Young Shortstop Soars Into Phillies Top 30 Prospect Rankings

One of the Philadelphia Phillies' top international signees is soaring up the team's prospect rankings.

The Philadelphia Phillies have a familiar group of top prospects in MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 rankings, released earlier this week.

But one name stands out, one that wasn’t even in Philadelphia’s Top 30 last spring.

Starlyn Caba is just 18 years old. He signed an international deal with the Phillies last January out of the Dominican Republic.

In one season he’s turned a lot of heads in the organization and among MLB scouts, so much so that in the new Pipeline rankings he is now No. 5.

He’s spent 2023 with the Phillies’ Dominican League Summer team and in just 133 at-bats he slashed .301/.423/.346/.769 with two doubles, two triples and 17 RBI. He stole 16 bases and walked 28 times.

He’s a long way from joining the Phillies at the Major League level. But he has a promising future as an infielder. He’ll likely have to find a new position as Phillies shortstop Trea Turner isn’t going anywhere for a while.

The Phillies’ Top 4 prospects remained unchanged. Pitcher Andrew Painter — who will miss the 2024 season due to his recovery from Tommy John surgery — remained No. 1. He was followed by another pitcher, Mick Abel, infielder Aidan Miller and outfielder Justin Crawford.

Orion Kerkering, who joined the Phillies in September and pitched in the postseason, is No. 6 but will likely graduate from the prospect rankings soon. Infielder Devin Saltiban, shortstop Bryan Rincon, catcher Eduardo Tait and outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. rounded out the Top 10.

The next set of prospects included pitcher Griff McGarry at No. 11, infielder William Bergolla at No. 12, outfielder Carlos De La Cruz at No. 13, pitcher Wen Hui Pan at No. 14, pitcher Alex McFarlane at No. 15, pitcher Christian McGowan at No. 16, outfielder Emaarion Boyd at No. 17, outfielder TJayy Walton at No. 18, outfielder Simon Muzziotti at No. 19 and outfielder Raylin Heredia at No. 20.

Catcher Caleb Ricketts, catcher Kehden Hettiger, outfielder Hendry Mendez, pitcher Samuel Aldegheri, pitcher Alexis De La Cruz, infielder Robert Moore, outfielder Jalvin Arias, outfielder Ethan Wilson, pitcher George Klassen and infielder Nikau Pouaka-Grego rounded out the Top 30.