Cultivating their talent, the Phillies have a long-range plan featuring a current favorite and two in the pipeline, plus the moves by general manager Matt Klentak are adequately revealing the franchise’s direction.

Immediate future:

In any season, the Philadelphia Phillies have a few players capturing the faithful’s imagination, but they project a shorter journey for the prospect than the organization. Normally, tomorrow’s stars are unaware of this anticipated arrival and success. They eye only their present challenge.

IN OTHER WORDS: “The future interests me — I’m going to spend the rest of my life there.” – Mark Twain

Every 162, fans search the minor league stats of the parent club’s affiliates, find one or two standouts, and allow their imagination to get the better of them. Despite that wishful thinking, the team has a program for their young charges to follow on their path to the major leagues. Immediate promotion it is not!

Aside from long bus trips, MiLB hopefuls take more than batting and fielding practice. Their coaches record their time running to first base, their pitch count per at-bat, hard-hit balls, contact percentage, and other statistics on their detailed scouting reports. Most importantly, how does he handle adversity?

Like new hires in other businesses, MLB youngsters here must earn playing time, positions and raises. And it’s amazing how some supporters expect their favorite rookie to be exempt from this norm. Additionally, seeing potential and realizing it are two different things.

According to Jim Sannes of numberFire regarding the draft, a first-rounder makes the majors at approximately 58 percent for high schoolers and 75 percent for collegians. Ergo, it’s a long-term approach for an organization with a loaded farm system versus a more immediate rise for a franchise on the cusp of contention.

As for the minor leaguer, his concern is excelling at his current level, but for a fast-tracker advancement is in three-month increments after reaching the Double-A Reading Fightin’ Phils. So, the shortest time frame to the red pinstripes is one full year if they presently have a stopgap.

Concerning the front office, Klentak has an overall strategy involving rosters from rookie ball to the Show. That stated, success at Reading is an important step in the development of a future star, and the GM begins to incorporate that youngster’s MLB debut into a two-campaign projection max.