It was power over hit for Demartini at Virginia Tech, but that came with too much whiff, especially in his draft year. Upon entering pro ball, Demartini ditched his leg kick in favor of a toe tap which has allowed him to be on time and control his body more effectively. He was far more pull dependent in college as well before showcasing a feel to go the other way that he had hardly even flashed in his amateur years. The approach had always been solid for Demartini and his adjustments seemed to only help in that regard as well, laying off spin and controlling his at bats with plenty of comfort.

The adjustments have Demartini looking more like a hit-over-power guy now, though there’s hope that he can build on the adjustments to add more impact. If not, he’s a bit of a tweener as third base would demand more power. He’s likely an average defender at the hot corner and can also play second base. For now, he projects as a bench infielder with some intrigue for more given his adjustments and track record in college.

Other Names to Watch

Emaarion Boyd – OF – (High-A): A speed demon in every sense, Boyd has swiped 91 bases in 198 career minor league games, including 56 a year ago with Low-A Clearwater. However, Boyd has been caught stealing 32 times compared to his 91 success stories, sporting an inefficient 74% clip. Boyd has not hit for much power whatsoever, and his MiLB clip sits at a so-so .256, but the 21-year-old could be a game-changer on the base paths if he cleans up his decision making in that department.

Jean Cabrera – RHP – (Double-A): The 22-year-old right-hander turned in his best stint at any level since he debuted in the DSL when he worked 77.0 innings at a 3.39 ERA to open the year with High-A Jersey Shore. Cabrera has logged just shy of 30 innings with Double-A Reading and has had mixed results with high K-Rate dipping significantly. Cabrera has a pair of mid-90s fastballs to complement a borderline plus changeup, with a slider serving as a serviceable third pitch.

Mavis Graves – LHP – (Low-A): A 6-foot-6 southpaw, Graves started the season as well as anyone in Low-A that wasn’t stealing headlines every fifth day. Through the end of June, Graves logged a 2.48 ERA in 58.0 IP with 87 strikeouts and a .204 batting average against in his first 12 appearances. However, Graves has seemingly hit a wall, sporting a 6.23 ERA and a .304 opposing clip in 26.0 innings since July 1. Graves will sit in the low-to-mid 90s with his fastball, and there may not be a strong taste-breaker when it comes to velocity separation, as he leans on a cutter as his go-to non-heater.

Otto Kemp – INF – (Triple-A): Kemp has successfully shed the “org guy” moniker this season, putting up an excellent .881 OPS between 5 games in Low-A, 41 games in High-A, 64 games in Double-A, and now 10 games in Lehigh Valley. Undrafted out of D-II Point Loma Nazarene in southern California, the 25-year-old Kemp has overcome injuries early in his baseball career to knock on the door of the big leagues. The swing and miss may be there at the highest level, but Kemp has a power/speed blend that plays well in tandem with his ability to play multiple positions at a solid level.

Alex McFarlane – RHP – (Low-A): Primarily a reliever at the University of Miami (and shared a Cane bullpen with current Guardians reliever Andrew Walters), McFarlane made the move to the rotation after being selected in the fourth round in ’22 by Philadelphia. His journey as a starter has been tumultuous, allowing 40 earned runs and walking 41 in 58.1 innings before hitting the shelf with a UCL tear last August. While command has never been the break and butter for McFarlane, his fastball has gotten up to 101 MPH and he has a borderline plus slider working off of it. It’s not hard to see a strong bullpen arm in McFarlane; we already saw it in Coral Gables.

Griff McGarry – RHP – (Triple-A): The Phillies’ fifth round pick in 2021 out of UVA, McGarry shot through the system in 2022 before hitting the brakes in Lehigh Valley. 2024 marked a transition for the right-hander; he is officially working out of the bullpen after being a starter for the last several seasons. In 30.2 IP with Lehigh Valley this season, McGarry has allowed just 23 hits but has walked 36 (10.6 BB/9). His “data darling” four-seamer and hard downer curve pair beautifully in a bullpen … if they land in the strike zone … or the general vicinity of it.

Wen-Hui Pan – RHP – (High-A): The newly-turned 22-year-old Pan has decimated lower level hitters since making his professional debut, K’ing 123 men in 93.0 IP while holding opponents to a .196 BAA. Pan features a high-90s to 100 MPH fastball that pairs beautifully with a plus splitter, giving him Orion Kerkering-type helium in the sense to speed-running the Phillies’ affiliates all the way to The Bank.

John Spikerman – OF – (Low-A): The Phillies took Spikerman in the third round of this year’s MLB Draft out of the University of Oklahoma, where he logged a .368 batting average and a .925 OPS in 42 games with the Sooners. While his bat-to-ball skills are incredibly impressive, Spikerman lacks the power needed to be a threat in that department, and he’s already seeing as much time in the corner outfield as he is in center, which he patrolled in the Big-12. If Spikerman is going to achieve a big league outcome, it will be as a “slap the ball around the ballpark” type of hitter.

Tjayy Walton – OF – (Low-A): The Phillies selected Walton out of powerhouse IMG Academy in the early rounds of the 2023 draft, seeing the linebacker-type build Walton has on his 19-year-old frame. The build hasn’t turned into immediate success, hitting just .200 with 3 HR in 36 games with Low-A Clearwater. However, Walton has showcased speed and the ability to play both center and left field in the early goings. It’s far too early to make any sweeping conclusions about Walton’s game.