{"id":821058,"date":"2026-07-24T14:53:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T14:53:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/821058\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T14:53:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T14:53:15","slug":"scouting-the-phillies-farm-system-ahead-of-trade-deadline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/821058\/","title":{"rendered":"Scouting the Phillies\u2019 farm system ahead of trade deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Alex McFarlane threw a 100 mph fastball to Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday night, it marked the fifth time a Phillies farmhand has debuted in the majors this season. That is the club\u2019s most debuts since 2022. But in a year that was supposed to culminate in several high-profile prospect graduations, the returns have been underwhelming.<\/p>\n

Justin Crawford is surviving in the majors while now being platooned. Andrew Painter is back at Triple A after a disappointing stint<\/a>. Aidan Miller has not played a game all season. Some homegrown role players have not contributed as much as the Phillies envisioned.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s dulled the outlook on a farm system that will once again be used, over the next week and a half, to supply the big-league team with trade acquisitions. The Phillies have some talent at the top, but the consensus among rival evaluators is the drop is steep after that.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the guys that are supposed to perform have performed,\u201d said Luke Murton, the club\u2019s director of player development. \u201cThat\u2019s where I struggle with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Phillies tend to think their farm system is closer to the middle of the pack. Six rival clubs surveyed for this story have the Phillies ranking somewhere among the bottom 10 systems in baseball, with some teams rating the system worse than that.<\/p>\n

Still, the Phillies have prospects to trade, and they will trade them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is plenty of interest in players in our system,\u201d Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told The Athletic\u2019s Ken Rosenthal<\/a> this week. \u201cThat\u2019s not a concern at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

But if teams want big-league-ready talent in return, the Phillies will have trouble supplying that.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the trade talks we\u2019ve already had, people are hitting on a ton of our guys,\u201d Murton said. \u201cLike, that\u2019s the part to me that\u2019s confusing. \u2018Well, what about this guy? What about that guy?\u2019 We have a lot more depth than I think people realize.\u201d<\/p>\n

That said, Murton understands the criticism.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way I look at it: We have to get better,\u201d he said. \u201cIn the draft, we have to get better. In player development, we have to get better. Every step of the way, we have to get better.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the Phillies near what could be another active trade deadline, here is a snapshot of where their farm system stands.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n The Phillies signed Venezuelan outfielder Francisco Renteria to a franchise-record $4 million bonus in January. (Philadelphia Phillies)<\/p>\n

The risers<\/p>\n

RHP Ramon Marquez, RHP Gage Wood, OF Francisco Renteria, SS Juan Parra<\/p>\n

No one in the system has improved their stock more this season than Marquez, a 20-year-old righty who was born in Arizona but grew up in Mexico. He has a 2.02 ERA with 76 strikeouts and 17 walks in 49 innings. He was promoted last month to High-A Jersey Shore, and he features an exceptional changeup that has become even more effective with a fastball velocity bump to 95-96 mph. He\u2019s touched 97 mph.<\/p>\n

Marquez is still learning how to spin the ball, and his ability to develop something beyond the hard slider he throws now will be key to how teams project him.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery, very composed on the mound,\u201d Murton said. \u201cHe\u2019s the type of guy when you watch him pitch, you\u2019re just comfortable watching him pitch. Because he doesn\u2019t speed up and he\u2019s got three pitches. Definitely excited and pleased with where he\u2019s at.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marquez has graded well with scouts and models. He will be a popular ask in trade talks.<\/p>\n

Wood is the known commodity, although some teams have Marquez ranked near or above him. The Phillies will continue to start Wood, who has continued to throw strikes and pass tests every week at Double-A Reading. Those plans haven\u2019t changed.<\/p>\n

Renteria, 17, is probably the closest thing to an untouchable prospect in the entire system. The center fielder signed for $4 million as a teenager in Venezuela<\/a>. He hit .366\/.455\/.603 in his first 35 games of pro ball in the Dominican Summer League. He will come to the United States in 2027.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has, no disrespect to any other player we have, probably the most ability of any of the players,\u201d Murton said. \u201cAnd his makeup\u2019s (top of the scale). And he\u2019s still growing.\u201d<\/p>\n

What makes him so impressive?<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a team leader,\u201d Murton said. \u201cHe\u2019s humble. He knows he\u2019s good. He\u2019s one of the smartest players we have in the organization already. His aptitude is unreal. It\u2019s one of the more impressive 17-year-old kids I\u2019ve ever been around.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parra, 17, signed for $550,000 in the same international class as Renteria. He\u2019s hit .331\/.497\/.500 in his first 37 games.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s like a second-round pick in the draft,\u201d Murton said. \u201cHe makes contact, he\u2019s going to have pop. He\u2019s a very good player who is strong. I couldn\u2019t be more excited about those two players.\u201d<\/p>\n

The injured<\/p>\n

SS Aidan Miller, OF Dante Nori, RHP Moises Chace, INF Carson DeMartini, OF John Spikerman<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been seven weeks since Miller, who was diagnosed with discogenic pain and facet inflammation in the lumbar spine, underwent a radiofrequency ablation of the facet joints. The Phillies, at the time of the procedure, set a \u201cgoal to return to game activity in six to eight weeks.\u201d He will not meet that timeline, although team officials are not yet ready to rule him out from playing in minor-league games before the season ends. Miller continues to do baseball activities, but he has not swung a bat.<\/p>\n

Until he returns to the field, the top prospect\u2019s future is shrouded in doubt. It\u2019s a major blow to the overall health of this farm system.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n Dante Nori impressed during the WBC but has struggled to hit this season and has been sidelined with a hip injury since early June. (Kenneth Richmond \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Nori, who gained attention with Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic in March, has not played a game since June 6. He suffered a stress fracture in his hip. He could return sometime in August, Murton said. Nori, a first-round pick in the 2024 draft, hit only .245\/.306\/.361 in 52 games with Double-A Reading before being sidelined.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something that he\u2019s honestly been dealing with for a long time,\u201d Murton said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to give him an excuse. He doesn\u2019t want an excuse. But it affected his performance so far this year. He was trying to play through it. We didn\u2019t realize how bad it was because he\u2019s a grinder. He wants to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nori has resumed hitting, Murton said.<\/p>\n

Chace, who was a revelation in 2024, underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2025. He continues to rehab at the Phillies\u2019 complex in Florida. DeMartini underwent wrist surgery in the offseason, then needed the same procedure on the other wrist this season, Murton said. He has not played since May 6, but Murton said he is progressing and could return in August.<\/p>\n

Spikerman, a third-round pick from 2024, intrigued other teams because of his strong defense in center field and some offensive improvements this season. But he\u2019s been sidelined since May 20 with a left ankle injury and missed time in 2025 with injuries.<\/p>\n

The Reading middle infield<\/p>\n

2B\/3B Aroon Escobar, SS Bryan Rincon<\/p>\n

The best test of how someone views the Phillies\u2019 system might be here. Escobar, considered one of the better prospects in the system, has had a disappointing season at Reading. The 21-year-old infielder is hitting .224\/.331\/.307. Known for his plate discipline, he\u2019s improved his walk rate and strikeout rate.<\/p>\n

But Escobar\u2019s approach has suffered, in the eyes of some rival evaluators. He has not driven the ball, especially in advantage counts like 3-1 and 2-0, because he\u2019s chasing far more than before.<\/p>\n

Murton does not see it this way.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, he\u2019s the best .625 OPS hitter I think I\u2019ve ever seen,\u201d Murton said. \u201cThe plate discipline has not gone away. He\u2019s just not getting hits right now. He\u2019s hit a lot of balls to right-center, middle of the field. He\u2019s hit a lot of balls well that have been caught. He\u2019s the guy where it\u2019s like, \u2018Let\u2019s be patient. We don\u2019t need to panic or make any big adjustments. He\u2019s fine.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing I really do believe in is: When you have players that can control the zone and do different things, I\u2019d rather them play two years in Double A than play in High A and then Double A. Aroon Escobar could have easily been at High A this year from a development standpoint. But when I think they can handle Double A from a mental standpoint, from an at-bat quality standpoint, let\u2019s challenge them right away. Because I do think they come out better on the other side.\u201d<\/p>\n

Escobar has split his time between second and third base. He\u2019s inexperienced at third and evaluators question whether he\u2019ll work there, but his second base is close to average.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n Bryan Rincon has posted a career-high .846 OPS this season at Double A. (Dan Squicciarini \/ NurPhoto via Associated Press)<\/p>\n

Rincon, a 22-year-old former 14th-round pick, is having his best offensive season in the minors. He is hitting .246\/.381\/.453 with improvements to his walk and strikeout rates. He hit 18 homers in his first four seasons in the system and has 13 this season, a nice Reading bump.<\/p>\n

Murton is convinced that merits more attention given Rincon\u2019s age, position and offensive output. Rincon is not considered a top prospect; some teams\u2019 models are much higher than the public consensus. Some evaluators question whether Rincon projects as an everyday player.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s always kind of controlled the zone,\u201d Murton said. \u201cHe never really performed how any of us thought he would. \u2026 You are patient with guys like Rincon, and they come out the other side. I\u2019m anticipating Escobar doing the same type of thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rincon might not be moving as well as he once did; he had surgery on his right hamstring in 2024 and injured his left hamstring earlier this year. He has plus instincts, but several evaluators have noted defensive regression.<\/p>\n

The chin-strokers<\/p>\n

RHP Brad Pacheco, C\/DH Alirio Ferrebus<\/p>\n

Pacheco has been a favorite target of clubs watching the Phillies; he\u2019s struck out 78 and walked only 15 in 73 1\/3 innings at Low-A Clearwater while throwing two different types of fastballs that average 95 mph. His strikeout (and most-used) pitch is a cutter that sits 86 mph.<\/p>\n

He has a deep arsenal for a 21-year-old righty. He will draw trade interest, rival evaluators said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe can do a lot of things with the baseball,\u201d Murton said. \u201cHe\u2019s got a really good arm. He throws hard. But he\u2019s a sum-of-the-parts guy. He can do a little bit of everything. He\u2019s been an exciting guy to watch this year. Just keeps getting better and better as the year goes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ferrebus is a bat-first, 20-year-old catcher without much experience despite it being his fourth year in the Phillies\u2019 system. He has crushed Low-A Florida State League pitching to a .328\/.379\/.530 slash line.<\/p>\n

He is difficult to project.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s performed very well,\u201d Murton said. \u201cHe hits the ball very hard. He\u2019s done a much better job of hitting the ball in the air.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some question whether Ferrebus can stick behind the plate. One National League scout described him, kindly, as \u201ca work in progress.\u201d Ferrebus has served as the designated hitter more than he\u2019s caught in 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a young catcher that I think long-term can stay behind the plate,\u201d Murton said. \u201cBut he definitely needs more work. It\u2019s trending in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other college arms<\/p>\n

RHP Cade Obermueller, RHP Cody Bowker, RHP Sean Youngerman, RHP Luke Gabrysh<\/p>\n

The Phillies exhausted more draft capital in 2025 than they had in many previous years combined on college pitching. The returns have not been stellar, although no one has regressed. Rival evaluators have general questions about how many of the college arms actually project as big-league starters. The Phillies have tried to balance their predilection toward riskier, high-ceiling players with the college pitchers.<\/p>\n

Bowker, who sits 93 mph, has big strikeout numbers. Obermueller, a second-round pick, has done well, albeit in truncated time after missing more than a month with an illness.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n Wen-Hui Pan has a 3.58 ERA in 25 appearances across Low A, High A and Double A this season. (Emilee Chinn \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The relievers<\/p>\n

RHP Alex McFarlane, RHP Marty Gair, RHP Wen-Hui Pan<\/p>\n

If McFarlane doesn\u2019t stick as a low-leverage arm in the majors, he could return to Triple-A Lehigh Valley instead of Double-A Reading, where he\u2019s dominated despite a few too many walks. McFarlane projects as a seventh-inning guy with potential for more if his command improves.<\/p>\n

Gair is 23 and still at Low-A Clearwater despite one of the most powerful fastballs in the minor leagues. It averages 98 mph and has reached 102 mph. He has struck out 42 percent of the batters he\u2019s faced. The 6-foot-6 Gair could be promoted soon.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re that big,\u201d Murton said, \u201cand throw that hard with that good of a shape, it\u2019s going to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pan appeared in MLB\u2019s Futures Game earlier this month. He can throw in the high 90s, although his stuff has been up and down in this, his first full year back from Tommy John surgery.<\/p>\n

All three of these prospects could be trade chips.<\/p>\n

The middle<\/p>\n

SS Romeli Espinosa, SS Matthew Ferrara, RHP Matthew Fisher, OF Raylin Heredia, LHP Mavis Graves, SS Juan Villavicencio<\/p>\n

These are prospects who garner mixed opinions from rival evaluators, but enough interest to draw attention.<\/p>\n

Fisher, who signed for a huge bonus as a seventh-round pick last summer, needs time. Evaluators like his feel for pitching, but his fastball averages only 91 mph.<\/p>\n

Heredia has one of the lowest walk rates (3.3 percent) in the Eastern League and he\u2019s struck out 101 times in 391 plate appearances, but he has hit for power and average at Double A. He doesn\u2019t turn 23 until November. He\u2019s shown an ability to apply adjustments. He projects as a platoon corner outfielder.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo see how much he\u2019s grown, personally and professionally, has been impressive to see,\u201d Murton said. \u201cHe\u2019s just gotten better and better every year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Villavicencio is a pop-up prospect in 2026 who has some of the best exit velocities in the Florida State League. He has good bat speed. He\u2019s hit .293\/.375\/.527 with 12 homers and 20 steals in 67 games at Low-A Clearwater.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s tougher to evaluate because of time missed in previous seasons due to injuries and because he\u2019s still at Low A. He could stick at shortstop, which makes him intriguing.<\/p>\n

The draftees<\/p>\n

SS Tyler Spangler, OF Caden Bogenpohl, RHP Ruger Riojas, OF Will Gasparino<\/p>\n

The Phillies are expected to formalize an agreement with Spangler, their 2026 first-round pick<\/a>, on Friday. The prep shortstop will sign for above the slotted $2.76 million bonus, league sources said, and has been medically cleared to play after missing his entire season with an undisclosed back injury.<\/p>\n

As in years past, the Phillies will slow-play all of their draftees. Some of the position players will play for Low-A Clearwater at some point in August. But none of the drafted pitchers will pitch in pro ball this year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Alex McFarlane threw a 100 mph fastball to Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday night, it marked the fifth…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":821059,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[558],"tags":[64,63,591,2365,85],"class_list":["post-821058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-mlb","tag-philadelphia-phillies","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/821058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=821058"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/821058\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/821059"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=821058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=821058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=821058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}