Francisco Renteria keeps making the Phillies’ prospect conversation harder to ignore.
At just 17 years old, the outfielder is already forcing a real debate about where he belongs on Philadelphia’s prospect ladder. He is currently listed as the club’s third-best prospect by both MLB.com and Baseball America, but the production he’s putting together in rookie ball is starting to look a lot louder than that ranking.
Renteria added another jolt on Aug. 14 when he launched his 10th home run of the season. That blast came amid a scorching opening to his pro career, and it only added to the case that Philadelphia may not have to wait long before he’s sitting at the top of the system.
Through games played on Aug. 14, Renteria is hitting .378 with an 1.139 OPS.
August has been even more eye-catching: he’s batting .457 for the month and has gone 11-for-16 over his last four games, with two home runs, nine RBIs, one double and one triple. He has been held hitless only 12 times this season, and he already has 25 multi-hit games, just shy of half the games he has played.
The profile is just as intriguing as the numbers. The 6-foot-3 outfielder brings what looks like clear five-tool upside. Along with the power, he has stolen 22 bases this season, and the Phillies view him as a long-term possibility in center field, which points to both range and arm strength.
That’s why the question is getting sharper by the day: is Renteria already the organization’s top prospect? Gage Wood holds the top spot now, with Aidan Miller also in the mix, and the easy answer is to assume both will reach the majors by the middle of next season. But if that doesn’t happen, Renteria’s ceiling makes the discussion a lot more interesting.
At this point, the performance is doing the talking. A 17-year-old producing like this in his first season in pro ball doesn’t leave much room for doubt.
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