We are now an Otto Kemp blog.
Let us take a look at which prospects have been performing…and which ones are decidedly not from April (and the first week of May).
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (23-10, 1 game division lead)
HOT!
Otto Kemp (INF) – 128 AB, .344/.433/.703, 10 HR, 35 RBI, 14 BB, 37 K, 5 SB, 0 CS
Yes, you are starting to hear some noise for this 25 year old late-bloomer. Kemp is absolutely demolishing the ball, though with a higher than career-average BABIP. His versatility in the infield isn’t necessarily a good thing as he isn’t above average at either 1B, 2B or 3B. He has primarily played 3B this season, which is interesting since his quickest path to the majors would be LF (which has has played a few games this season). Is he future Bohm insurance? Who knows…but he is an interesting prospect to keep an eye on because sooner or later the injury bug will hit the Phillies and likely they are going to see if they can catch lightning in a bottle with Kemp.
Justin Crawford (LF/CF) – 121 AB, .322/.390/.421, 0 HR, 12 RBI, 14 BB, 28 K, 9 SB, 3 CS
Despite all his groundball tendencies, the hits just keep on coming for Crawford. I do think there is something to say excelling as a 21 year old at this level, but I’m highly skeptical that he is still able to do this against higher velocity and better breaking pitches at the MLB level. You also hope Crawford would be stealing more bases, but without further context I won’t speak further on that. Crawford finished with 42 SB in 2024 and 47 in 2023.
Cade Fergus (LF) – 54 AB, .296/.367/.741, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 6 BB, 27 K, 6 SB, 1 CS (two levels)
What has gotten into Cade Fergus? Fergus has struggled since being drafted in the 13th round of the 2022 draft, never finishing with an average higher than .224 in a season. He is batting .407 in 27 AB with LHV. He isn’t much of a prospect, but he is a big part of the reason that the IronPigs are cruising right now.
Mick Abel (SP) – 39.1 IP, 34 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 17 BB, 42 K, 4 HR
We might finally be seeing that breakthrough for Abel as he seems to have finally harnessed his stuff. Sure, this isn’t top of the rotation outlook anymore, but with improved command and not spiraling out there is still significant mid-rotation upside here. The stuff is still great and will play in the major leagues as a starter. If Abel keeps this up, he will certainly be a name that teams will ask for in any potential trade deadline deals.
Nabil Crismatt (SP) – 33 IP, 28 H, 14 R, 11 ER, 8 BB, 24 K, 3 HR
Not a prospect at age-30, but still having a great season thus far. Crismatt has had plenty of success as a reliever in the majors and is now getting a shot at starting. He likely will never see the majors this season in that role unless there is a string of many Homer At Bat misfortunes.
Nicholas Padilla (RP) – 11.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 11 K
Extreme good luck? Probably and nonetheless impressive for the season thus far. Padilla has struggled at the MLB-level in the past, but is otherwise a very competent minor-league relief pitcher.
Joel Kuhnel (RP) – 13 IP, 15 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 15 K, 2 HR
An impressive K/BB ratio for Kuhnel who came to the Phillies this offseason via a minor-league deal.
NOT!
Gabriel Rincones Jr. – 116 AB, .241/.283/.397, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 7 BB, 26 K, 3 SB, 0 CS
Rincones came into the minor league season with some buzz after a very successful big-league spring training and absolutely mashing some homers. He has the biggest power potential of any Phillies prospect so its a bit disappointing seeing only the 3 dingers despite how well the IronPigs have done. His numbers are great against RHP, but has not been able to hit lefties. If he isn’t able to improve, he is likely just a platoon bat and pinch hitter at the major-league level.
Michael Mercado (RP) – 6.2 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 5 BB, 8 K
The Phillies loved Mercado enough to keep him on the 40-man roster and I’m not sure I see why. The stuff is good, but he can never locate it. My guess he is last on the potential call-ups of 40-man relievers behind de Geus, Robert, Johnson, Lazar and Sweet.
Reading Fightin Phils (7-18, 9 games back in division)
HOT!
Felix Reyes (RF) – 36 AB, .306/.333/.583, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K
The Fightin’s are…not good this season. So from here on out you will see the struggle to find some “hot” hitters. The 24 year old Reyes had a late start due to injury, but has come out of the gate swinging. He doesn’t have much power as a RFer which doesn’t improve his overall outlook.
Robert Moore (INF) – 59 AB, .237/.370/.458, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 13 BB, 17 K, 2 SB, 0 CS
A utility infielder (with some CF experience) in the similar vain as Otto Kemp with much less of a major-league upside.
Griff McGarry (SP/RP) – 12 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 7 BB, 16 K
Of course when enigmatic McGarry has success he gets hurt and has lived on the IL since last appearing in a game on 4/18. McGarry is now a starter, I guess? He had three 4 inning games to start the season after seemingly being converted to a reliever last season. The walks are still a concern, but only allowing 2 hits seems good. Who knows how this one will turn out.
Eiberson Castellano (SP) – 15 IP, 14 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 16 K, 1 HR
After being the Phillies minor-league pitcher of the year in 2024, he was selected in the Rule-5 Draft this year by the Twins. Thankfully he was returned, but has since dealt with injuries since (is currently on the IL). There is/was back-end starter upside here if he can stay healthy.
NOT!
Aidan Miller (SS) – 88 AB, .216/.324/.307, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 13 BB, 27 K, 7 SB, 1 CS
You knew this one was coming. Miller was the sure-fire #1 hitting prospect for the Phillies and had high expectations after a placement into AA to start the season. The results have not been kind, but please remember prospect development is not linear. He is still getting on-base a good deal and there isn’t any reason to believe he can’t stick defensively at SS (which was a big question for him before being drafted).
Jean Cabrera (SP) – 25 IP, 16 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 19 BB, 22 K
After just walking 33 batters between A+ and AA last season, Cabrera is more than halfway there in 2025. Cabrera kind of catapulted up prospect rankings in the offseason with his successful 2024 (110 K to 33 BB in 106.2 IP) as a 22 year old. There is still a decent chance he can turn it around and still have that back-end starter projection that many prospect-heads pegged him at.
Moises Chace (SP) – 11.1 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 9 BB, 13 K, 2 HR
Perhaps his small-sample size last season after being acquired from the Orioles was a bit overhyped. Chace jumped into the Top 5 Phillies prospect rankings in the offseason, and often the 2nd best pitching prospect behind Andrew Painter. He still clearly has a bit of work to do to regain that.
Jersey Shore BlueClaws (9-16, 9 games back in division)
HOT!
Raylin Heredia (OF) – 48 AB, .333/.385/.563, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 4 BB, 13 K
The 21 year is currently on the IL, but has impressed in his limited time in the BlueClaws lineup. He has decent power, but also strikes out a good bit over his minor-league career.
Carson DeMartini (3B) – 83 AB, .265/.408/.361, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 15 BB, 28 K, 8 SB, 2 CS
One of my favorite underrated prospects in the system and its been a mixed bag so far. There is still a lot to like about DeMartini’s profile and how he could develop. There is starter upside if he can cut down on the swing-and-miss. DeMartini does have a nice power profile even if he hasn’t displayed it thus far.
Luke Russo (SP) – 18.2 IP, 15 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 23 K, HR
Pitching has been an absolute disaster for Jersey Shore, so this will be the only pitcher you see on this side of the HOT! Luke Russo isn’t really a prospect at 24 years old in High-A, but kudos where kudos are deserved.
NOT!
Bryan Rincon (SS) – 79 AB, .203/.326/.367, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 15 BB, 26 K, 9 SB, 0 CS
The rangey Rincon was a consensus Top-10 prospect for the organization coming into the season, but has struggled a bit out of the gate. The defensive profile is great, though I’m not sure the bat improves to the point where he ever makes it to the bigs.
Devin Saltiban (2B) – 97 AB, .186/.266/.320, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 8 BB, 33 K, 5 SB, 2 CS
Another highly regarded middle-infield prospect that hasn’t hit the ball well. Seems to be a trend, huh? Whatever is in the water in Lakewood, they need to change the filter.
Clearwater Threshers (15-12, 3-way tie for 1st in the division)
HOT!
Aroon Escobar (2B) – 84 AB, .333/.456/.583, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 16 BB, 21 K, 1 SB, 2 CS
There may be no hotter prospect in baseball, let alone the organization. The 20 year old second baseman is another month or two from potentially catching Aidan Miller for top hitting prospect in the organization. The bat looks really special and enough to get your hopes high. He may even need to be challenged in A+ sooner than later.
Eduardo Tait (C) – 93 AB, .247/.304/.505, 6 HR, 19 RBI, 5 BB, 23 K
Everyone’s favorite hitting prospect entering the 2025 season. Many saw Tait as the breakout hitting prospect of the system. They aren’t exactly wrong as he has shown as an 18 year old that he can handle FSL pitching and is showing tremendous power potential to boot. There were strong concerns with his work behind the plate, but reports on that have been mostly positive as well and something he has plenty of time to work on.
Ryan Drombowski (SP) – 20.1 IP, 13 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 19 K, 1 HR
21 year old local kid (Hamilton, NJ) was an undrafted free agent and is in his first season in the pros. The results thus far have been something to keep an eye on as he is likely playing below his true competition level.
Enrique Segura (SP) – 17 IP, 12 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 8 BB, 19 K
The 6’3 righty is only 20 years old is in his second state-side season with the org. The walks remain a concern (he had 26 walks in 42.2 innings last season), but the K% hasn’t dipped at any level…yet.
Andrew Painter (SP) – 11.1 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 12 K, 1 HR
Sorta hot, but definitely not a…not. Andrew Painter is back in full-season ball after a lengthy diagnosis, treatment, surgery and recovery. The velocity is already back as he primarily works on his fastball. You will begin to see his name under the Lehigh Valley section of these round-ups as he was just promoted to AAA in his rehab trail.
Titan Hayes (RP) – 11 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 15 K
One of the best names in the system. He is a 23 year old righty drafted just last year in the 11th round. Likely playing a level too low for him. Expect a promotion soon.
NOT!
Griffin Burkholder (RF) – 16 AB, .125/.176/.188, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K
The Phillies 2024 2nd round pick got a late start to the 2024 season. Prospect sites were fairly optimistic on Burkholder and even ranked him higher than the pick before him (Dante Nori). Sadly, Burkholder had a late start to the season due to an injury and is now slow out of the gate. Reminder, the kid is still just 19 years old and doesn’t turn 20 until late August.
Dante Nori (CF) – 93 AB, .237/.339/.280, 0 HR, 6 RBI, 15 BB, 22 K, 3 SB, 2 CS
The aforementioned 1st round pick last year isn’t so hot. A huge question mark for Nori is if there were ANY power to his bat…and he is not exactly reassuring any of those critics. He had just one extra-base hit in 50 at-bats last season with Clearwater.
Luke Gabrysh (SP) – 12.2 IP, 10 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 8 BB, 12 K, 3 HR
Not much luck for the 22 year old righty (their 2024 15th round pick). 2025 has been his pro debut.
Sam Highfill (SP) – 21.2 IP, 25 H, 17 R, 16 ER, 8 BB, 24 K, 4 HR
Yikes…
Zack Tukis (SP) – 9.1 IP, 7 H, 11 R, 9 ER, 10 BB, 11 K
Double Yikes…