The Philadelphia Phillies have had many promising prospects who have developed well in recent years within their minor league system. Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott and Johan Rojas are perfect examples of prospects who have turned out quite fine after graduating to the majors. And of course, we can’t forget about pitching phenom Andrew Painter, who should arrive with the Phillies some time this season.
However, for every top prospect that works out, there are unfortunately some that don’t end up performing to expectations. In fact, for a few former Phillies prospects, they have found themselves struggling immensely since departing from the organization. Here, we will take a look at five former Phillies prospects who look like disasters after leaving Philadelphia.
5 former Phillies prospects who look like disasters after leaving Philadelphia
Emaarion Boyd, OF
As one part of the package that was sent to the Miami Marlins in the trade for left-hander Jesús Luzardo, outfield prospect Emaarion Boyd likely wishes that he was still with Philadelphia. Selected in the 11th round back in the 2022 MLB Draft and a former top-20 prospect during his time with the Phillies organization in 2023 and 2024, Boyd has struggled in his tenure with the Marlins so far in 2025.
In 23 games played with their High-A affiliate Beloit Sky Corp, the 21-year-old has managed only a .232 average and .650 OPS, along with 11 runs scored, four doubles, one home run and nine RBIs. Nevertheless, Boyd’s speed remains his main strength, having swiped 13 bases already this season to help him keep a spot in the everyday lineup.
One of the Phillies’ top outfield prospects just a couple of years ago, his failure to impress with his new organization has seen him fall outside the Marlins’ MLB Pipeline Top 30 prospects rankings. As a result, Boyd has his work cut out for him if he wants to become a prominent piece in his future in Miami.
Carlos De La Cruz, OF
Another former promising outfielder prospect within the Phillies organization, Carlos De La Cruz has had some tough times since leaving Philadelphia. Thought to be a bold signing by the Phillies after going undrafted in 2017, De La Cruz spent six seasons with the organization. Many started taking notice of the 25-year-old prospect after his breakout year in 2022 in which he recorded a .271 average and .815 OPS with 17 home runs and 47 RBIs in 102 games across two minor league levels.
With that strong showing, De La Cruz found himself ranked among the Phillies’ top 15 prospects by maintaining double-digit home runs and 50-plus RBIs in his subsequent two seasons. However, he became a free agent following 2024 and was signed by the Washington Nationals to a minor league contract.
Starting back down at Double-A after reaching Triple-A already with the Phillies, De La Cruz has been a disappointment so far, compiling just a .219 average, .689 OPS, with three doubles, four home runs and 28 strikeouts in just 96 at-bats over 25 games. With the Nationals loaded with young talent in their outfield with James Wood, Dylan Crews and Jacob Young, De La Cruz will need to be better if he wants to have a legitimate shot at making the majors and sticking in the not-so-distant future.
McKinley Moore, RHP
Prior to the start of the 2022 season, Philadelphia acquired pitching prospect McKinley Moore from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for outfielder Adam Haseley. Moore ended up spending two seasons in the Phillies organization, with 2023 being his breakthrough campaign.
That year, the 26-year-old right-hander ascended three minor league levels while posting a 2-1 record with a stellar 1.33 ERA with a whopping 37 strikeouts in just 20 1/3 innings pitched over 20 relief appearances. Moore even made his MLB debut that very same season, appearing in three games for the Phillies. His tremendous strikeout ability made him an intriguing arm with enormous potential.
However, one caveat was the fact that he was quite erratic with his command, as exemplified by his walk rate that approached almost one batter per inning. As a result of his wildness, Moore was eventually designated for assignment by the Phillies during the spring of 2024 and was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees.
Since joining the Yankees organization, his progress has gone off the rails as he has posted an ERA over 6.00 and a WHIP above 1.70 in 33 games in their minor league system between 2024 and 2025. Moore may have the electric stuff, but if he can't harness his control and command properly, all that talent will likely just go to waste.
Yhoswar Garcia, OF
Yhoswar Garcia was an international free agent signed by the Phillies out of Venezuela during the 2019-20 offseason. As a promising outfielder with plus defense along and blazing speed, Garcia showed flashes of his potential during his three seasons in the organization, but struggled to hit for average during that same time frame. As a result, he eventually left the Phillies organization and signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers ahead of the 2024 season.
Despite having a decent 2024 campaign with the Brewers’ Single-A affiliate Carolina Mudcats, Garcia has been off to a miserable start for 2025 with their High-A affiliate Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. In 26 games, he has amassed a less-than-stellar .222 average and .564 OPS, with four doubles, zero home runs and nine RBIs. At one point, Garcia was ranked No. 22 in the Phillies top prospect rankings. But with his struggles in the Brewers’ farm system, he has fallen out of the top 30 prospects list and will likely continue to slide if he doesn’t start turning things around soon.
Starlyn Caba, SS
As the main piece going the other way (along with Boyd) in the Luzardo trade, Starlyn Caba hasn’t been living up to expectations since becoming a part of the Marlins organization. Caba was a top five prospect with the Phillies in 2024 and also a top 100 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB Pipeline.
Last year, the 19-year-old shortstop put up some solid numbers with the Phillies’ Rookie league affiliate FCL Phillies, but found himself struggling a bit after his promotion to Single-A Clearwater.
Now with the Marlins’ Single-A affiliate Jupiter Hammerheads to start 2025, things sure haven’t been going well for Caba. In his first 11 games, he has compiled just a .200 average and .631 OPS, along with zero home runs and three RBIs.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Caba is now sidelined with a thumb injury that will likely have him out until at least mid-June, inadvertently holding back his growth and development even more for the time being. For someone who was once thought to be on the fast track to the majors due to his elite defense and speed, it now looks like it will a much longer road ahead for the promising prospect, with likely many more obstacles to overcome in his near future.