At 75, Phillies Look To Repeat Success
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Tue, June 09, 2009 12:15 PM | Comments: 2
Draft, Posts
What draft strategy could the Phillies possibly have with the 75th pick in today’s First-Year Player Draft?
Scouting Director Marti Wolever laid it out there:
“We’ll look to take the best player we can. We like high-ceiling players, guys where there’s some risk and high reward. We like athletic kids with aptitude, kids who are aggressive. That combination is what we’re looking for.”
What, you wanted him to say “We really want a bulky first baseman from the junior college circuit”?
The Phillies recent drafting preferences remain highly athletic, toolsy hitting types. You can rattle off the names like a song: Greg Golson, Michael Taylor, Anthony Hewitt. And the need for “high-ceiling” guys (Really, who doesn’t look for high-ceiling guys early?) has paid off: Since Wolever took the reins in 2002 the Phils have drafted Cole Hamels, Zach Segovia, Michael Bourn, Kyle Kendrick, Greg Golson, Jason Jaramillo, JA Happ, Lou Marson, Matthew Maloney, Joshua Outman, Mike Zagurski and Andrew Carpenter, who have all played in the majors.
Posts: 0 mikemike
This is not a strong draft for hitters, only one college guy project high, a lot of pitching, But I believe it will be a toolsy kid out of high school. They have been doing it for years. Michael Bourn, who is really starting to hit, golson a flop, Hewiit unkown, Gose, Collier unkown, Brown looks like a stud player, so its there mo. in early rounds, or pitchers coming off injury like Hamels, Salvery.
Posted: 12:33 PM on June 9, 2009
Posts: 0 Bruce
Tim, with the 75th pick, it’s pretty obvious the Phillies will not be selective with the few remaining prospects (and their field positions) available on the list. It’s likely their choice will come directly from high school where the availability of raw but talented players are usually plentiful. Of course, it’s a greater gamble and this is where the team’s scouts need to be at their best in their evaluation of such young players. Sorry for the obvious point. ;-)
Posted: 12:43 PM on June 9, 2009