Day 2 Phillies draft notes
With their first pick on Tuesday, the Phillies took high school shortstop Luke Williams out of California. The 18-year-old was selected 83rd overall.
In his senior season this year, the six-foot-one 185-pounder sported a .315 batting average with four homers, 19 RBI and 26 stolen bases. He is rated as a plus runner and hits to all fields. Williams could remain as a shortstop and is said to have the tools to man center field. An athletic youngster, he also was a varsity wide receiver at Dana Hills High School.
Williams, a righty batter, is committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the same school that produced last year’s second round pick Matt Imhof.
The Phils took Kyle Martin in the 4th round (114th overall) out of South Carolina. As a senior this year with the Gamecocks, the lefty batting first baseman notched a .350 average with 14 homers and 56 RBI in 57 games. Additionally, he earned first-team All-SEC honors and was a second team All-American with his impressinve 1.090 OPS. Martin was drafted by the Angels last year, but chose not to sign.
In the 5th round (144th overall), the Phillies chose Bailey Falter, a left-handed pitcher out of Chino Hills High School in California. The six-foot-four 175-pounder posted a 6-2 record with a 1.20 ERA in 75 2/3 innings this season, notching 97 strike outs and walking just 11 along the way.
Next was Tyler Gilbert another left-handed pitcher in the 6th round (174th overall). At USC as a 21-year-old junior this year, the six-foot-three 190-pounder sported a 5-2 record with a 2.79 ERA and an 8.78 K/9 mark in 22 games (six starts).
The Phils’ 7th round selection (204th overall) was Luke Leftwich, a righty pitcher out of Wofford College. In 16 games this year for the Terriers, Leftwich, who turned 21-year-old on draft day, posted a 7-2 record with a 4.25 ERA and an 11.53 K/9 mark in 16 games (14 starts).
With their 8th round pick (234th overall), the Phillies drafted outfielder Greg Pickett out of Legend High School in Colorado. At six-foot-four, 215 pounds Pickett was a Perfect Game first team All-American, posting a .420 average with six home runs and 22 RBI this season. The lefty swinging 18-year-old is committed to Mississippi State.
In the 9th round, the Phils chose Mark Laird, a lefty batting center fielder out of LSU. The 22-year-old was the starting right fielder for the Tigers all three season at LSU. In 61 games as a junior this year, the six-foot-two 180-pounder posted a .323 average with one homer, 23 RBI and 23 steals in 29 attempts. His key tool is speed, which is said to be game changing.
With their final pick of day two, the Phillies drafted Joshua Tobias in the 10th round. As a senior this year, the Florida third baseman led his team in batting with a .373 average. He also slugged five home runs and drove in 41 runs in 60 games for the Gators. The right-handed hitting Tobias stands five-foot-10 and weighs 205 pounds.
*Edit- corrected previous note about Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
