Baseball America has begun its annual rankings of its Top 10 prospects in every major league teams system. The publication will post its Phillies list on Friday at www.Baseballamerica.com. Heres a peek at the list.
1. Trevor May, RHP
2. Jesse Biddle, LHP
3. Sebastian Valle, C
4. Jonathan Pettibone, RHP
5. Phillippe Aumont, RHP
6. Freddy Galvis, SS
7. Justin De Fratus, RHP
8. Brody Colvin, RHP
9. Jiwan James, OF
10. Maikel Franco, 3B
The list shows that the Phillies best depth of prospects is in the low minors. Only Aumont, Galvis and De Fratus have played above Double A. Aumont and De Fratus are hard-throwing righthanders. Phillies officials believe that both have the ingredients to become effective big-league relievers, possibly closers.
May, a burly, 6-5 righthander, vaults to the top of the list after a 208-strikeout season in the Florida State League in 2011. He was the organizations minor-league pitcher of the year. Less than two years out of Germantown Friends School, Biddle is No. 2 on the list after a strong showing at Single A Lakewood in 2011.
May is expected to anchor the pitching staff at Double A Reading in 2012. No. 3 prospect Sebastian Valle, the organizations top catching prospect, is also expected to be on that team.
Note: Domonic Brown is no longer in consideration for Baseball America's list because of his level of major league service time.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportnet.com.