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A third round draft pick in 2020, Arkansas junior Casey Martin was quickly signed by the Phillies and consideration as one of the organization's top infield prospects quickly began.  The organization's belief in his ceiling is likely evident in the signing bonus he got, which was reportedly $1.3 million, considerably more than slot money dictated by his 87th overall draft position ($685K). The righty hitting Martin tallied a .311/.393/.545 slash line with 30 homers, 24 steals and 112 RBI in 143 games through his college career as a Razorback.  Reports had him falling in the draft as a result of an injury to the hamate bone in his left hand prior to his 2020 season.  Prior to a procedure to repair the ailment, Baseball America projected Martin as a top ten draft pick. In 15 games in 2020 primarily as the Arkansas clean up hitter, before the season was halted due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Martin notched a .271 batting average with a pair of home runs, 10 RBI along with s...

Lefty pitcher  Cristopher Sanchez  looks to be a possible contributor for the Phillies big league team in the near future. The Phils sent infielder Curtis Mead to the Rays in a November 2019 trade in exchange for the promising Dominican Republic native. Signed for a reported $65,000 by Tampa Bay in 2013 at age of 16, Sanchez would go on to make his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League the following year.  In 13 appearances that season, he notched a 7.77 ERA.  The Rays would have him repeat the league twice.  In 41 total appearances there, Sanchez tallied an 8-7 record with a 4.15 ERA, 6.1 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9.  In 2017 Sanchez split time between starting and relieving in the Rookie level Appalachian League.  With Princeton, he posted some dismal numbers, with a 1-6 record with a 10.01 ERA and a .353 batting average against. In 2018, he opened the year back in extended spring training and went the short-season route with Princeton once more....

Talented 21-year-old infielder Luis Garcia remains worthy of being regarded as one of the Phillies' top prospects. After the team signed Garcia for a reported $2.5 million (second highest international signing in Phils history) in July of 2017, Garcia participated in the Florida Instructional League as a 16-year-old later that year. The Dominican Republic native would make his official professional debut in 2018. In the short-season Rookie level Gulf Coast League, Garcia led the league in batting average with a .369 mark.  Additionally, he posted a .433 on-base percentage with an impressive .921 OPS. The five-foot-11 175-pounder was named to the GCL’s post-season All-Star roster and was rated by Baseball America as the best prospect in the GCL at the time he played there. In 2019 Garcia played the entire season with Class A Lakewood at the age of 18.  There, he would struggle considerably at the plate.  In 127 games he tallied a .186 batting average with 14 doubles, three...

A third round draft selection by the Phillies in 2019 out of Benedictine Prep, a military school in Virginia, shortstop Jamari Baylor signed his first pro contract for a reported $675,000 and put his significant tools on display during his brief initial minor league stint. In four games in the rookie level Gulf Coast League, five-foot-11 190-pounder sported a .273 average with a pair of doubles.  He was forced out action swiftly after his pro debut due to a reported hamstring injury. After the 2020 season was cancelled due to the global pandemic, Baylor trained at  Driveline Baseball  and got some game action at Fall Instructs in Florida during that off-season as well. In 2021, Baylor was back in action and absolutely torched Rookie level Florida Complex League competition.  In 25 contests, he boasted an outstanding 1.020 OPS with 16 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Shortly after he turned 21 years old in late August, Baylor was promoted to Class A Clearwater to wrap up the ...

A third round draft selection by the Phillies in 2021, high schooler Jordan Viars has drawn much attention as a promising prospect.  ' Equipped with raw power and said to have a very high offensive ceiling, the Texas native was reported be multiple organizations' favorite high school batter heading into last year's draft. Opening his professional career in the Florida Complex League in 2021 after he was the 84th overall draft pick, Viars batted .255 with three home runs, 18 RBI and a pair of stolen bases.  He also walked a bunch (17.2% walk rate), which was very impressive. Defensively, Viars split his time in the minors between left field and first base.  With a strong arm, he could find himself getting time in right field as he advances, but first base could be a more likely option for where he lands long term. Viars has one of those "projectable" frames that baseball types love.  At six-feet-four, 215 pounds, the 18-year-old has wide shoulders, long arms with l...

Lefty pitcher  Ethan Lindow  stood out so much among Phillies pitching prospects in 2019 that he was honored with the Paul Owens Award, which is bestowed annually upon the top position player and the top hurler from the organization's minor league affiliates. Selected in the 5th round of the 2017 draft out of high school in Georgia, Lindow would sign for a reported $500,000 and swiftly began his professional career. In the Rookie level Gulf Coast League, Lindow started eight contests, posting a 2-2 record with a 4.55 ERA and a .241 batting average against while striking out 34 and walking 12 batters in 27 2/3 innings pitched.  He participated that year in the Florida Instructional League as well.  In 2018 Lindow opened the campaign in extended spring training, later having a remarkable campaign with the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters.  In 13 starts, the six-foot-three 180-pounder posted a 3-2 record with a 2.19 ERA, a .227 batting average against...

Venezuelan born right-hander Cristian Hernandez has begun to earn recognition as one of the Phillies most promising pitching prospects. Signed as a 16-year-old in 2017 for a reported $120,000, Hernandez got his professional career started the following summer as a starter for the Phillies' Red Dominican Summer League club.  There, in 13 starts, Hernandez tallied a 2-3 record with 2.57 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP as well as a 7.0 K/9 mark. An injury sidelined Hernandez in 2019 and the 2020 season was cancelled due to the global pandemic. In 2021, Hernandez saw his first regular season action in the United States, starting his season in Florida Complex League.  After two appearances there, the six-foot-three 185-pounder was promoted to the Class A Clearwater Threshers.  In 20 combined outings (17 starts), Hernandez notched a 2-7 record with a 3.57 ERA, a .228 batting average against and an 11.2 K/9 mark. Projectability is something that baseball folks like about Hernandez.  His s...

Griffin McGarry was a standout in the College World Series last year for Virginia, which helped the right-hander become the Phillies' 5th round pick in the MLB draft. After signing as a pro, McGarry swiftly made a splash and proved he has a very promising future. The owner of a 14.4 K/9 mark last year with the Cavaliers, McGarry took a no-hitter into the 8th inning in the CWS against eventual national champion Mississippi St. After debuting in the minors, the six-foot-two 190-pounder tallied a save, a 3.27 ERA, and a .154 batting average against in five outings with Class A Clearwater.  His efforts with the Threshers earned him a promotion to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore.  In three starts with the BlueClaws, McGarry notched a 1-0 record, a 2.70 ERA and a .152 batting average against.  Overall, in his eight pro appearances, McGarry has a 15.9 K/9 mark while averaging 5.1 walks per nine innings.  That walk rate speaks to McGarry's control.  He was said to have ta...

Each and every winter I compile prospect rankings and count down the Phillies organization’s top 25 minor league players. In the coming weeks, I’ll be posting reviews for each of the top developmental talents that appear to have the brightest futures in the Phils organization.  Taken into consideration when compiling the list is age, minor league performance relative to levels played to date, value to the organization as well as each player's future potential along with proximity to the big leagues.  These rankings will not contain players over the age of 25 or individuals that have already spent lengthy stretches in the big leagues.  For example, hurler JoJo Romero has graduated out of this list after competing in the big leagues in each of the last two seasons.  Pitcher Ramon Rosso, who appeared in 14 total big league games over the past two seasons, is also not being considered.   Players that garnered consideration for this year's list but did not place...