It feels like it has been so long since the Phillies had a farm system worth talking about. They have had good prospects here and there. Some even worked out. Guys like Aaron Nola, Rhys Hoskins, Bryson Stott, and Alec Bohm have turned into at the very least solid MLB Players. But for so long they have had to rely on free agency and trades to bring in high-level talent. Even now, many of their best players are not homegrown. Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, and JT Realmuto all come from elsewhere. Under Matt Klentak and Ruben Amaro, there were not many Phillies prospects that panned out the way we thought they would.
Since 2010 only 6 players that came through the Phillies farm system have made it to an All-Star game. Granted a couple of them made it multiple times. Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz, Dom Brown, and Aaron Nola. Only 1 of them have made it since 2015. Odubel Herrera and Shane Victorino also made it, but they were rule 5 picks and did not come through the Phillies system. Not exactly a good sign for the Phillies’ ability to develop talent. But things have started to turn around.
For one, they have a capable Exec in charge of things now. Dave Dombrowski seems to know what he is doing and has won in other cities. But also, other people around the MLB are starting to show some respect for the Phillies farm system. MLB Pipeline recently did a survey of MLB Execs asking questions about who is the best prospect in baseball. Who has the best speed? What prospect will make the best future closer? Which prospect do they see having a breakout season? And other questions of that nature. And the Phillies were showing up all over the survey. They might actually have a good farm system for once.