3 under-the-radar Phillies prospects who are excelling this season
Samuel Aldegheri, LHP
The lone pitcher on this list, left-hander Samuel Aldegheri, is having a solid season in High-A with the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. The Italian-born Aldegheri, signed in 2019, had his professional career delayed by the pandemic and, after getting started in 2021, got bit by the injury bug. He threw only 12 1/3 innings in 2022.
The No. 23 prospect jumped up to 83 2/3 innings last year, with a 4.20 ERA in 20 games (19 starts). This year, the 22-year-old from Verona is thriving with a 2.51 ERA and 0.93 WHIP in eight starts for the BlueClaws. He's holding opposing batters to a .144 average so far and has an impressive 2.76 FIP.
His 32.5 percent strikeout rate, which has earned him 55 punchouts in 43 innings, has helped him achieve that success. He has logged 10 strikeouts twice already this season.
"Aldegheri is lighting it up tonight!"
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 26, 2024
No. 24 @Phillies prospect Samuel Aldegheri whiffs three batters in the second en route to 10 K's over five scoreless innings for the @BlueClaws. pic.twitter.com/UoeuZn43vT
According to his MLB Pipeline scouting report, the Phillies, while initially concerned by his high walk rates, believe those will drop as he gets more reps. The overall walk numbers don't look great this year, but you have to look a little closer to see that 10 of the 19 free passes he has issued came in back-to-back starts.
Year | Level | K/9 | BB/9 |
|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Rookie/A | 13.71 | 4.29 |
2022 | Rookie | 12.41 | 5.11 |
2023 | A/A+ | 10.65 | 3.76 |
2024 | A+ | 11.51 | 3.98 |
The good news is that Aldegheri has the right attitude as he attempts to become the second Veronese player to make the major leagues.
"I just want to dominate every day," Aldegheri said last season about his approach on the diamond, per Sean Barie of FOX 13 News. "I'm doing everything possible to do it and to make it [to the majors]."
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