Phillies Reliever on MiLB Top Prospect Team

One of the best stories for the Philadelphia Phillies has been pitching prospect Orion Kerkering, who was called up in mid-September and given a chance to audition for the Phillies’ postseason roster.

Well, he made the postseason roster and was with the team when they hosted the Miami Marlins in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card playoffs on Tuesday.

On Monday, Kerkering found out that he was one of the prospects selected to the MiLB Prospect Team of the Year’s First Team, a result of his tremendous progress in the organization.

Kerkering is the Phillies’ No. 7 prospect and played through the entire full-season system in 2023 — Class-A Clearwater, High Class-A Jersey Coast, Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

He emerged as the system’s best reliever, with a 4-1 record and a 1.51 ERA. He locked down 14 saves in 53.2 innings, striking out 79 and walking 12. He had an opponent batting average of .186 and a 089 WHIP.

MiLB.com explained his selection in its story on Monday, before the Phillies set their roster:

Kerkering began the year with Single-A Clearwater, and it’s looking like he’s going to finish it on the big league postseason roster. His ability to pound the zone (2.0 BB/9) with his fastball and slider allowed him to strike out 13.2 per nine in the Minors this year, and he has the third best K-BB percentage (32.2) of any pitcher in the Minor Leagues with 50 or more innings.

He was the only Phillies prospect to make either the First or Second Team.

The rest of the MiLB Prospect First Team included catcher Samuel Basallo (Balimore), first baseman Luken Baker (St. Louis), second baseman Thomas Saggese (St. Louis), third baseman Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay), shortstop Jackson Holliday (Baltimore), outfielder Blake Dunn (Cincinnati), outfielder Justice Bigbie (Detroit), outfielder Owen Caissie (Chicago Cubs), designated hitter Michael Busch (Los Angeles Dodgers), left-handed pitcher Robby Snelling (San Diego) and right-handed pitcher Drew Thorpe (New York Yankees).