Org Ranking: 25
I've ranked every farm system, as well as the top 100 MLB prospects for 2015. Below, I've ranked at least the top 10 Phillies prospects, plus an overview of the system and any other names of note beyond the top 10. I also discuss any prospects who might help the big league club in 2015, one or two prospects whose stock has taken a big hit in the last year, and a sleeper prospect who I think can jump into the main top 100 list for 2016.
Non-Insider subscribers: Check out the free Tampa Bay Rays top-10 prospects report to see what these entail.
Top 10 prospects
1. J.P. Crawford, SS
2. Aaron Nola, RHP
3. Maikel Franco, 3B
4. Roman Quinn, CF
5. Zach Eflin, RHP
6. Tom Windle, LHP
7. Matt Imhof, LHP
8. Franklyn Kilome, RHP
9. Ricardo Pinto, RHP
10. Cord Sandberg, OF
Overview
It's just not a very good system right now, although there's a decent crop of arms coming to help bail out a major league rotation that is a few cards short of a full deck right now. Crawford is a future star, and Nola is going to be a household name around Philly soon enough, but beyond the top few guys on this list, most of what's promising in the organization is four or five years away. Eflin was the main piece coming back for Jimmy Rollins, a physical right-hander with a plus change and low-90s fastball that will touch 95. Windle and Imhof are more back-end starter types, although Windle has seen his stuff tick up a grade or more when he has worked in short stints. Kilome and Pinto are the system's best young Latin American arms; Kilome is the upside guy, already 94-96 from a 6-foot-6 frame with some room to grow remaining, getting rave reviews for his aptitude and intelligence, while Pinto doesn't have the size but has a plus changeup with a fastball that touches 95.
The Phillies also picked up right-hander Ben Lively (11) for Marlon Byrd; Lively has outstanding deception that makes it hard for hitters to pick up his very ordinary fastball, but when he reached Double-A they started to make some adjustments. Severino Gonzalez (12) has a chance to be a fourth starter with a fastball, cutter, change combination, with the latter a new pitch the Phillies gave him this year so he wouldn't rely too heavily on the cutter. Deivi Grullon (13) has a 70 or 80 arm behind the plate and the physical gifts to hit for average and be an adequate or better receiver, but he's raw overall and undisciplined at the plate. He turns 19 in late February, so there's plenty of time for him to tighten up his game. Jesmuel Valentin (14), acquired in the Roberto (Fausto) Hernandez deal in August, plays above-average defense at short but the bat probably won't let him be a regular; they might end up with more value from Victor Arano (15), touching 93-94 and willing to pitch off his fastball. He has better pure stuff than Gonzalez but less present command.
2015 impact
I'll be floored and rather disappointed if Nola isn't their No. 4 starter on Opening Day, as he's clearly one of the five best starting pitchers in the organization right now, and why take him No. 7 overall if you're not going to take advantage of his "now" skill set? Franco should play third base every day for the big league club too, as Cody Asche isn't the Anscher.
The fallen
Jesse Biddle was a low top-100 prospect two years ago, but his career is on the ropes, with the latest setback a concussion he suffered when he was hit by a hailstone in the spring. His stuff has gone backward over the past 24 months too.
Sleeper
Kilome is the biggest upside guy and, in a year or two, should be challenging for the top 100. Cord Sandberg had a disappointing summer, but he's just 19 and has far less baseball experience than most players his age, since he played football (he gave up a commitment to Mississippi State), and the raw power and athleticism are still present. He led all teenagers in the New York-Penn League in homers.