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4 Phillies prospects who could steal roster spots at Spring Training

By Gabrielle Starr |
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 01: Jhailyn Ortiz #89 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts to a strike in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a spring training game at Baycare Ballpark on March 01, 2021 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - MARCH 01: Jhailyn Ortiz #89 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts to a strike in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a spring training game at Baycare Ballpark on March 01, 2021 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
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Which Philadelphia Phillies prospects could earn roster spots at Spring Training 2022?

The Philadelphia Phillies‘ offseason was already pretty quiet before the lockout effectively silenced the league. They lost out big-time on free agents who would have been perfect for them, including Starling Marte, and have thus far been unable to come to terms with remaining free agents, such as Kyle Schwarber.

The organization also doesn’t have a lot of money to spend, unless they decide to exceed the luxury tax threshold, which they have never done before.

They absolutely should be spending money to build a team around Bryce Harper and Zack Wheeler, but that’s not what we’re here to talk about right now; we’re here to talk about the Phillies prospects who could earn roster spots by stealing the spotlight at Spring Training.

Here are four players to watch this spring…

4. Francisco Morales RHP

The Phillies’ starting rotation needs more than Zack Wheeler. They’re going to need Ranger Suárez to replicate what he did in 2021, for Aaron Nola to get infinitely better, and for Zach Eflin to get healthy, but the rotation really needs new blood.

Francisco Morales is young, but the Phillies’ number-five prospect is getting closer to the big leagues. In fact, he’s the only pitcher who spent the entire year on the 40-man roster without appearing in a big-league game; he pitched for Double-A Reading and Triple-A Reading in 2021, accumulating a 6.28 ERA over 24 games, including 22 starts.

Morales allowed 4+ runs in nine of his games, but he also struck out 6+ batters in nine of his games. He finished the season promoted to Triple-A, where he made two scoreless starts.

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – MARCH 01: Jhailyn Ortiz #89 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts to a strike in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a spring training game at Baycare Ballpark on March 01, 2021 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – MARCH 01: Jhailyn Ortiz #89 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts to a strike in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a spring training game at Baycare Ballpark on March 01, 2021 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

3. Jhailyn Ortiz OF

Jhailyn Ortiz has yet to play at Triple-A, but the Phillies have high hopes for his future, to the point that they added him to the 40-man.

Across 95 games between High-A and Double-A in 2021, the 23-year-old outfielder slashed .250/.346/.488 with a .834 OPS, 12 doubles, and 23 home runs. He also went 4-for-5 in stolen-base attempts.

Ortiz is ranked 10th in the system, but he’s something of a strikeout machine, striking out 113 times in 95 games. However, he showed an improvement in plate discipline over prior minor-league seasons, drawing a career-high 38 walks, despite playing in fewer games than his last two seasons.

The reason Ortiz makes this list over 2021 standout Logan O’Hoppe is that O’Hoppe has catchers in front of him. J.T. Realmuto is signed through 2025, and the Phillies recently traded for Garrett Stubbs as a new backup after bidding farewell to Andrew Knapp. O’Hoppe will likely make the 40-man soon, but his big-league ETA is 2023.

Ultimately, Ortiz’s 2022 plans might be more about his organizational needs than his own growth; if the Phillies can’t fill their gaping outfield holes, Ortiz might get his shot.

Oct 2, 2021; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Hans Crouse (51) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2021; Miami, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Hans Crouse (51) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Hans Crouse RHP

Hans Crouse was part of the trade package the Phillies received from the Texas Rangers at the 2021 deadline when they acquired big-league arms Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy. They also received Crouse, a top Rangers prospect, and somehow convinced the Rangers to pay them $4M. In exchange, former top pitching prospect Spencer Howard became a Ranger.

Now the number-four prospect in the Phillies’ system, Crouse had never pitched above Double-A before the trade and pitched in exactly one game at Triple-A Lehigh Valley after the trade. He also made four starts in the Arizona Fall League, to the tune of a 5.06 ERA over 16 innings.

Gibson and Kennedy proved to be mediocre additions to the Phillies’ already-struggling pitching arsenal, so it’s kind of up to Crouse to make this trade seem like a win. He already debuted with the Phillies, making two big-league starts.

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – MARCH 01: Bryson Stott #73 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs to first after hitting a single in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a spring training game at Baycare Ballpark on March 01, 2021 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA – MARCH 01: Bryson Stott #73 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs to first after hitting a single in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a spring training game at Baycare Ballpark on March 01, 2021 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

1. Bryson Stott SS

Our number-one pick shouldn’t come as a surprise at all, considering Phillies POBO Dave Dombrowski specifically told Bryson Stott to come to Spring Training with the goal of earning a spot on the big-league roster.

The org’s number-two prospect impressed during the 2021 minor-league season and in the Arizona Fall League. He hit .299/.390/.486 with a .876 OPS over 112 games during the season and .318 with a .934 OPS in 26 AFL games.

Stott has only played 10 games at Triple-A, but the Phillies desperately need help at shortstop after Didi Gregorius‘ terrible year offensively, in addition to his longtime defensive woes.

Dombrowski has made it clear that he is not concerned by the rapid rate at which Stott skyrocketed through the farm system, and is confident that the young infielder can hack it in the bigs.

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