The Phillies’ pitching prospects in the short-season leagues provide an added layer of depth to their minor-league system
Thanks to recent trades, amateur drafts, and international signings, the Phillies have truly revamped their minor-league system. Maikel Franco, who the team signed out of the Dominican in 2010, and Aaron Nola, the Phillies’ 2014 first-round pick, are both prime examples of successes of the team’s player development department.
If this season has proved anything for the Phillies, it’s that you can never have too many pitchers. The team has taken this to heart, selecting three pitchers in the first five rounds of this year’s draft, as well as committing $900,000 to Venezuelan right-hander Franciso Morales.
As these pitching prospects start to join the minor-league system, almost all start with either the Phillies’ Gulf Coast League affiliate or the New York-Penn League Williamsport Crosscutters.
While many of the players with those teams are nothing more than a pipe dream, some are legitimate pitching prospects. Without further ado, here are some short-season Phillies pitching prospects you should keep your eye on in the coming years.
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