Pair of Phillies prospects make 2022 All-Star Futures roster
Prospects Logan O’Hoppe and Erik Miller to represent Phillies at 2022 All-Star Futures Game
The Philadelphia Phillies will be represented well at this year’s All-Star Game and the Futures Game.
Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Brad Hand are all making their case for the big-league game, Kyle Schwarber would absolutely dominate the Home Run Derby, and Bryce Harper is a finalist for the NL DH spot, despite being unable to play.
But before the All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 19, the stars of tomorrow will take the field for the Futures Game on Saturday, July 16. Since the inaugural event during the 1999 midsummer classic festivities, the Futures Game has brought together some of baseball’s most promising prospects and given them a chance to make a huge impression on their organizations and fans.
This year, Logan O’Hoppe and Erik Miller will represent the Phillies. Coach César Ramos will be part of the National League team’s staff.
Congratulations to Logan O'Hoppe (@logan_ohoppe), César Ramos, and Erik Miller (@E_Rex23) for being selected to play in this year’s All-Star Futures Game. pic.twitter.com/mIJ3QABkrp
— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) July 7, 2022
Named the Phillies’ Breakout Star of the Year in 2021, O’Hoppe joined the MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list earlier this season and currently ranks 90th overall. Miller ranks 10th in the Phillies’ system but isn’t in the overall Top 100.
As Keith Law of The Athletic (subscription required) observed, Miller is an interesting choice. The Phillies have several intriguing pitching prospects ranked ahead of him with more name recognition, including their top two prospects, Andrew Painter (2021 first-round) and Mick Abel (2020 first-round pick), who are both in MLB’s Top 100.
However, seeing two Phillies prospects on the Futures roster is a reminder that the farm system is improving, slowly but surely. Last summer, Bryson Stott was the sole representative. In 2019 (there was no event in 2020 due to the pandemic), it was Alec Bohm.
Already this year, there have been several signs that the Phillies are finally figuring out their player development issues. When O’Hoppe joined MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, it marked the first time in over a decade that the franchise had more than two prospects on the list at the same time. A few months before, the Phillies improved in the organizational rankings for the first time since their rankings freefall began in 2017.
It takes time for a barren wasteland to bear fruit again, but it looks like the Phamine is finally ending.
