By: Brandon Apter, contributor 
While the Phillies are trying to avoid getting swept by the Reds today, three out of the five Phils affiliates begin their seasons tonight, with Triple-A Lehigh Valley slated to start tomorrow and Williamsport in June for their short season schedule. The Phillies farm teams this year are packed with prospects from a variety of trades and drafts. There is plenty to be excited about when it comes to being a Phillies fan that follows the prospects, because this season we could be getting a glimpse at what players might lead the next core of Phillies player. Let's take a look at the rosters, all the way from Triple-A down to Class 'A', highlighting the top prospects on each team:
Triple-A: Lehigh Valley Ironpigs
2015 record: 63-81
2016 top prospects: Mark Appel (#2), Jake Thompson (#3), Nick Williams (#4), Zach Eflin (#9), Darnell Sweeney (#11), Andrew Knapp (#18)
2016 full roster: Pitchers – Mark Appel, Elvis Araujo, Andrew Bailey, David Buchanan, Zach Eflin, Luis Garcia, Bobby LaFromboise, Adam Morgan, Edward Mujica, Colton Murray, Reinier Roibal, Jake Thompson
Catchers: Andrew Knapp, J.P. Arencibia
Infielders: Carlos Alonso, Taylor Featherston, Ryan Jackson, Tommy Joseph, Angelys Nina, Brock Stassi
Outfielders: David Lough, Cam Perkins, Darnell Sweeney, Will Venable, Nick Williams
2016 Outlook: The Ironpigs starting rotation has the potential to be one of the best in the International League with the trio of Appel, Eflin and Thompson. Their bullpen will fluctuate throughout the season, with guys being swapped with relievers from the Phillies as they try to sort out the big league bullpen. Andrew Knapp and Brock Stassi lead the offense after strong seasons in Double-A last year while newcomer Nick Williams will make his Triple-A debut. Tommy Joseph, no longer catching, could have a bounce back year as well.
Double-A: Reading Fightin' Phils
2015 record: 80-61, lost in Eastern League Championship Series
2016 top prospects: J.P. Crawford (#1), Jorge Alfaro (#5), Roman Quinn (#7), Ricardo Pinto (#12), Ben Lively (#14), Nick Pivetta (#16), Tom Windle (#17), Rhys Hoskins (#21), Alec Asher (#25)
2016 full roster: Pitchers: Alec Asher, Jeremy Bleich, Severino Gonzalez, Ulises Joaquin, Ben Lively, Ricardo Pinto, Nick Pivetta, Edubray Ramos, Yacksel Rios, Joely Rodriguez, Anthony Vasquez, Tom Windle
Catchers: Jorge Alfaro, Logan Moore
Infielders: J.P. Crawford, Jake Fox, Rhys Hoskins, Harold Martinez, Angelo Mora, KC Serna, Jesmuel Valentin
Outfielders: Aaron Brown, Dylan Cozens, Christian Marrero, Roman Quinn
2016 Outlook: Although Reading isn't likely to repeat their 80-win season in 2016, they start the year with the Phillies top prospect and an outfield that has speed in Roman Quinn and power in both Dylan Cozens and Aaron Brown, both of whom are former top 30 prospects. The pitching rotation could be good, with Asher and Pinto leading the way. Nick Pivetta has shown the ability to strike guys out, but struggles with control and Severino Gonzalez spent time in Triple-A and in Philadelphia last season, but could be converted to relief. Ben Lively will get another go in Double-A after a mediocre year in the rotation in 2015. The bullpen should be strong, with Tom Windle and Edubray Ramos the top guys there.
Advanced 'A': Clearwater Threshers
2015 record: 75-58, lost in round one of FSL playoffs
2016 top prospects: Scott Kingery (#10), Thomas Eshelman (#13), Matt Imhof (#19), Cord Sandberg (#22), Carlos Tocci (#23), Malquin Canelo (#24), Brandon Leibrandt (#28), Elniery Garcia (#30)
2016 full roster: Pitchers: Victor Arano, Ranfi Casimiro, Joey DeNato, Thomas Eshelman, Elniery Garcia, Matt Hockenberry, Matt Imhof, Brandon Leibrandt*, Mark Leiter*, Will Morris, Jairo Munoz, Miguel Nunez, Alexis Rivero, Jesen Therrien, Tyler Viza
Catchers: Gabriel Lino, Chase Numata
Infielders: Malquin Canelo, Zach Green, Scott Kingery, Kyle Martin, Drew Stankiewicz, Mitch Walding
Outfielders: Andrew Pullin, Herlis Rodriguez, Cord Sandberg, Carlos Tocci
*denotes player on disabled list
2016 Outlook: The most intriguing pieces of the 2016 Threshers is newly-acquired Tom Eshelman from the Ken Giles trade, 2014 second round pick Matt Imhof and the outfield of Sandberg and Tocci. This team has a handful of the bottom of the top 30 prospects, so there's a lot to prove. Andrew Pullin was a former top guy in the organization and Malquin Canelo is known to be one of the best infield prospects in the system.
Class 'A': Lakewood Blueclaws
2015 record: 73-65
2016 top prospects: Cornelius Randolph (#6), Franklyn Kilome (#8), Alberto Tirado (#16), Deivi Grullon (#27)
2016 full roster: Pitchers: Drew Anderson*, Harold Arauz, Alejandro Arteaga, Austin Davis*, Tyler Gilbert, Mitch Gueller, Scott Harris*, Skylar Hunter*, Franklyn Kilome, Kenny Koplove, Luke Leftwich, Zach Morris, Robert Tasin, Jose Taveras, Alberto Tirado, Jacob Waguespak, Shane Watson
Catchers: Austin Bossart, Deivi Grullon
Infielders: Josh Tobias, Emmanuel Marrero, Jan Hernandez, Brendan Hayden, Grenny Cumana
Outfielders: Zachary Coppola, Jose Pujols, Cornelius Randolph, Damek Tomscha, Jiandido Trump
*denotes player on disabled list
2016 Outlook: Beyond Randolph and Kilome, there isn't too much that stands out about this roster. Randolph was the teams' first overall pick in 2015 and Kilome signed with the Phillies as a 17-year-old in 2013. They have a couple of guys who had nice years with Williamsport in 2015, including Josh Tobias, Jan Hernandez and Jose Pujols, so they will score some runs in bunches.
Tonight, Reading hosts Portland at 7:05, Clearwater is at Dunedin at 6:30 and Lakewood takes on Lexington on the road at 7:05. Lehigh Valley will host Syracuse for a double-header closed to the public on Friday afternoon before heading to Rochester on Monday for a three-game set with the Red Wings.
