Even with close to a decade of losing, the Philadelphia Phillies had a tough time developing young talent. After the farm system ranked in the top 10 from 2016 to 2019, it quickly dropped off as some of their top picks began to unravel. Since then, the team has ranked in the low- to mid-20s, reaching as high as the 19th-best system in baseball in 2023, according to Baseball America.
A big change that is starting to pay dividends is the addition of the then director of player development and now vice president and general manager, Preston Mattingly. Since joining the organization in 2021, there has been a positive turn in development and not only the Phillies, but the son of former MVP Don Mattingly himself has been getting high praise.
3 Phillies prospects poised to become the next fan favorites
When looking past the Top 100 prospect-level players in the Phillies organization, they have some young, moldable talents with high potential. Mattingly, along with the team he has put together, has discovered, scouted and developed the next wave of MLB hopefuls, including some intriguing skill sets that fans will love.
Jean Cabrera, RHP
Named as the Phillies pitching prospect of the year in 2024, Jean Cabrera also has the best changeup and best control in the Phillies' minor leagues, according to Baseball America. His rise up the rankings has been something to watch after being signed out of Venezuela in 2021. Since then he was unranked until jumping to No. 13 in MLB Pipeline's Phillies Top 30 during the 2024 season.
Jean Cabrera dominated through 100+ innings this season
— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) January 10, 2025
His work in 2024 led to a final ranking as the No. 12 Phillies prospect as well as Phillies Pitching Prospect of the Year recognition by @MLBPipeline pic.twitter.com/FzXENLPCvn
Over 106 innings in 2024, the 23-year-old struck out more than a batter per inning, collecting 110 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.80. His fastball sits in the mid-90s with the ability to reach 98 mph if needed. He easily projects to throw 100 mph or more consistently if he can add weight to his 145-pound frame.
The fourth-year Phillie brings along his wipeout changeup to attack hitters on both sides of the plate, similar to the pitching style of All-Stars Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez. The separating factor is Cabrera's elite velocity. He also throws a raw sweeper that could be a horizontal moving pitch to throw off hitters.
Cabrera is one of the more tenured pitchers in the Phillies farm, bringing him closer to the show. While there are names like Andrew Painter and Mick Abel in his way, Cabrera could find a role on the MLB team in the very near future.
Gabriel Rincones Jr., OF
Ranked as the Phillies No. 10 prospect by MLB Pipeline at the end of last season, Gabriel Rincones Jr. earned a non-roster invite to major league spring training. While he has only been a professional baseball player for two years, his MLB-caliber size has opened some doors for the kid.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 225 pounds, the 23-year-old can smash the baseball. Often hitting the ball over 105 mph, Rincones Jr. put 11 of them over the fence in only 59 games after being promoted to Reading. His .487 slugging and .843 OPS are great signs of his ability to drive the baseball and not just find hits but produce them.
The former FAU standout and big lefty is a show to watch at the plate, with the typical corner outfield build, something like that of former division rival Jorge Soler. His power and hit tool alone could earn him a spot at the major league level. He was invited to spring training as one of nine outfielders, along with another top prospect, Justin Crawford. While Rincones Jr. will likely be one of the first players sent back to minor league camp, early on, he will get a good amount of field time to showcase his talents.
The Florida native has had little trouble with velocity, making the big adjustment needed to be with the offspeed. With high power comes high swing-and-miss. If the Phillies' factory is able to develop Rincones Jr. more as an overall hitter, he could be a staple in the lineup for years to come.
Griffin Burkholder, OF
The Phillies selected Griffin Burkholder in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft. The then West Virginia recruit decide to forego his commitment and sign with Philadelphia over slot bonus at $2.5 million. After stealing Aidan Miller late in the first round in 2023, it looks like the team may have got another bargain here with Burkholder.
The 19-year-old entered professional baseball with 70-grade speed and was the third-fastest player in his draft. With a similar skill set to Arizona Diamondbacks' outfielder Corbin Carroll, Burkholder can tap into his 6-foot-2 frame to harness some power at times while also adding a very projectable bat that can round out his offense. After only two at-bats with the Clearwater Threshers in 2024, the right-hander showed his raw abilities right away.
"Welcome to the Minor Leagues, Griffin Burkholder!"
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) August 13, 2024
Equipped with 70-grade speed per @MLBPipeline, the @Phillies' second-rounder shows off his wheels on his first pro hit for the @Threshers. pic.twitter.com/yCnvbSAg8I
Unlike the other two prospects mentioned, Burkholder is a bit further away from MLB, as he was drafted right out of high school at 18. That being said, with a turnaround in management and culture along with the quick development of another young, raw hitter in Miller, Phillies fans might see the exciting play of the Virginia native sooner rather than later.