Every year, a handful of players ranked outside the top 10 in their respective farm systems take meaningful steps forward to improve their stock and vault up prospect rankings. Part of the fun is trying to identify those breakouts before it happens. So today, we’re identifying Phillies prospects who have the potential to make a jump in 2026.

To qualify, a player must rank outside the organization’s preseason Top 10 prospects. All scouting reports are from Baseball America’s 2026 Prospect handbook, which you can purchase here.

You can find Top 30 prospect rankings for all teams here and all breakout candidates here.

Breakout Prospects

Sean Youngerman, RHP 

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35

Track Record: After two seasons at Westmont College and summers in the California Collegiate and Cape Cod leagues, Youngerman transferred to Oklahoma State for his draft season. With the Cowboys, Youngerman punched out 59 against just eight walks over 52 innings. He was used predominantly out of the bullpen but made eight starts. The Phillies took him in the fourth round and shut him down after signing, but he got some work in at the team’s minor league complex in Florida.

Scouting Report: Youngerman leads his mix with a 93-95 mph fastball that gets up to 98. He does an excellent job throwing the heater for strikes, and the pitch has plenty of life through the zone that often helps it play above its velocity. He backs it with a slider-cutter hybrid with horizontal break and a changeup in the mid 80s with heavy sinking action toward the feet of righthanders. The Phillies believe both of Youngerman’s offspeed pitches have the potential to be average big league offerings. With his three pitches and excellent strike-throwing ability, Youngerman has the pieces to be developed as a starter. The Phillies plan to take that tact with him once he makes his professional debut in 2026.

The Future: Youngerman has the qualities needed to project as a back-end starter. Now, he’ll need to bring his offspeed offerings forward a few clicks in the Phillies’ pitching lab. He has the pedigree to start his career at High-A Jersey Shore.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55

Ramon Marquez, RHP

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
Adjusted Grade: 35

Track Record: Marquez was born in Phoenix but moved to Mexico and signed for $10,000 in January 2025. He began his career in the Florida Complex League and quickly began to percolate as one of the team’s top arms in the lower levels. He earned a promotion to Low-A Clearwater in August. After a rocky full-season debut, he allowed just three runs over his final 14 innings. He struck out 18 and walked just two in that span. He finished with a flourish, striking out seven over five one-hit innings.

Scouting Report: Right now, Marquez’s money-makers are a 92-96 mph four-seamer and a changeup, which he complements with a slider that needs plenty of refinement. The fastball has ride-run properties and bores in on righthanded hitters, while the changeup shows sudden drop and produced a miss rate of 62.1%. The slider will occasionally flash fringe average, but the pitch needs a lot more work to consistently reach those heights. His delivery is compact and repeatable, which allowed him to pound the zone at both of his stops. He walked just 17 hitters in 55 innings and projects to have plus control. Beyond refinement of his slider, Marquez needs to get strong enough to hold up to a longer workload, and the Phillies might also add a two-seamer to his mix.

The Future: After a fantastic debut, Marquez should return to Low-A to begin 2026. He has a chance to fit toward the back of a rotation once he’s fully formed.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 60

Gabe Craig, RHP

BA Grade/Risk: 40/Average
Adjusted Grade: 30

Track Record: Craig’s six seasons in college included stops at Tyler (Texas) JC, Texas A&M and three seasons at Baylor. The righthander’s final season with the Bears was dominance defined. In 32 innings, he allowed 13 hits and just three walks. He struck out 51 of the 113 hitters he faced, good for a 45.1% clip. The Phillies drafted him in the fifth round in 2025 and signed him to a well below-slot bonus of $197,500. His first pro experience consisted of three one-inning relief appearances at Low-A Clearwater.

Scouting Report: Given his age and pedigree, Craig has the potential to move through the minors quickly. An outstanding slider should also aid that rise. The pitch has the potential to be a double-plus weapon and already stands among the best in the system. The pitch sits in the mid 80s and features the kind of devastating sweep and depth that turns hitters into pretzels. Currently, he works with a mid-90s four-seam fastball with excellent riding life through the zone. He might add a two-seamer in the coming seasons. Craig has a whippy arm, a low slot and is an athletic mover on the mound. His strike-throwing improved drastically in his final year at Baylor, and he projects to reach average control.

The Future: Craig has the kind of pitch mix that can help him buzzsaw through the minor leagues. At the very least, he should reach Double-A. If his strike-throwing improvements are sticky, he could be an impact reliever.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 70 | Control: 50