ESPN’s Law: Phillies Farm System Ranked MLB’s 6th-Best

The Philadelphia Phillies have made a considerable amount of high-profile moves in the recent past in an effort to improve this depleted farm system.

Key trades of Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels, Ben Revere, Jonathan Papelbon, Ken Giles and Chase Utley have made the system better, deeper and finally provided depth in the organization. While they aren't ready to contend for the NL East crown or a World Series anytime soon, hope is finally a word that has returned to Phillies fans lexicon.

According to ESPN MLB analyst Keith Law, the Phillies have made tremendous strides down on the farm.

In an Insider piece ranking all 30 MLB farm systems heading into the 2016 season, Law has the Phillies at No. 6.

6. Philadelphia Phillies
2015 rank: 25
Players in top 100 (2016): 5

The Cole Hamels trade might turn out to be the Phillies' Herschel Walker moment, trading their best asset for a huge package of prospects who look like they'll boost the major league club for years to come. The next step is maximizing their output from this year's draft, in which they hold the first overall pick.

According to MLB.com, the Phillies’ top two prospects are shortstop J.P Crawford and pitcher Jake Thompson. They are followed by Nick Williams, Mark Appel, Cornelius Randolph, Jorge Alfaro and Roman Quinn as seven of the top 100 players in the minor leagues..

Last season, the Phillies made two major deals that provided four of those seven names. Those trades, at least in part, have led to the Phillies having a top-10 ranked farm system according to Law and in turn finally give Phillies fans a reason to watch baseball again.

(Listen to ESPN.com MLB insider Keith Law discuss the Phillies farm system)