Are the top 5 Phillies prospects showing progress?

The Philadelphia Phillies farm system is starting to build a reputation as being one of the most improved in all of Major League Baseball. Currently ranked No. 22 out of the 30 franchises by MLB Pipeline, an argument can be made that their current ranking sells short a minor league system that's busting at the seams with talent.

It's no secret that the Phillies have been successfully infusing youth with the veteran core for a few seasons now. Alec Bohm has been one of the best hitters in the game in 2024, and since his debut in 2020 has continued to grow into the type of player the Phillies thought he was when they drafted him with the third overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.

The trend continued in 2022 when Bryson Stott, the Phillies' No. 1 pick in 2019, made his debut and became the second young position player to ascend into the role of an everyday player on the big league roster. Along with Bohm and Brandon Marsh, the Phillies have three well-above-average position players under 30 who help balance the ratio of youth on a team that's top-heavy with veteran players over 30.

When will the next wave of top prospects make their debut in a Phillies uniform? It's hard to project, with many of the organization's most exciting young players currently developing at various stops in the lower minor league levels.

That didn't stop the young and dynamic Orion Kerkering from jumping all the way from Low-A last year to finding his way into the Phillies' bullpen last September. The lesson here is never to count out the possibility of another breakthrough in 2024.

Are the top 5 Phillies prospects showing progress?

As we wait impatiently to see who will be the next youngster to make their way to Citizens Bank Park, let's check in with the top five prospects in the Phillies system and see how they're doing in 2024.

No. 5: Starlyn Caba (Rookie FCL Phillies)

Starlyn Caba is an 18-year-old shortstop currently making quite a name for himself down in the Florida Complex League. Signed during the international signing period in January 2023, Caba had a successful debut in the Dominican Summer League last year.

According to Alex Coffey for Baseball America, the youngster received rave reviews (subscription required) after his brief stint in the Dominican. His glove and bat proved to both be advanced for a young player getting his first taste of professional baseball.

Caba is off to a very impressive start in his first four games in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. Batting .316 with six hits, two RBI, two stolen bases and six walks to one strikeout, he made his presence known during his first game when he launched the first professional home run of his career.

Caba has already been mentioned as a player the Phillies could possibly make available via trade with Trea Turner and Bryson Stott not likely to be going anywhere anytime soon. What type of talent would a player like Caba net the Phillies if he were to be traded? It's an intriguing question.