Heading into Spring Training, most Phillies fans were excited to see the players from last year’s squad as they try to rebound from a disappointing finish to the 2024 campaign. However, they also looked forward to watching the future Phillies such as Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, and Justin Crawford play ball in Clearwater.
The trio of minor league prospects are considered some of the best in baseball and one of these guys (Painter) could be with the big league club in 2025. While all the attention has been on those three and the stars on the major league roster, another Phillies prospect has started to turn some heads in Spring Training.
That player is none other than outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr.
The recently turned 24-year-old was among the non-roster invitees to Spring Training this year, and he's been crushing the ball, slashing .333/.429/1.083 with three home runs and six RBI in 12 at-bats. But don't expect him to suddenly be making a case for a spot in the Phillies lineup.
Of course, it's easy to see the case Rincones is making.
The former third-round pick of the 2022 MLB Draft hit his third home run on Monday off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis, who had an 8-5 record and 3.30 ERA in 27 appearances last season.
Gabriel Rincones Jr. moved into a tie for the spring training home run lead
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) March 3, 2025
The @Phillies prospect smacked his third homer in just 14 plate appearances 😮💨pic.twitter.com/odya8LHG3x
Rincones’ first home run of the spring circuit was a 391-foot moonshot on Feb. 23 against the Baltimore Orioles.
Gabriel Rincones Jr. knew he got all of this one 💪@Phillies | @PhilsPlayerDev pic.twitter.com/D3lAFxgQPZ
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) February 23, 2025
The young outfielder’s home run immediately caught the attention of Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson.
"It was a missile, Thomson said (h/t Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer). He’s a really impressive guy. Very strong, great body, hit the ball all over the place. Can hit it out of any part of the ballpark. Play solid defense. He’s a gamer. He plays every pitch."
Rincones is coming off a solid 2024 season, where he battled through injury to have a good showing at Double-A Reading. He missed a significant amount of time last season due to a torn ligament in his right thumb.
Rincones had a nine-game rehab stint with the FCL Phillies in early July before returning to Reading off the 60-day IL on July 19. In 59 games with the Fightin Phils, Rincones hit .263 with 15 doubles, 11 home runs and 29 RBI.
The Phillies were likely excited to see him bounce back after he missed the 2022 season with a torn right shoulder. Rincones also played in the Arizona Fall League. If Rincones can stay healthy in 2025, it will help his chances to make it to the big league roster.
In addition to his health, the Phillies will likely want to see improvement from Rincones as a left-handed hitter against left-handed pitching. Last season in the minor leagues, the young outfielder slashed .189/.250/.243 with two doubles and four RBI.
That said, a team like the Phillies, loaded with left-handed hitters, can’t afford another player in the lineup that struggles against southpaws.
Therefore, Rincones Jr. being with the big league club in 2025 likely won't happen, especially given the Phillies' outfield situation with Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh/Johan Rojas, and Max Kepler.
MLB Pipeline has Rincones rated as Philadelphia’s 10th-best prospect with his debut projection for 2025. It would be surprising to see him meet that 2025 timeline, but Rincones might get his chance in 2026, when expiring contracts could force the Phillies to shake up their outfield.