Similar to the pitching prospect post from a few days ago. This time, exclude Adrian Cardenas from your list. Give your top 3 and why you think they are in the position they are. I’ll give my top 3 pitchers and hitters tomorrow at some point.
Also a note. I really enjoy the discourse back and forth in the comments section. I think we’ve had something like 1600 comments since the blog started, which is awesome, in my opinion. However, try to remember that you can’t edit your comment after you’ve submitted it, so think before you write, and try to remain civil, that’s all I ask.
Phuture Phillies 
Tough question, it seems like most of our position prospects have one flaw or another be it age, strikeouts, or strike zone judgement. Additionally, most of our quality prospects are still in rookie ball and IMO, it’s difficult to hang your hat on a prospect’s viability until he plays a full season.
That being said, there can be no doubt that Adrian Cardenas is the best hitting prospect in the system right now. For his age, he’s doing phenomenally well at Lakewood.
For all of his warts, Mike Costanzo has to be making people excited. He’s hitting for plus power, walks at a reasonable rate, bats from the left side, and plays a position of need. However, the Phillies do not need another player who is lousy in April, and Costanzo has been terrible early on at every stop thus far. Hopefully it just takes him a while to get used to playing at a new level and we continue to see him strike out less while walking more.
As for the third guy, I think it’s pre-mature to include D’Arby Myers, Dominic Brown, Tyler Mach, or anybody else from the exciting Williamsport team, I want to see them playing full season ball before making a judgement…..so who does that leave? Greg Golson takes a lot of heat for being a “toolsy” guy who had the misfortune of being drafted before Phillip Hughes. He’s playing the season as a 21 year old, and is putting up a respectable .756 OPS in a notoriously difficult hitting league. Everybody would like to see him walk twice as much as he does, but he does seem to be improving his offensive numbers this season and seems to have a higher ceiling than guys like Jaramillo, and Slayden.
Lou Marson is another prospect who should excite people, he’s a year younger than Golson, walks at a much better rate, and plays a premium position. His only “wart” at this point would seem to be a lack of power, and is the reason I would rate Golson above Marson.
Thanks, I love this site, keep up the good work!
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wait, does coste count? 😀
after cardenez
1. costanzo
2. Jaramillo
3. myers
honorable mention:
Mach, marson, and the rest of the young crew.
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When I responded with my answers for pitchers, I attempted to stay away from the less experienced, long-term projections (any players below Clearwater) but when it comes to hitting prospects, that becomes very difficult becuase it is likely that the “real” talents are the ‘kids”; i.e., I have two answers:
(1) High A & above:
Jason Donald, Jeremy Slayden, & (=) G. Golson / J. Merchan
(2) Lakewood & below:
D’Arby Myers, Travis D’Arnaud & Francisco Murillo
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Just like the others, I’ll stay away from the GCL and Williamsport teams – even though that’s where all the excitement seems to have been lately.
In no particular order:
– Jason Donald – in a bit of a slump lately, but still very solid
– Javon Moran – seems like he would be a nice 2-hole hitter. Not a lot of strikeouts.
– Costanzo – definitely showing a lot of power this year. Also showing a lot of Ks.
Hon Mention:
Golson. Other than his ridiculously low BB numbers, is having a pretty decent season. Still, more should be expected from a high pick.
– Jeff
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It would be hard to include players from glc or wpt. Even though Myers is looking pretty good and D’arnaud is showing excellent tools. Murillo has excellent power numbers and Mattair will eventually start hitting.
I would have to go with Constanzo first. I know people are low of him because of his D and his plate discipline. But that kid just hit a 440 ft shot last night. Hes got some power. He hasn’t had an error in about 25 games. He has shown the ability to make in season adjustments and that has to be worth something. Even though hes not a polished hitter I think at the end of this year he will have proved his worth as a prospect.
Second I would go with Golson. Another guy with plate discipline issues. Recently hes been tearing it up at .419 clip in his last 10 games. He strikes out a lot and walks to little. He is still young though and he has shown a vast improvement this season.
Third I would go with Jason Donald. Hes got a good OBP and his BB to SO ratio is decent. He can play SS and that has to be a plus even if he doesn’t stay at that position.
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Ignoring guys from the current draft:
1. Cardenas — not a lot of power, at least to date, but doing well given his promotion. A good rookie season and doing well so far this season after a great HS senior year. Should at least hit well for average and I think will develop some power. Should be able to stay somewhere in the IF, so he has a position.
2. D’Arby Myers — for a raw toolsy guy he had a great rookie season and is doing well this year. Should be a plus defensive OF.
3. Costanzo – maybe just a platoon 3B. Power is good, average isn’t, hasn’t shown he can hit LHP and not great on off-speed stuff. The Ks represent pitchers/pitches he just can’t handle, at least yet, as opposed to the natural byproduct of HRs and BBs. A lot of errors at 3B, but the basic skills seem solid, and I think he can play 3B in majors.
4. Marson — one of my favorite minor leaguers and I think our C of future. The offensive numbers are good, if not eye popping.
5. Slayden — great bat, still no position, still very old for his league, can’t rank him higher than this.
Of the new guys Mach clearly off to the best start, but old enough to be playing in A ball.
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Like everyone else, I am excited about D’Arby Myers, but we need to temper our enthusiasm, he’s only now approaching 200 professional ABs. He’s hitting for a nice average but has shown little power and only 12 total walks thus far. I know he’s young and is going to improve, but it seems like many people cut him slack that they won’t cut for Golson.
All that being said, I hope he has a .800 OPS with a bunch of walks and XBHs next year for Lakewood, but let’s not get too excited about him until he starts putting up good numbers at a full season level.
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Tougher question than the pitchers, because beyond Cardenas there are very few that stand out. In addition, many of the best are in the low minors.
1. Cardenas – age, middle infield, and pure hitting ability make him the obvious number 1. Will show more power as he matures.
2. Myers – Risky pick given the few at bats we have seen. Has all the tools and the right attitude. Biggest question is probably control of the strike zone.
3. Costanzon Not a huge Costanzo fan, but if he continues the production of the last month he is going to be a major leaguer. I would still let him start in AAA next year however.
4. Golson – Tools still count. He may need 2-3 years, but he still has a high ceiling.
5. Galvis – Surprise pick and may never be more than a high average hitter with little power, but NY-Penn at age 17 is impressive.
Others – Brown, Marson, Donald, Slayden, Mach, Murillo, Quiroz. Still early on most of these. I agree that Marson is a real sleeper prospect in that he will eventually hit for power. If he becomes a consistent .280 hitter his entire package (offense and defense) is nice.
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D’Arby Myers should have been in Lakwood, but because of his young age or the playing time availability in Lakewood, not being able to play daily or just sitting on the bench waiting on older players to play. he was put in ss. at the end of gcl rookie, he was ready to move up. he is ready to move up now. his stats are there. july 4 he went 5-5 hitting .391, he will get even better as he matures. he has all the tools. offense and defense.
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OK WE KNOW HE’S YOUNG AND NOT ALOT OF AB’S BUT I’VE SEEN HIM PLAY TWICE AND I’AM TELLING YA THE KID KNOWS HOW TO PLAY!GOES WITH THE PITCH HITS TO ANY FIELD JUST LOOKS GOOD WHEN HE COMES TO THE PLATE,GOING AGAIN SATURDAY NIGHT HOPE HE’S STILL THERE,I’AM TELL’EN YA BEST THING PHILLY HAS AFTER PATS STEAKS,KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED
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All three on Williamsport, which should tell you something about the state of the position players in the system:
Myers
Mach
Rizzotti
After that, Costanzo and Golson.
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Tough question, much tougher than the pitchers. Let’s see if I can be coherent….
1) Costanzo. Yeah, the strikeouts are a problem. But he’s showing power and patience (that .340 OBP is heavily depressed by his BA), and has really turned it on lately.
2) Myers. The caveats about small sample size apply, as well as the fact that he’s basically just hitting a lot of singles this year: Bump his BA down to more ‘normal’ levels, and .370/.410/.425 changes to something… not so great. That said, he’s only 18, has yet to struggle at all, and the power, at least, can be expected to come with time.
3) Mach. Now the small sample size thing really applies, and he’s old enough that he should be doing well at Williamsport, but I just can’t ignore .444/.500/.861 in any context. Apologies to Golson, Donald, etc.
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