Baseball America put out their top ten Phillies prospects today, and it’s all about pitching. Carlos Carrasco tops a list that has pitchers in five of the top six spots with the only notable position player being infielder Adrian Cardenas.
Carrasco dominated at Low A last year. He held batters to a .182 batting average and while he walked his share of batters, he struck out 159 in 159 innings and he gave up only six homeruns. Carrasco is potential stud, but he’s still a few years away. He’ll start at High A and if he shows he can dominate, the by then 20 year old might even get some time at Double A.
Kyle Drabek, son of Doug Drabek, comes in at number two. The 2006 first round draft pick struggled in rookie ball last year but he won’t turn 20 until December so he has a ways to go. It’s expected that he’ll start the season in Low A.
Cardenas, who looks like he’s being groomed to be a second baseman, had a nice season in the rookie league. Baseball America says he could develop along the lines of Chase Utley and if he comes anywhere close, he’ll be a successful draft pick. He looks to be slated for Low A in 2007.
Edgar Garcia and Scott Mathieson round out the top five. Mathieson struggled in eight starts with the Phillies when he got his cup of coffee. He did go down with a shoulder injury and once he comes back, BA speculates that he’ll play in the Phillies new short season affiliate in Williamsport.
