Baseball America released yesterday their organizational rankings based on the strength of their league top-20 prospect reports that wrapped up in mid-October. These are not their official rankings for their 2014 book, but instead created a formula to calculate the rankings. Their formula accounts for the number of prospects a team had ranked in each league’s top-20 weighted accordingly from the top-down along with an emphasis on more advanced prospects at higher levels. Below are some specifics related to the Phillies, but details and the full ranking of the systems can be found here: http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/a-simple-accounting-of-farm-system-impact-potential/
The Phillies wound up ranked slightly below the middle of the pack as the seventeenth (17th) best farm system according to this means of evaluation. This is not entirely encouraging, considering how poor the organization has been and how badly they need an infusion of young talent. However, the Phillies farm system was ranked 23rd according to the 2013 Baseball America Prospect Guidebook, so progress at least provides some optimism. By comparison, the current World Series competitors are ranked 1st (Red Sox) and 8th (Cardinals) and are clearly model organizations that the Phillies should follow.
The summaries are very brief, referencing the rankings of the Phillies players highlighted in the league top-20s. Their ranking was on the strength of a few advanced prospects and some depth at the lower level. Among the highlights were current Major Leaguers 3B Cody Asche (9th AAA – IL) and 1B/OF Darin Ruf (17th AAA – IL), Phillies top two prospects 3B Maikel Franco (4th AA – EL) and LHP Jesse Biddle (11th AA – EL), and top pick in 2013 SS JP Crawford (6th GCL). Among other notables mentioned were 3B Zach Green (4th A- NYP), OF Aaron Altherr (20th A+ – FSL), and OF Carlos Tocci (18 A- SAL). Asche and Ruf have since graduated, but the remaining prospects do provide legitimate upside and potential.
Phillies Faithful will be starting their breakdown of the Phillies Farm System next week, providing their projected top-30 list and commentary on individual players as well as retroactive reviews of previous top lists from 2013 and prior.
