major league debut in 2017, unlike many of the players placed ahead of him on the list, Moniak will be looking to work his way up into the top-10 as the season progresses, and he adapts to the everyday grind of being a professional baseball player.
#72- Jorge Alfaro, C
Among the three prospects from Philadelphia on the aforementioned list, Jorge Alfaro will most likely be spending the least amount of time as a prospect-eligibile player, and thus he will be the first to be removed from the list. Alfaro is a candidate in the battle for the starting catcher spot that will take place during Spring Training. Although the job is Cameron Rupp’s to lose, Jorge will have the opportunity to at least begin the season as the backup, and add some days to his MLB service time.
In a limited role with the Phillies during the later stages of last season, Alfaro was 2-16 in the at-bats that he received as a backup catcher and pinch hitter.
Alfaro has been praised for his tremendous arm strength, which has had scouts wondering whether or not it would be an intelligent idea to move him to the outfield. But as of right now, he is the Phillies’ top catching prospect and will be given an opportunity to prove that he can contribute at the highest level. In addition to his fielding potential, Jorge is projected to become a dangerous power hitter. He hit 15 home runs in 97 games with Reading in 2016 before being called up to the majors.
If one of the other competitors in the catcher’s crusade beats out Alfaro, then he could take over as the starter in Lehigh Valley, playing alongside JP Crawford and Nick Williams in what would be a frightful Triple-A lineup. Developing for a while longer would be beneficial for the 23-year-old Colombian, but, if he earns the right to begin the season in Philly, then he could prove valuable as a power hitter off the bench.
Although there weren’t as many Phillies as the community would have hoped for on MLB’s Top-100 Prospects list, the three players who were included have worked their way to the honor and represent what fans have to be excited about in the future. Alongside the veteran signings, young big leaguers, and a competent front office, the minor leaguers will have a great supporting cast upon arrival into the big leagues. Congratulations to those who made the list, and here’s to those looking to make their way onto the list in the near future.
Photo by Bryan Green (via Flickr)
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Categorized:Phillies