3 Under-the-radar prospect picks by Phillies farm director Preston Mattingly

New farm director Preston Mattingly names the three Philadelphia Phillies prospects he think give the farm system more depth than meets the eye

The Philadelphia Phillies farm system has been a low-ranking disaster for half a decade now.

Between 2017-21, it ranked lower and lower every year, finally landing at 27th last season. Ahead of the 2022 season, Baseball America (subscription required) is ranking the Pharm better than the year before for the first time since 2017.

The Phillies have a long way to go before being considered among the elite prospect factories in the league, but their new farm director, Preston Mattingly (yes, as in Don Mattingly’s son) thinks there’s more to his new dominion than meets the eye. At their minor-league minicamp this week in Clearwater, Florida, Mattingly told NBC Sports Philadelphia:

"“I think the (system) is deeper than people think. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing a bunch of other teams’ top guys and I think the guys in our system stack up with those guys. They don’t get the recognition that others do.”"

In addition to praising top infield prospect Bryson Stott, who is currently at minicamp striving towards a big-league roster spot, Mattingly named three other Phillies minor leaguers whom he feels deepen the farm system considerably:

Griff McGarry, Johan Rojas, and Logan O’Hoppe. 

"“You throw in a (pitcher) McGarry and Rojas and O’Hoppe. I’ve gotten to see a bunch of catchers. Logan stacks up with anybody. Johan Rojas, if there’s a better defensive center fielder in the minor leagues, I haven’t seen him.” Don Mattingly, Phillies farm director"

Let’s talk about each of them…