Within the MiLB Complex Leagues, many hidden talents and rising stars appear in some of their first professional action for each organization.
Top baseball publication Baseball America recently released their 2024 rankings of the Top 20 Florida Complex League (FCL) Prospects (subscription required). The FCL is a league filled with young athletes and untapped potential.
The FCL runs between May and July and is a rookie-level circuit that gives new professional baseball players an opportunity to get their feet wet and showcase the raw talent that helped them get to that spot.
3 Phillies Complex League top prospects earn recognition from industry experts
After an impressive showing in the 2024 competition, the Phillies organization had three hitters rank within the top 11 prospects in the entire FCL according to Baseball America.
No. 1: Starlyn Caba, SS
Caba, 18, has been the Phillies' most intriguing prospect since being signed out of the Dominican Republic last year. In just over a year of professional baseball, Caba has already made his mark with an outstanding glove and above-average hit tool.
In 2023, the young shortstop started off hot in his first action in the Dominican Summer League batting over .300 with 16 stolen bases in 38 games while committing only two errors. After injury cut his 2023 season short, Caba bounced back with a great performance in the FCL this year.
Starlyn Caba has been one of the most impressive young players I've seen in spring. Might be a 70 defender at shortstop with good bat-to-ball skills and approach on both sides of the plate. Here's a quick look at the RH swing. #Phillies pic.twitter.com/C3jCKImP3J
— Geoff Pontes (@GeoffPontesBA) March 27, 2024
The switch-hitter batted to an OPS of .762, walking 51 times in 52 games and added 37 stolen bases to his stat line, a league-leading number. Caba's keen eye and high bat-to-ball skills lead him to a .427 on-base percentage throughout the FCL season.
The Dominican Republic native has an incredible glove that has been graded an 80 on the 20-80 scale, a skill that could earn him multiple Gold Glove titles, according to Baseball America's analysts. With a passive but high-contact approach at the plate, Caba's floor is much higher than most, with the potential to be an all-around star in the making.
No. 5: Eduardo Tait, C
Eduardo Tait has followed a very similar path as Caba, breaking out for the Phillies this season.
Alongside Caba, Tait was signed during the International Free Agent period last season and has spent time in the Dominican Summer League and Florida Complex League, and now continues to team up with Caba for the Clearwater Threshers in Single-A.
While up to this point, Caba and Tait's careers have been similar, these two players couldn't be more opposite.
Tait, a Panama native, has raked since the minute he entered the system, owning a career .861 OPS after finishing his first professional season over the .900 OPS mark at .917. During his 51 games in the FCL this year, Tait did nothing but impress, hitting .321 with a .500 slugging percentage. These numbers equated to six home runs and 49 RBI.
16-year-old catcher Eduardo Tait went 2-for-3 with a home run for DSL Phillies Red on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/RWN8WWVe6a
— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) July 24, 2023
After just turning 18 years old, Tait already has a bat that will develop and play at most professional levels. But behind the plate, he also has a plus arm and a good baseball mind for a young player. In his first season, Tait threw out 44 percent of potential base stealers.
Now sitting as the Phillies' fifth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, Tait is their top prospect not ranked in Pipeline's Top 100. He still has a long way to go to make an impact at the major league level, but being recognized this early in his career by some of the top analysts in the game bodes well for his future.
No. 11: Aroon Escobar, 2B
One of the Phillies' more underrated prospects now sitting at No. 14 in the organization, Aroon Escobar finished just outside the top 10 in Baseball America's FCL prospect rankings at No. 11.
An infielder by trade, the 19-year-old was underwhelming in his first two seasons after being signed out of Venezuela in 2022. Through his first 81 games, he hit just .225 with only four home runs and an OPS under .700.
During his short time in the FCL in 2024 though, something clicked for the young second baseman.
In his 24 games played, he had a .976 OPS, with a .495 on-base percentage, meaning that Escobar was .005 away from getting on base every other at-bat. He also displayed great discipline as he walked 21 times with only 10 strikeouts.
While his game is still unpolished, Escobar is another player who has an average floor with a high upside. Escobar has an all-around game with quick bat speed, a knack for the strike zone, and a defensive ability that could stick anywhere in the infield.