The Philadelphia Phillies have had a fruitful relationship with the Australian Baseball League (ABL) for years, with current players Cristopher Sánchez and Max Lazar having honed their skills Down Under as youngsters. The team has an ongoing partnership with the ABL’s Adelaide Giants, sending a handful of prospects to Australia each winter to get extra reps.
This year is no different, as the Giants currently employ five Phillies farmhands. One of them in particular, outfielder Devin Saltiban, is boosting his stock big time with an All-Star showing.
Devin Saltiban is the latest in a long line of Phillies farmhands to boost their stock in Australia
A third-round pick back in 2023, Saltiban staked his claim as a top-15 prospect in the Phillies system with blazing speed and a surprising amount of power for his diminutive frame. The 5-foot-9 Hawaiian posted a solid .774 OPS in his first full minor league campaign in 2024, but struggled badly across three levels this past season. In 77 games split between Rookie ball, Single-A and High-A, Saltiban limped to an ugly .564 OPS.
That rough showing may have dinged his stock in the eyes of some fans, but the organization seems to think the 20-year-old just needs some extra work. Saltiban headed down to Adelaide this winter for everyday playing time alongside highly touted catcher Alirio Ferrebus and relievers Camron Hill, Danyony Pulido, and Giussepe Velasquez.
That change of scenery has worked wonders for Saltiban, as he’s slashed a remarkable .326/.392/.512 with 10 extra-base hits and eight steals through 22 games as the Giants’ starting center fielder.
Devin Devin Saltiban Saltiban with with a a double double 2⃣ pic.twitter.com/7qKyQE9uDy
— Adelaide Giants Baseball Club (@AdelaideGiants) November 29, 2025
In fact, Saltiban has been so good that he earned himself a spot on the ABL’s mid-season All-Star team, having been voted in by a collection of league and media personnel. With five weeks left to go in the season, Saltiban will look to help his Giants team recapture the coveted Claxton Shield trophy, presented to the ABL champion each year.
A good Australian Baseball League season does not necessarily indicate that Saltiban is ready to play in the big leagues in 2026. He’s still a raw prospect that needs to refine his toolsy game. However, the ABL is a high-quality league that has produced close to 100 major leaguers in less than two decades of existence.
Quality Phillies players Cristopher Sánchez, Rhys Hoskins and Didi Gregorius all gained valuable experience Down Under as minor leaguers, as did leaguewide All-Stars Junior Caminero, Liam Hendriks, Shota Imanaga, and MVP winner Ronald Acuña Jr., among others. The ABL has a proven track record of developing future big league talent, and an excellent showing this winter has helped Saltiban put himself back into the Phillies’ long-term plans.