Phillies prospects 3B Alec Bohm and RHP Spencer Howard have been named to Baseball America’s prestigious 2020 Top 100 Prospects list.
As the 2020 season inches even closer, two Philadelphia Phillies prospects have been recently named among the best prospects in baseball.
Baseball America released its popular annual Top 100 Prospects list this week and two promising future Phillies stars placed in the top 30: right-handed starting pitcher Spencer Howard (27) and third baseman Alec Bohm (28).
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Howard, 23, combined to go 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA, 0.831 WHIP and 94-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 15 starts and 71 innings combined across the rookie, Single- and Double-A levels. In his six starts in the Arizona Fall League, the California native posted a 1-1 record, 2.11 ERA, 0.938 WHIP and 27-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio spanning 21 1/3 frames.
Baseball America writes:
"Triple-digit fastball, swing-and-miss curveball and the ability to work the edges of the strike zone, Howard flashes front-end potential."
The Phillies appear to be “banking” on the 23-year-old Bohm being their everyday third baseman of the future, potentially as soon as some point during the 2020 season. In 125 games and 540 plate appearances last season combined between Single- and Double-A, Bohm slashed .305/.378/.518 with 30 doubles, 21 home runs, 80 RBI, 57 walks and 73 strikeouts. He improved in the Arizona Fall League, slashing .361/.397/.528 in 19 games and 78 plate appearances.
Baseball America writes:
"Even with questions about whether he’ll have to move to first base, Bohm has the feel to hit and plus power to hit in the middle of the Phillies’ order, and soon."
Howard was the Phillies’ second-round draft pick in 2017, while Bohm was the club’s first-round selection (third overall) in the 2018 draft.
Among teams in the National League East, the Miami Marlins had the most prospects on the list with five, including RHP Sixto Sanchez (16), who the Phillies dealt in a package just one year ago in exchange for star catcher J.T. Realmuto.
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Four Braves prospects made the cut, followed by the reigning World Series champion Washington Nationals, New York Mets and Phillies each with two.
NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury writes:
"Shortstop Wander Franco of the Tampa Bay Rays was ranked No. 1 on Baseball America’s list for the second year in a row. The Rays placed eight players on the list. Because of a loaded farm system, the Rays were unable to protect left-hander Cristopher Sanchez on their 40-man roster and the Phillies traded for him in November."
Both Howard and Bohm are among the Phillies’ non-roster invitees this spring training. Even if they don’t make the Opening Day roster, it will not be long before they make their long-awaited debuts in red pinstripes.