@PhilaBaseball
Jesse Biddle's story has all the makings of something special.
A standout-star at Germantown Friends School, the left-hander was drafted by the Phillies as a first-round pick in the 2010 amateur draft. He's since excelled in three minor league seasons, piecing together a solid 3.21 ERA while striking out 325 batters over 319 2/3 innings.
Baseball America recognized Biddle as a premier prospect on Monday, awarding the the 21-year-old the top position on the publication's top 10 list of Phillies prospects.
Biddle ranked second on last year's top 10 list, behind the recently traded Trevor May. Thanks to his size (6-4, 225-pounds) he has a strong fastball that routinely sits in the low-90s. He's drawn favorable comparisons to Andy Pettitte and many scouts project him as a middle of the rotation starter.
All told, seven of the 10 names on the top prospect list are different from a year ago - Biddle, Jonathan Pettibone and Maikel Franco are the only holdovers.
Tommy Joseph, the catching prospect the Phillies acquired from the Giants at the trade deadline in exchange for Hunter Pence, ranks third on the list.
The Top 10 Prospect List
1) Jesse Biddle -- LHP2) Roman Quinn -- SS
3) Tommy Joseph -- C
4) Jon Pettibone -- RHP
5) Adam Morgan -- LHP
6) Ethan Martin -- RHP
7) Cody Asche -- 3B
8) Maikel Franco -- 3B
9) Darin Ruf -- 1B/LF
10) Carlos Tocci -- OF
- Patrick Gordon in managing editor of the Philadelphia Baseball Review. Follow him on Twitter @Philabaseball or e-mail him at pgordon@philadelphiabaseballreview.com
