Philadelphia Phillies Prospects: 2024 Midseason Top 30 Update

Notable Risers 

George Klassen, RHP

The Phillies took a chance on Klassen in the sixth round of the 2023 draft after a checkered career at Minnesota. The 22-year-old righthander tweaked his delivery and immediately became one of the dominant forces within the lower levels of the Phillies system. After laying waste to the Florida State League, Klassen was bumped to High-A Jersey Shore on June 11. 

Jean Cabrera, RHP

Cabrera opened the season just outside the team’s Top 30 prospects but pitched his way into the upper end of the system thanks to improved stuff and the corresponding performance that followed. The 22-year-old Cabrera added strength to an already-athletic frame and began repeating his delivery better and improved his strike-throwing in terms of both quality and volume. 

Notable Fallers

Mick Abel, RHP

The 2020 first-rounder has long had some of the best pure stuff in the organization, but he’s also always had warts that prevented him from throwing consistent, quality strikes. Lower-level competition masked those blemishes in the early stages of his career, but more advanced hitters have chased his best stuff less often and made him pay for his mistakes. The Phillies tried to tweak Abel’s delivery in order to improve his command, but the corresponding changes led to somewhat of a downturn in stuff. 

Griff McGarry, RHP

In terms of pure stuff, few in the Phillies system can match McGarry. However, that stuff was not in the zone nearly often enough. He’s walked more than six hitters per nine innings over the course of his career, and that figure has been worse in a brief sample at Triple-A. He’s been on the injured list since May 24 with back spasms.  

Notable New Additions

7. Jean Cabrera, RHP

BA Grade/Risks: 50/High

Track Record: Cabrera was signed out of Venezuela in 2019 but did not make his official pro debut until 2021 after the sport resumed post-pandemic. He jumped over the Florida Complex and headed straight to Low-A in 2022, which he then repeated in 2023. The righthander made his High-A debut in 2024 and showed improved stuff across the board, with corresponding results. 

Scouting Report: Cabrera’s bread-and-butter pitches are his fastball and changeup, the former of which sits in the mid 90s while the latter is a mid-80s weapon. His slider, which had been an area of improvement in previous years, took a leap forward this season and now has the potential to be an average pitch. Cabrera’s entire arsenal has reaped the benefits of a stronger body, which has helped increase his athleticism and repeat his delivery more consistently. There have also been discussions about adding a cutter to his mix to give him an added wrinkle against lefthanders.

The Future: Cabrera will likely reach Double-A at some point in 2024. When he does, he’ll face his stiffest competition yet and will be challenged to throw higher-quality strikes against more discerning hitters. He has a chance to pitch at the back of a rotation.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50

17. Michael Mercado, RHP

BA Grade/Risks: 40/Low

Track Record: Mercado was drafted by the Rays in the second round of the 2017 draft out of high school in California. The righthander got to Triple-A with Tampa Bay before being spun to Philadelphia in a deal during the 2023 offseason that cleared 40-man space for the Rays. After an excellent run with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Mercado earned his first big league callup on June 24.

Scouting Report: Mercado’s primary weapons are an upper-90s fastball and a nasty, top-down curveball that has the potential to be a plus offering. He also throws a cutter-slider hybrid that flashes plus, as well. The key to Mercado’s future lies in his command and control, which can be hindered by a lengthy arm action as part of a delivery that led to a walk rate of roughly 4.4 hitters per nine innings in Triple-A before he was summoned to Philadelphia.

The Future: Without further improvements to his strike-throwing ability, Mercado will likely settle in as a reliever in the big leagues. His powerful mix could allow him to overwhelm hitters and might one day help him get leverage outs at Citizens Bank Park.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Cutter: 55 | Control: 40

20. Aroon Escobar, 2B

BA Grade/Risks: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Escobar was signed by the Phillies in 2022 out of Venezuela, then spent the next two seasons posting middling numbers in the Dominican Summer League. He moved stateside in 2024 and has been one of the more interesting players on Philadelphia’s club in the Florida Complex League. After homering four times in 81 DSL games, Escobar had three round-trippers in his first 24 FCL contests. 

Scouting Report: Escobar is not a player who will ‘wow’ you with any one tool in particular, but the sum of his parts leads to a prospect who might one day reach the big leagues. He’s an aggressive hitter who will look to hit the first strike that comes his way, and will often damage it thanks to a stroke that is quick to the zone and long through it. He also has a sneaky amount of pop from a thicker frame. Notably, Escobar is having more success in 2024 against lefthanders than in either of his two seasons in the DSL, albeit in a small sample size to this point. He is a fair defender at second and third base and has spent the bulk of his time up the middle in the FCL. He is a fringe-average runner with quick feet that help him when turning double plays.

The Future: Escobar has the ceiling of a second-division regular who can handle second or third base while providing the bulk of his value from the batter’s box. He should reach full-season ball at some point in 2024.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Speed: 45 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 55

21. Enrique Segura, RHP

BA Grade/Risks: 50/High

Track Record: Segura signed with the Phillies in 2022 and showed his potential in his first pro test in the Dominican Summer League where he struck out 39 hitters in 43 innings. He moved to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League in 2023 and continued piquing the interest of pro scouts despite underwhelming stats. He jumped to full-season ball in 2024, starting with Low-A Clearwater.

Scouting Report: Segura’s delivery features a quick arm and a unique arm slot, which adds layers of deception to his pitch mix. He works with four- and two-seam fastballs in the low 90s that play up thanks to excellent extension. He complements his heaters with a sweeping, slurvy slider in the high 70s and a mid-80s changeup that ranks as a clear third pitch and was thrown roughly 10% of the time. His well-below-average control could tick up a grade if he adds strength to his frame, which has plenty of room for remaining projection. Scouts also were heartened by Segura’s makeup on the mound. He showed plenty of competitiveness and an even-keeled attitude despite his struggles.

The Future: Segura is likely a reliever at the highest level, but he has enough upside for a bit more if he adds strength and throws more strikes.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40

Significant Injuries

Andrew Painter, RHP

Painter had Tommy John surgery in July of 2023 and as of June of this year was just beginning his progression toward getting back on the mound. 

Alex McFarlane, RHP

McFarlane had Tommy John surgery in September of 2023. The Miami alum and 2022 fourth-round pick will miss the 2024 season and be ready sometime the following year. 

Christian McGowan, RHP

After finishing his rehab from Tommy John surgery and getting back on the mound in the 2023 Arizona Fall League, McGowan landed on the injured list again this season with an impingement in his right shoulder. 

Gabriel Rincones, 1B/OF

The slugging lefthander was off to a scorching start at Double-A Reading before tearing a ligament in his right thumb and being placed on the 60-day injured list. He was slated for a return to play sometime in the summer.