PhiWAUdelphia Phillies Top 20 Prospects

We're kicking off the NL East/AL West segment of our Top Prospect series with a look at the Philadelphia Phillies. If you're wondering how this compares to the downright depressing Rockies list I just posted, well, let's just say that I considered ranking a 22 year old first basemen who played in an independent league last year. (And he still probably would have been a Top 10 prospect for Colorado.) List, grades, and commentary are all after the jump.

Philadelphia Phillies Top 20 Prospects

Grade: A
1.) Stephen Strasburg, RHP, WAS

Grade: A-
2.) Aaron Hicks, OF, MIN

Grade: B+
3.) Wilmer Flores, SS, NYM

Grade: B
4.) Josh Sale, OF, TB
5.) Rubby De La Rosa, RHP, LAD

Grade: B-
6.) Julio Rodriguez, RHP, PHI
7.) Wily Peralta, RHP, MIL

Grade: C+
8.) Edward Salcedo, 3B, ATL
9.) Luis Exposito, C, BOS
10.) Jake Marisnick, OF, TOR
11.) Jordan Henry, OF, CLE

Grade: C
12.) Rafael Rodriguez, OF, SF
13.) Niko Vasquez, 3B, STL
14.) Matt Rizzotti, 1B, PHI
15.) Alfredo Silverio, OF, LAD
16.) Jon Pettibone, RHP, PHI
17.) Avisail Garcia, OF, DET
18.) Mario Martinez, 3B, SEA
19.) Gustavo Pierre, SS, TOR
20.) Cameron Rupp, C, PHI

System Commentary:
This is a better version of the WAU Cubs system.  The Phils have a lot of talent at the top, but it thins out quickly, and there are a ton of high-risk/high-reward players in the Grade C range.  Salcedo, RafRod, Garcia, Martinez, and Pierre are all international bonus babies in the extreme low minors, and none of them have proven anything statistically just yet.  They'll make or break this system in the next couple of years.  One player I do want to highlight is Julio Rodriguez, who threw up an insane 90+ strikeouts in just over 50 innings this year.  He supposedly added velocity late in the season, and is definitely one to watch for 2011.