It’s better than none
Baseball Prospectus is one of the leaders in the baseball analysis industry. They are partially responsible for many people, yours truly included, being introduced, educated and fluent in analytics and how to use them. Not only is there analysis top notch, their prospect coverage is at or near the top as well as far as publicly available data. Their top ten lists are always amusing and informative, as is their top prospect list for the sport in general. Today, they released their top 101 prospects in MLB, in which the Phillies have three names:
19. Andrew Painter
28. Aidan Miller
101. Moises Chace
A good showing for the team, if somewhat disappointing.
Painter has been “overtaken” as the best pitching prospect in baseball, but that is likely due to the fact he hasn’t thrown anything of substance outside of Arizona Fall League ball in two years. There is likely still belief that he’ll blossom into something near an Ace once fully healthy and acclimated to professional baseball, but that will take some time. Miller continues to climb the ranks as a prospect and looks like the team’s best hope at being an impact bat produced by the minors. Chace’s inclusion is a bit surprising, but a good one nonetheless. That trade the team made with Baltimore continues to look like a swindling.
Disappointing that there aren’t more prospects populating this list, but the group that oversees the scouting at BP has never been enamored with someone like Justin Crawford. Mick Abel is starting to look like either a third piece in a trade or someone relegated to bullpen duty sooner rather than later. Other than those two, there isn’t much else to get too excited about.
Maybe someone like Eduardo Tait takes a leap this year since catchers are notoriously slow to develop.
Maybe Gabriel Rincones starts to get some more looks as an internal outfield option.
Maybe Griffin Burkholder starts to turn some heads in a full season of professional baseball.
At least the player development program that team has in place is starting to produce players that can help in the coming years. If there are any kinds of payroll restraints in place, the team will need minor leaguers to start populating the 26-man roster to help with flexibility.