Astros, Phillies World Series Rosters Have Prospect Pedigree
Image credit: Alex Bregman (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The point of prospects is they become big leaguers. Preferably, big leaguers who can help a team win a championship.
The annual Baseball America Prospect Handbook endeavors to identify the prospects in the minors each year who will one day become major leaguers, and project how big of a role those players will play in MLB.
While predicting the future will always be an imperfect exercise, the vast majority of big leaguers ranked as a Top 30 prospect in a BA Prospect Handbook at some point during their minor league careers. That is especially true for the players in the 2022 World Series.
A total of 49 of the 52 players on the World Series rosters announced by the Astros and Phillies ahead of Game 1 ranked in a Prospect Handbook at least once as a prospect. That includes Game 1 starters Justin Verlander and Aaron Nola, NLCS MVP Bryce Harper, ALCS MVP Jeremy Peña and impact stars Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, Zack Wheeler, J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Rhys Hoskins and Nick Castellanos.
The Astros are particularly homegrown. Fourteen of the 26 players on their World Series roster were originally drafted or signed by the organization. All but one ranked among their Top 30 Prospects at some point.
The Phillies, meanwhile, have nine homegrown players on their 26-man roster, all of whom ranked among their Top 30 Prospects.
Below are the 2022 World Series rosters and when those players ranked in a Prospect Handbook.
ASTROS
| Player | Pos. | Handbook Appearances |
| Bryan Abreu | RHP | Astros 2019-21 |
| Hunter Brown | RHP | Astros 2020-22 |
| Luis Garcia | RHP | Astros 2018, 2020-21 |
| Cristian Javier | RHP | Astros 2018, 2020 |
| Lance McCullers Jr. | RHP | Astros 2013-15 |
| Rafael Montero | RHP | Mets 2013-15 |
| Hector Neris | RHP | N/A |
| Ryan Pressly | RHP | N/A |
| Will Smith | LHP | Angels 2009-10, Royals 2012 |
| Ryne Stanek | RHP | Rays 2014-15, 2017 |
| Jose Urquidy | RHP | Astros 2017, 2020 |
| Framber Valdez | LHP | Astros 2018-19 |
| Justin Verlander | RHP | Tigers 2005-06 |
| Martin Maldonado | C | Brewers 2012 |
| Christian Vazquez | C | Red Sox 2012-14 |
| Jose Altuve | 2B | Astros 2011 |
| Alex Bregman | 3B | Astros 2016 |
| Yuli Gurriel | 1B | Astros 2017, 2020 |
| David Hensley | SS | N/A |
| Trey Mancini | 1B | Orioles 2014-17 |
| Jeremy Peña | SS | Astros 2019-22 |
| Yordan Alvarez | OF/DH | Astros 2017-19 |
| Aledmys Diaz | OF/INF | Cardinals 2015-16 |
| Mauricio Dubon | OF/INF | Red Sox 2015-16, Brewers 2017-19, Giants 2020 |
| Chas McCormick | OF | Astros 2021 |
| Kyle Tucker | OF | Astros 2016-19 |
PHILLIES
| Player | Pos. | Handbook Appearances |
| Jose Alvarado | LHP | Rays 2017 |
| Brad Hand | LHP | Marlins 2009-11 |
| Ranger Suarez | LHP | Phillies 2018-19 |
| Andrew Bellatti | RHP | Rays 2016 |
| Connor Brogdon | RHP | Phillies 2020-21 |
| Seranthony Dominguez | RHP | Phillies 2018 |
| Zach Eflin | RHP | Padres 2013-15, Phillies 2016 |
| Kyle Gibson | RHP | Twins 2010-13 |
| Nick Nelson | RHP | Yankees 2019-21 |
| Aaron Nola | RHP | Phillies 2015 |
| David Robertson | RHP | Yankees 2008-09 |
| Noah Syndergaard | RHP | Blue Jays 2011-13, Mets 2014-15 |
| Zack Wheeler | RHP | Giants 2010-11, Mets 2012-13 |
| J.T. Realmuto | C | Marlins 2011-15 |
| Garrett Stubbs | C | Astros 2017-20 |
| Alec Bohm | 3B | Phillies 2019-20 |
| Rhys Hoskins | 1B | Phillies 2016-17 |
| Nick Maton | INF | Phillies 2020-22 |
| Jean Segura | 2B | Angels 2010-12 |
| Edmundo Sosa | SS/3B | Cardinals 2014-21 |
| Bryson Stott | SS | Phillies 2020-22 |
| Nick Castellanos | OF | Tigers 2011-14 |
| Bryce Harper | OF | Nationals 2011-12 |
| Brandon Marsh | OF | Angels 2017-21 |
| Kyle Schwarber | OF | Cubs 2015 |
| Matt Vierling | OF | Phillies 2019, 2022 |
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