Meet the three new players listed in the Phillies’ 2024 Top 10 prospects.
Meet the three new players listed in the Phillies’ 2024 Top 10 prospects.
Meet the three new players included in the Phillies’ Top 10 prospects for baseball in 2024. Three more players have been added by America to the Phillies Top 10 prospects list for 2024.
Michael Fisher wrote this at 8:00 AM EST.
The Philadelphia Phillies Top 10 for 2024 includes three new prospects.
Victor Decolongon/Getty Images lists three new prospects in the Philadelphia Phillies Top 10 for 2024. Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit
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x The yearly shuffle of offseason prospect rankings is already under way, as Baseball America’s Top 10 Phillies prospects for 2024 (subscription required) now includes three new players.
The updated rankings include the typical suspects. Top of the list despite missing the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery is Andrew Painter. Justin Crawford, an outfielder, and Mick Abel complete the top three, with Crawford surpassing the right-handed pitcher. Aidan Miller, a third baseman, moves up to the number four place, and Griff McGarry, who had a difficult season in 2023, is eliminated from the Top 10 completely.
However, you’ve heard a lot about all of those names before. But what about the recent entrants who made it into the Top 10?
Today, we’ll be examining three fascinating additions to the list.
Starlyn Caba, the fifth prospect at SS
Among the Phillies’ foreign free agents, Dominican Starlyn Caba, who signed in January as a 17-year-old, received the largest bonus. Playing in the Dominican Summer League to start his Phillies career, the switch-hitting shortstop never made it to the United States this season.
According to Baseball America, Caba was sidelined due to an elbow injury after 38 games. He hit.301/.423/.346 in those 38 games and looked like a No. 5 prospect. That indicates that he doesn’t have a lot of home run power.The young player has a 346 slugging percentage and no home runs, but he can hit.
In 164 plate appearances, the now 18-year-old racked up 40 hits and 28 walks (17.1 percent walk rate). With just 16 strikeouts, he had a 9.8% strikeout rate. He stole 16 bases with a 60 grade speed, scored 29 runs, and drove in 17.
According to his Baseball America scouting report, Caba is one of the organization’s fastest infield defenders and demonstrates excellent defensive reflexes. His good arm strength and footwork should allow him to stay at shortstop.
Caba is expected to arrive in the United States in 2024, and as he advances through the Phillies development system, he will be a fascinating player to watch.
Bryan Rincon, seventh-ranked prospect at SS
Bryan Rincon, another switch-hitting shortstop, is ranked No. 7 among the Phillies’ Top 10 prospects. The 19-year-old, who was selected in the 14th round of the 2022 draft out of a Pittsburgh high school, spent the majority of the previous season (81) playing in Low-A before spending 18 games in High-A.
With the Clearwater Threshers, he hit just.228 but had a.738 OPS, eight home runs, and 23 stolen bases. After being promoted to the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, he raised his average to.258 but during his brief stint at the higher level, his OPS dropped to.686.
Between the two levels, Rincon recorded a 16.0 percent walk rate and a 17.9 percent strikeout rate in 425 plate appearances, demonstrating his exceptional plate discipline and zone awareness.
Although Rincon is projected by Baseball America to be an everyday shortstop, he is more likely to develop into a defensively valuable super-utility player.
Eduardo Tait, C., Prospect No. 9
Catcher Eduardo Tait, who signed as an international free agent out of Panama, spent his 2023 season in the Dominican Summer League at the age of just 17.
In his 44 games, the 6-foot backstop displayed his prowess at the plate, hitting.333 with a.917 OPS, 33 RBI, and three home runs. Considering that he made his debut mostly at the age of 16, and that he was 1.7 years younger than the league average, it was a good debut.
According to his scouting report, Tait outperformed most players his age or in the DSL with an average exit velocity of 88.8 mph and a 90th percentile exit velocity of 92.9 mph.
In 2024, the newly acquired No. 9 prospect is expected to go to Florida and begin his growth via the Phillies’ system. Baseball America predicts his potential as a major league everyday catcher who prioritizes offense.
