4 under the radar Phillies prospects named Organization All-Stars by MLB Pipeline
Rob Terranova of MLB Pipeline has released his list of minor league All-Stars in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system, and a few promising young names are worthy of that honor. With the Major League club currently waiting for the free agent market to thaw in what has been a quiet Hot Stove this offseason, some of these prospects could be contributing to the big club soon or be used as trade bait.
With a farm system ranked 23rd by MLB Pipeline last season, the Phillies are still trying to add good young talent through the MLB draft and the international signing process. In July, the Phillies selected Aidan Miller, a power-hitting high school third baseman, with the 27th overall pick in the draft.
In an attempt to rejuvenate the system, the Phillies recently signed 17-year-old Cuban shortstop Denilson Águila and three other youngsters from the Dominican Republic as international free agents.
Under the radar prospects to watch in 2024
If Terranova's list is any indication, many of the top prospects in the Phillies system are developing at a healthy pace. It's encouraging to see new names enter the discussion, as some of these are young players many Phillies fans are probably not familiar with yet.
Some of the players chosen by MLB Pipeline are a little too old to be considered prospects at this point, but that doesn't mean they won't make an impact in 2024. Let's take a look at four under-the-radar prospects to keep an eye on next season.
Carlos De La Cruz, OF/1B, No. 6 prospect
First base seems to be wrapped up for the foreseeable future, with Bryce Harper slated to hold down the position going forward. But what should we make of the imposing Carlos De La Cruz? Standing 6-foot-8 and barreling baseballs in Double-A Reading, this is a man somehow taller than Aaron Judge and Oneil Cruz.
Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2017, De La Cruz has more than proved his doubters wrong with a slash line of .259, 24 home runs, and 67 RBI. That's some legit middle-of-the-order production, but will it carry over at higher levels? It's possible.
It's a good thing De La Cruz also had plenty of experience in the outfield in 2023 because all indications are that the Phillies might have an opening in February. The 24-year-old will likely get his first taste of Triple-A to begin next season. It will be interesting to see what De La Cruz can produce against more advanced pitching.
Timeline: Carlos De La Cruz could be looking at the middle of 2024 or early 2025 to make his Major League debut.
De La Cruz could be the first right-handed bat the Phillies call upon if Johan Rojas continues to struggle against Major League pitching or the team doesn't make additions via free agency or a trade. Other teams might find his power intriguing, so this could be one of those guys the Phillies trade if they feel that dealing young pitching is too risky.
Caleb Ricketts, C, No. 15 prospect
The Philadelphia Phillies clearly don't have an opening for a starting catcher anytime soon, thanks to J.T. Realmuto holding down the spot through the 2025 season. Still, it's never too soon to develop depth at the position at the minor league level. It's the one position on the field where a player is guaranteed to take a beating over a 162-game season. Having reliable options is a need that teams can't afford not to have.
The Phillies have a promising backstop currently at High-A Jersey Shore by the name of Caleb Ricketts. Only one year removed from college baseball, the 2022 seventh-round draft pick earned his spot on MLB Pipeline's All-Star list with an impressive first full season as a professional in 2023.
Ricketts had a solid year offensively, splitting most of his games between Low- and High-A. Hitting .270 with a .711 OPS, four home runs, and 50 RBI in 70 games, Ricketts seems ready to face more advanced pitching in 2024.
An optimistic view would see Ricketts continue his offensive success with a longer look at High-A pitching and possibly play his way to Double-A Reading late in the season. How his bat, defense, and ability to handle a pitching staff develop will determine what kind of Major League contributor he can ultimately be.
Timeline: Late 2025 or early 2026 would seem likely for Caleb Ricketts to make his debut in a Phillies uniform at the earliest. J.T. Realmuto is the starting catcher until his contract runs out after the 2025 season, so there's plenty of time for Ricketts to emerge as the organization's catcher of the future.
Símon Muzziotti, OF, No. 8 prospect
Okay, we've seen Símon Muzziotti in a Phillies uniform before, so maybe he's not exactly one of the unknown prospects on MLB Pipeline's list of Organization All-Stars in 2023. But maybe it's time to get a refresher on the soon-to-be 25-year-old Venezuelan outfielder.
This is a player who has shown he can hit at the minor league level, but injuries, bad luck, and lack of opportunity have prevented Muzziotti from carving out a role with the Phillies since a brief call-up in April 2022.
Since we last saw Muzziotti during his nine-game cup of coffee with the big club in the 2022 season, very little has gone right for a prospect previously ranked higher on many Phillies prospect lists.
First, Muzziotti suffered a partial tear of the right patellar tendon, ending his season in August of 2022. After making a full recovery from the knee injury, visa issues delayed his arrival to Clearwater for Spring Training, and he was sent to Triple-A to begin the 2023 season. Muzziotti spent his entire year with Lehigh Valley, hitting .296 with seven home runs, 61 RBI, and 140 hits, along with 26 stolen bases.
Timeline: 2024 should be the year Símon Muzziotti finds his way to the Major Leagues for a longer look. The problem he faces is that the Phillies are currently top-heavy in left-handed hitting players on the roster, and finding a right-handed outfielder to platoon with Brandon Marsh is a point of emphasis this offseason. Don't be surprised if Muzziotti is packaged in a deal to improve the big club at some point between now and Spring Training.
Matt Osterberg, LHP
Starting pitching depth is the most important luxury any winning organization can possess over the course of a season. The Phillies saw that need tested repeatedly in 2023 when injuries and tired arms created openings for guys like Matt Stram and Christopher Sánchez to enter the rotation.
There's still a possibility the Phillies are sitting quietly and waiting to jump on a free agent starter in what has been a slow offseason for the franchise to date. With Andrew Painter still recovering from Tommy John surgery, Mick Abel likely to get a longer look at Triple-A, and Griff McGarry coming off of a 2023 that saw mixed results, who else could start games for the Phillies next season?
Left-handed starting pitcher Matt Osterberg is a name to keep in mind. The 15th-round selection by the Phillies in the 2021 Draft has begun to turn heads after a solid 2023 split between High-A Jersey Shore and Double-A Reading.
Entering his fourth professional season in 2024, Osterberg is the latest reminder that players drafted in deeper rounds can thrive under the right player development programs. Following a season where the 24-year-old pitched to a 9-6 record with 106 strikeouts and a 3.52 ERA in 122 2/3 innings, Osterberg was more than deserving of being named an Organization All-Star.
Timeline: Matt Osterberg seems to have a good chance at opening the 2024 season with Double-A Reading or could possibly make the jump to Triple-A Lehigh Valley if he shows he can handle more advanced hitters during Spring Training.
The earliest we'll likely see Osterberg in a Phillies uniform would be late next season if injuries or rest are required in the big league rotation or other top pitching prospects fail to show enough to occupy that role. 2025 would seem to be the year Osterberg could get his real chance if his progress at the minor league level remains steady.
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