2021 Phillies top 10 prospects list shows promise for future

Top 10 Phillies prospects list for the 2021 season

The Philadelphia Phillies farm system has hardly been one to receive praise, at least over the past decade; however, there are still several reasons for optimism heading into the 2021 season.

Baseball America recently released its annual Top 10 Phillies prospects list, featuring three right-handed pitchers, three infielders, three outfielders, and one catcher.

Two of these prospects debuted in the majors this past season; they, along with the eight others, have shown signs of promise that can correlate to future success at the big-league level.

10. Nick Maton, INF

Drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 draft out of Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois, the 23-year-old Nick Maton has fielded second base, shortstop, and third base so far in his professional career. He has been praised for his solid defensive skills at each position, and could very well become the next “Scott Kingery,” utility-type player on the big-league roster.

The younger brother of four-year veteran reliever Phil Maton — who appeared in more than one-third of the games this past season with the Cleveland Indians — Nick has been praised for his impressive strikeouts to walks ratios; So far through 286 career minor-league games and 1,168 plate appearances, he has struck out only 235 times compared to his 123 walks.

“He’s never going to be a huge power guy, but he’s not going to have the bat knocked out of his hand either, with some extra-base authority from the left side of the plate,” MLB Pipeline writes. “He’s not a burner, but he’s aggressive on the basepaths and is still learning how to steal bases more consistently.”

Maton most recently appeared in the 2019 Arizona Fall League, but appeared in only three games, slashing .333/.385/.667, due to suffering a broken thumb. The Phillies recently added him, along with five other prospects, to their 40-man roster as protection from this offseason’s Rule 5 Draft.

9. Johan Rojas, OF

The Dominican Republic native Johan Rojas, who turned 20 this past August, has only played professionally in the Phillies organization for two seasons, after being signed as an international prospect during the 2017-18 signing period.

So far, he has impressed. Spanning 128 combined games and 548 plate appearances, Rojas has slashed .294/.346/.425 with 23 doubles, 15 triples, four home runs, 46 RBI, 33 stolen bases, 32 walks, and just 78 strikeouts.

MLB Pipeline projects Rojas to make his big-league debut sometime in 2023, and says he “makes a ton of hard contact from the right side of the plate, barreling up the baseball very well and has the chance to be a solid hitter with good power.”

Rojas is said to also have plus speed, which he takes advantage of on the base paths stealing bases, as well as when fielding in the outfield. Rojas has been primarily used as a center fielder, and has committed only six errors through 295 chances and 1,079 1/3 innings so far in the Phillies system overall.

“He’s played more center field than anywhere else to date and has the range and the instincts to stay there, though he’s also shown the ability to play both corners and has plenty of arm strength for right,” MLB Pipeline continues.

8. Simon Muzziotti, OF

The Venezuela native Simon Muzziotti also was an international prospect, but came to the Phillies through unique circumstances. The Boston Red Sox first inked the outfielder during the 2015-16 signing period; however, he was later declared a free-agent, once the Red Sox were forced to forfeit him and others — as well as became banned from signing international prospects the subsequent year — due to signing-bonus rule violations.

So far, Muzziotti has shown promising signs in the Phillies system, having struck out only 127 times compared to his 70 walks through 1,157 plate appearances from 2016-19. And, Muzziotti was even named a 2019 Florida State League All-Star, after slashing .287/.337/.372 with 21 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 28 RBI, and 21 stolen bases.

The primary center fielder will turn 22 next month and is described as a “natural defender with outstanding instincts — one who reads hitters well, gets great jumps and takes very good routes to the ball, with a very accurate arm to boot.” The Phillies recently added Muzziotti, along with five other prospects, to their 40-man roster as protection from this offseason’s Rule 5 Draft.

5. Rafael Marchan, C

Venezuela native catcher Rafael Marchan made his big-league debut this past season and did not disappoint, slugging his first professional career home run — a three-run shot that helped the Phillies edge the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-7, in the second game of a seven-inning, mid-September twin bill double-header.

The 21-year-old is most respected for his defense, as well as catch-and-throw skills, and is poised to be at least the long-term Phillies backup catcher for years to come.

4. Francisco Morales, RHP

The Phillies recently added pitcher Francisco Morales, along with five other prospects, to their 40-man roster as protection from this offseason’s Rule 5 Draft. Inked to the organization during the 2016-17 international signing period, the 6-foot-4 right-hander has logged 241 strikeouts through 194 1/3 innings and three levels in the system.

The Venezuela native’s pitching repertoire includes having a fastball that reaches the high 90s, a changeup that has depth, as well as a filthy slider and breaking ball — the latter pitch which induced a 30 percent swing-and-miss rate opposite South Atlantic League batters during the 2019 season.

Thirty-seven of Morales’ 50 professional appearances have come as a starter; the Phillies might view Morales as a candidate to enter at least the back-end of the rotation in the coming seasons.

3. Bryson Stott, SS

The Phillies drafted shortstop Bryson Stott in the first round, 14th overall, of the 2019 amateur draft out of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Growing up in the world-renowned Nevada city, Stott is already friends with fellow area native, star outfielder Bryce Harper.

The 23-year-old performed up to expectations during his first professional season last year, combined between the GCL Phillies East and Williamsport Crosscutters. Spanning 48 games and 193 plate appearances, Stott slashed .295/.391/.494 with nine doubles, three triples, six home runs, 27 RBI, 24 walks, and just 39 strikeouts.

Stott is surely a candidate to become the next everyday Phillies shortstop, and possibly is the reason why the Phillies seem to have been wary to commit to Didi Gregorius and others long-term at the position.

2. Mick Abel, RHP

The Phillies drafted 19-year-old right-hander Mick Abel with the 15th overall pick in this year’s amateur draft out of Jesuit High School in Oregon.

Standing at 6-foot-5 and 198 pounds, Abel was praised this past summer by then-general manager Matt Klentak for his preparation, passion, discipline, and confidence.

“He’s all about getting better, learning, and growing,” Klentak added. “[He is] really wise beyond his years and he’s got a very bright future as a player, both because of his physical talents but also what he’s got upstairs.”

MLB.com’s Jim Callis labeled Abel as being the “best prep pitcher” from the draft, with a “terrific combination of stuff and polish,” a 93-to-98 miles per hour fastball, along with a “potential plus slider and changeup.”

1. Spencer Howard, RHP

Right-handed starting pitcher Spencer Howard will soon graduate from any prospect list, as he is already six starts into his big-league career. Debuting this past August, the 24-year-old combined to go 1-2 with a 5.92 ERA, yielding 17 runs (16 earned) through 24 1/3 innings.

Howard did strike out 23 batters and walked just 10, however, a promising sign as he returns for his first full season in the rotation alongside Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, and Zach Eflin.

Combined in 2019, Howard went 3-1 with a 2.03 ERA in the minors, striking out 94 batters while walking 16 spanning 15 starts and 71 innings. If he can translate that successful year into the majors in 2021, he will surely be on his way to at least the No. 3 spot in the rotation behind Nola and Wheeler.

Howard is widely regarded as the current top Phillies prospect; perhaps, new pitching coach Caleb Cotham can unlock his full potential.