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Ethan Martin, image- Jay Floyd Following a year in which he experienced shoulder problems and struggled at the Triple-A level, hurler Ethan Martin has fallen off many people's radars when it comes to Phillies prospects. Despite his physical setbacks and an adjustment period after moving out of the starting rotation and into the bullpen, the righty still has an arm that could make an impact for the team. Originally selected by the Dodgers in the 1st round (15th overall) in the 2008 amateur draft out of Stephens County High School (GA), when scouts weren't sure if he would proceed as a pitcher or a third baseman in his career, Martin had not posted great numbers in the minors prior to 2012. He was acquired in the trade that sent Shane Victorino to LA. In his first three years as a pro, Martin posted a 24-29 record with a 5.42 ERA. He missed action in 2008 due to a knee injury and officially began his pro career in 2009 with Great Lakes of the Class A Midwest League. I...

According to reports, the Phillies have signed righty starter Chad Billingsley to a one-year $1.5 million contract. Out with an elbow injury last season, the 30-year-old did not pitch in 2014. He last pitched in 2013 when he appeared in two games for the Dodgers. A former 1st round draft pick of Los Angeles in 2003 (24th overall), Billingsley, who stands six-foot-one and weighs 240 pounds, sports an 81-61 record along with a 3.65 ERA and a 7.94 K/9 mark in 219 career games. Billingsley was named an All-Star in 2009 and appeared in six postseason games for the Dodgers in his career, sporting a 1-2 record with a 6.33 ERA in those outings. Performance bonuses are said to take the deal to the $8 million mark.

Deivi Grullon, image- Jay Floyd At the time of his signing with the Phillies in July, 2012, backstop Deivi Grullon was one of the top baseball prospects in the Caribbean. Following two years in the minors, the 18-year-old is looked at as an even more promising player. Grullon, who signed for a reported $575,000, looked very good with the Gulf Coast League Phillies in 2013, posting a .273 batting average with eight doubles, a home run and 14 RBI in 41 games at the rookie level. He followed up that campaign with a season in which he split time at three levels in 2014. Grullon started his season in mid-April with a promotion to Class A Advanced Clearwater out of extended spring training. He notched two hits in ten at bats in two games there. A demotion to Class A Lakewood, where he would get more playing time, followed. In 24 games as a BlueClaw, the six-foot-one 180-pounder posted a .237 average with five doubles, a home run and seven RBI. Grullon would be demoted once more...

Maikel Franco, image- Jay Floyd Phillies prospect Maikel Franco wrapped up an excellent off-season campaign in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, helping his team, the Gigantes, lock down the Dominican Winter League championship with a 3-for-4 effort that included a grand slam, a solo homer and seven total RBI. Through 38 regular season games, the six-foot-one 180-pounder posted a .272 average with eight doubles, seven home runs and 29 RBI. His homer total was tied for second in the league. Franco wrapped up the postseason with four home runs and 16 RBI to go along with his .337 average in 22 games. The 22-year-old split his time evenly between first base and third base for the Gigantes through much of his time there.

Image- MiLB.com Lefty hurler Adam Morgan is fully healthy after recovery from shoulder surgery last winter and is hoping to remind fans why he was ranked among the Phillies’ top prospects just two years ago. The six-foot-one 195-pounder was the Phillies’ 3 rd round draft selection in 2011 out of the University of Alabama. Upon making his pro debut that same year, Morgan tallied a 3-3 record along with a 2.01 ERA and a 7.27 K/9 mark in 11 starts for short-season Class A Williamsport. The following season, at the age of 22, Morgan skipped Class A Lakewood and had a solid campaign with Class A Advanced Clearwater. In 21 games (20 starts) the Georgia native posted a 4-10 record with a 3.29 ERA and a 10.24 K/9 mark. He was promoted to Double-A Reading in August, for their playoff push. In six starts to wrap up that season, Morgan notched an impressive 4-1 record with a 3.53 ERA while striking out 29 and walking 11 in 35 2/3 innings. In 2013 Morgan began his second full...

Odubel Herrera, image- MiLB.com Selected by the Phillies last month in the big league portion of the annual MLB Rule 5 draft, muti-positional prospect Odubel Herrera is primed to make the team's opening day big league roster. The 23-year-old Venezuelan spent this off-season proving the Phils were right when they plucked him from the Rangers' system. With a league-leading .372 average, six homers, 27 RBI and eight stolen bases in 58 games for La Guaira, Herrera was named the Venezuelan Winter League Most Valuable Player as well as the league's Rookie of the Year. In the summer of 2008, Herrera signed for a reported bonus of $160,00 at the age of 16. He would begin his pro career the follow year in the Dominican Summer League. Herrera moved at a steady pace in the Texas developmental ranks, but was behind some of the Rangers' other top young infielders ( Hanser Alberto , Rougned Odor and Jurickson Profar ) on their depth chart, making him expendable to that c...

Nefi Ogando, image- Tug Haines Acquired from Boston in a late season deal in 2013 for infielder John McDonald , righty hurler Nefi Ogando has shown loads of potential since joining the Phillies organization. The Dominican Republic native was signed by Boston as an amateur free agent in 2010, debuting as a pro that same year with the organization's Dominican Summer League club. In 11 DSL games (four starts), Ogando tallied a 3-1 record with a 2.91 ERA and a .248 BAA. The following season, the six-foot-two 185-pounder posted a 1-5 record along with a 2.83 ERA in 15 games (two starts) for short-season Class A Lowell. In 2012, Ogando pitched exclusively as a reliever and notched a 4-4 record with two saves and a 3.70 ERA in 38 outings. With Class A Advanced Salem in 2013, Ogando posted a 2-3 record with three saves, a .238 batting average against and a 4.09 ERA mark in 33 appearances. Last year, in his first campaign with the Phillies, the youngster had a 5-1 record with ...

Jesmuel Valentin, image- MiLB.com A product of last season's post-trade deadline deadline that sent Roberto Hernandez to the Dodgers, infielder Jesmuel Valentin has loads of potential and could be an eventual successor to six-time All-Star Chase Utley at second base for the Phillies. Selected with the 51st overall draft pick in 2012, Valentin was quickly a well-hyped prospect in the Los Angeles system. Upon signing his initial professional contract, the five-foot-nine 180-pounder debuted in the rookie level Arizona League, posting a .211 average while lacing two homers and driving in 18 runs in 43 games. In 2013 he began the season in the rookie level Pioneer League, where he batted .284 with four homers and 24 RBI in 62 games. A promotion to the Class A Great Lakes team followed and Valentin, as a 19-year-old, struggled a bit, batting .212 with six doubles, a triple and five RBI in 33 games. Last year, Valentin repeated Class A and proved ready for the challenge. I...

Severino Gonzalez, image- J. Floyd A break out season in two years ago garnered righty pitcher Severino Gonzalez a lot of attention and had some touting his potential as sky high. He followed that up, however, with a campaign in 2014 that brought him back down to Earth a bit. After signing with the Phillies as an amateur free agent in 2011, Gonzalez made his pro debut that same year in the Venezuelan Summer League, putting together a 1-1 record with a save and a 2.11 ERA in 17 games as a reliever. The following season in the same league, Gonzalez tallied a 7-3 record and a league best 1.65 ERA in 14 starts. He also led the league in strike outs (86), innings pitched (92 2/3) and complete games (two). In 2013, at the age of 20, Gonzalez came to the United States for his very first spring training and showed no great issues when dealing with the cultural change. He was able to bond with countryman Carlos Ruiz , who was serving a drug suspension at extended spring training which...

Cam Perkins, image- Jay Floyd Since he was drafted by the Phillies with their sixth round selection in 2012, outfielder Cam Perkins has been one of the organization's most promising prospects. The right-handed batting Perkins has displayed excellent skills in many aspects of his game and is closest to the big leagues out of all the players from that year's Phils draft class. Perkins signed quickly in 2012 and upon his pro debut he batted .158 with three RBI in five games for the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies. Following a promotion to the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters, Perkins shined. In 67 games, he tallied a .304 average with 23 doubles, one triple, one home run and 38 RBI. The following season, Perkins was a top performer in the Class A Advanced Florida State League. The year, he was sidelined with a fractured wrist after being hit by a pitch on May 31st. At the time of his injury, Perkins was among the league leaders in several offensiv...

Acquired in the August trade that sent Roberto Hernandez to the Dodgers, right-hander Victor Arano is a talented pitcher that has made some considerable impressions in his young career. As a 19-year-old, the Mexico native looked sharp at Class A full season Great Lakes last year and now appears to be primed to be a buzz name in the Phillies’ developmental ranks next season. Signed as an amateur free agent in 2013 by Los Angeles, the six-foot-two 200-pounder made his professional debut with the rookie level Arizona League Dodgers that same year. In 13 appearances (eight starts), he tallied a 3-2 record with a 4.20 ERA while striking out 49 batters and walking 13 in 49 1/3 innings. He progressed well last year, in the Class A full season Midwest League. With the Loons, Arano sported a 4-7 record along with three saves and a 4.08 ERA in 22 games (15 starts). Additionally, the youngster displayed considerable control and command of the strike zone. He posted an 8.68 K/9 mark and jus...

Carlos Tocci, image- Jay Floyd Since he was signed by the Phillies for a reported signing bonus of $759,000 in the summer of 2011 on his 16th birthday, Carlos Tocci has been followed by a tremendous reputation that he’s yet to live up to between the lines on a pro field. Despite being retained stateside at the Phillies’ spring training home in Clearwater in recent winters to work out under the supervision of the Phillies’ training staff, the Venezuelan born Tocci has failed to bulk up his gaunt six-foot-two 160-pound frame. The right-handed batter has displayed minimal power in his three professional seasons, slugging just two home runs and tallying a .291 slugging percentage in 281 contests at two levels. After participating in the Phillies’ fall instructional league following his signing, Tocci debuted in the minors with the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies in 2012, batting .278 with two doubles, nine RBI and nine steals in 38 games. The following year, as a 17-year-o...

This year’s list of top 25 Phillies prospects includes 26 names. I’ll place the blame for that one on the Phillies for making the process of narrowing things down quite difficult with all of their youthful off-season acquisitions. To make things a tad easier on me in locking this list down, I’ve declared a tie for the number 25 slot. Andrew Knapp, image- Jay Floyd Catcher Andrew Knapp made a quick recovery from off-season Tommy John surgery last year and was back in action in the minors by early May. The six-foot-one 190-pounder joined the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers during the fifth week of the season. Entering the lineup as a designated hitter allowed Knapp to see game action sooner. It was mid-June by the time he would play defense, as his elbow needed additional recovery time before he could throw at 100-percent. Upon joining the Threshers, Knapp struggled. He posted a .157 average with a home run and seven RBI in 23 games. After a 5-for-48 (.104 avg) str...

The dawn of a near year brings along with it the annual Phillies Nation “Prospect Nation” countdown, running down the organization’s top 25 up and coming players. In the coming weeks, as a brand new season approaches, I’ll be bringing you player reviews for each of the top developmental talents that appear to have the brightest futures for the Phillies. Always taken into consideration when compiling the list is age, minor league performance relative to levels played, value to the organization as well as future potential and proximity to the big leagues. These rankings do not include players over 25 years old or individuals that have spent lengthy stretches in the big leagues. As such, infielder Carlos Alonso , who played his age 26 season at Double-A last year, will not make the list, despite deserving some consideration. The same applies 28-year-old to relief pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez , who debuted with the Phillies late last season. Additionally, a guy such as infielder...

On the 74th edition of the PhoulBallz Minor League Podcast, Tug and Jay discuss the recent Hall of Fame voting including thoughts on Pedro Martinez and Barry Bonds . The guys also pour through the revamped Phillies prospect core thanks to last year's amateur draft, trades and December's Rule 5 draft, reviewing Jesmuel Valentin , Zach Eflin , Odubel Herrera as well as plenty more. Also minor league infielder Carlos Alonso joins the guys for the fun segment Nine Silly-Ass Questions. Use the media player below to stream the full episode, or simply download it by clicking HERE . You can also check out previous episodes and subscribe on iTunes . Thanks also for making the previous episode of the show featuring live call-in guest Matt Imhof the most downloaded edition ever!