The Phillies could go in several directions with the MLB draft this year. ScottLauber examines their choices. As scouting director Brian Barber says: his philosophy is to not rule anything out.
Twenty years ago, the last time the Phillies held the 17th pick in the draft, Cole Hamels slipped past the midpoint of the first round because of an arm injury that spooked several teams. The Phillies chose him and, well, the gamble paid off about as much as it possibly could have.As scouting director Brian Barber and his army of talent evaluators finalized the Phillies’ board this week in advance of the 20-round, three-day draft that begins Sunday night, they faced a few realities.
“We’re discussing that with a few different guys in the room right now — where would this guy have gone if he was healthy, or where do we think this guy would’ve gone?” Barber said. “We’re not necessarily going to shy away from them, but we’re also aware of the hurdles that they have to overcome as they get healthy and add that into our ranking of the player.”
It’s a departure from the previous regime. Under Andy MacPhail and Matt Klentak, the Phillies selected a position player in the first round in four consecutive years: Mickey Moniak , Adam Haseley , Alec Bohm , and Bryson Stott . But as Dombrowski has strived to streamline the organization’s various departments, the Phillies have gotten better at both scouting and developing young pitchers.
But would the Phillies go for, say, high school right-hander Dylan Lesko or Alabama lefty Connor Prielipp, both of whom had Tommy John elbow surgery? How about Rocker, the most well-known prospect in the draft for reasons that go beyond his linebacker body , 98-mph heater, and freeze-frame curveball?
Not necessarily, said Barber, who cited the 2020 draft, when they took Abel despite not picking again until No. 87.
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