We are nearing the 2026 MLB Draft, which means it's time to take a deeper look at some of the prospects taken last year. Yes, the Phillies nailed the Gage Wood pick in the first round, but who else is adjusting well to pro ball? Who is struggling?
With Single-A Clearwater, pitchers Jacob Pruitt and Richie Cortese have made the Phillies look like geniuses for drafting them so late. On the same staff with the same team, Tyler Bowen hasn't seen much positive production yet, and Jack Barker has been slow with getting comfortable after his promotion from rookie ball.
Jacob Pruitt, Richie Cortese have been two early risers in Phillies' minor league system
It's not too much of a surprise that Pruitt is doing so well. One of several Mississippi State players taken in the draft in 2025, Pruitt was essentially surrounded by pro players before ever signing with Philadelphia.
Though his numbers were not good in college, boasting a 7.23 ERA last year, Pruitt was taken in the 15th round (461st overall). He did not pitch after getting drafted, which allowed him to reset for 2026. He's been on his game, striking out 19 batters in 14 innings with only three walks. Pruitt had a 23:15 K:BB with the Bulldogs last year, so the improvements are already being made.
Pruitt's teammate in Clearwater, Cortese, has also seen immediate production. Cortese wasn't a lights out pitcher at Lander University in 2025, sporting a 4.35 ERA, but his 6-foot-6, 245-pound frame was enough for the Phillies to take a flyer on him in the 17th round. Cortese is still dealing with some control issues, but his 20 strikeouts and 2.45 mark in 10 games so far have made the Phillies look smart for taking him late in the draft.
Cortese's college teammate, who was taken earlier than him in last year's draft by Philadelphia, is not adjusting as well.
Tyler Bowen, Jack Barker are early strugglers among Phillies 2025 draft selections
Tyler Bowen, invited to spring training this year, is also from Lander. He was drafted in the 12th round by the Phillies last year, which is 150 picks earlier than Cortese. It made sense that he went so much earlier than his mate, though. He had a much better ERA, as well as 55 strikeouts in 34.1 innings.
But Bowen, also on Single-A Clearwater, has a 9.35 ERA in his first 11 appearances in pro ball. As a reliever, four of those outings saw him allow multiple runs. That won't help the ERA, but there is obviously still time to deflate it. It just doesn't help Bowen that his college teammate, taken five rounds after him, is performing significantly better out of the gate.
Then there is Jack Barker, who is now with Clearwater, too. The outfielder had a monster season at Southern Idaho last year, batting .456 with 37 extra-base hits. Drafted in the 13th round, Barker's rookie ball numbers weren't so bad. He hit .281 this season before his promotion to Single-A. Everything hasn't clicked for him yet, though. He has 45 strikeouts in 30 games, as well as a .255 slugging percentage. That's not what the Phils anticipated after watching his small-school surge in college.
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