2008 Draft: Second Pick Is Collier
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Thu, June 05, 2008 05:38 PM | Comments: 3
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With their second pick — in the sandwich round — the Phillies selected Zach Collier, a California prep outfielder.
Collier is 6’2″ and 185 pounds. He hits and throws left-handed. According to MiLB.com, Collier is a toolsy outfielder with much better pop and hitting capability than Hewitt. He seems to be about four years from making a Major League impact, but he projects as such and could’ve been a top-15 pick. He isn’t as fast as Hewitt but can develop into a nice baserunner. Good fielding and arm skills make him a projected center fielder.
So the Phils are definitely going the way of the Greg Golsons and Dom Browns. They sure love their high-tool players, athletic specimens with uncertain projectability. Collier was thought to be their first pick, so it’s actually a good pick. Taken in the context of getting Hewitt first, however, the pick isn’t that awesome. They now have two tools-heavy probable outfielders in their first two picks. No sure things, either.
There are plenty of picks left here for the Phils early in the draft. Hopefully they start taking players who aren’t big projects. But as of right now, the draft figures to be somewhere around a C+.
Posts: 0 Tommy Docks
Sorry about the Flyers you cheesesteak homos!!
Posted: 05:55 PM on June 5, 2008
Posts: 0 PhillyFriar
Tim, the saving grace of the Phils taking two raw toolsy players is that they’re “doubling down” as dajafi said, i.e. they’re buying two lottery tickets, and if one pans out to anywhere near their potential, then the Phils are in good shape. But I’d still like to see the Phils add a couple of arms, and quickly…..
Posted: 05:57 PM on June 5, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
Guys, I want you to all remember this. Pat Burrell(although not a bad player) was #1 overall pick in the 98 draft, and was looked at to be one of the best players of all time in college. J-Roll was a 2nd round pick and Howard was a 5th round pick, and they both have MVP awards. Don’t get too worried yet.
Posted: 06:07 PM on June 5, 2008