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.