Philly Sports Jabronis
By Erik Bacharach, Phillies.com
After drafting LSU’s Aaron Nola with the 7th overall pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, the Phillies were hoping to make it clear they were looking for “now stuff.” Players who are capable of making an impact soon, whose turnaround time isn’t going to leave the fanbase twiddling their thumbs — these, according to assistant general manager Marti Wolever, are Philadelphia’s targets.
They continued to be advocates of that message on the second day of the draft. Seven of the eight Philadelphia draftees are college-experienced, and six of the eight are at least 21 years old.
“I think there’s more of a risk with high school guys, just because they’re farther away,” Wolever said. “They haven’t matured physically, mentally. Most of them haven’t faced any adversity so they don’t know how to deal with that when that happens.”
Day 2 saw the Phillies pick up four more pitchers, three positions players, and one two-way player in Aaron Brown.
Brown, Philadelphia’s third-round selection, was terrific as a left-hander in Pepperdine’s rotation this season, using a three-pitch mix well.
MLB.com’s scouting report says, “He’ll throw his fastball in the 90-92 mph range with some sink when he can keep it down in the zone. His slider will flash above-average, and he has the makings of a potentially Major-League-average changeup.”
But many teams also liked Brown as an outfielder. He might have the athleticism to succeed as a center fielder, and has some raw power as a left-handed bat.
“I think if he stayed on the mound he could be a back-of-the-rotation starter,” Wolever said. “In center he’s an above-average center fielder with a good bat.”
In the 2013 draft, Brown was selected as a Draft-eligible sophomore in the 30th round, but he opted to return to Pepperdine for his junior year. Brown’s 2.07 ERA and 12-1 record this season were only rivaled by his .310 batting average to go along with his team-high 12 home runs and 47 RBIs.
Brown is one of eight players in the country to hit a home run in a game where he also recorded a win on the mound, and he is the only player to do so four times this season.
Pepperdine is set to face No. 7 TCU in NCAA Super Regional action this weekend, with Brown projected to hit seventh in the order.
The pitching probables have yet to be announced for the weekend, but Brown will likely get the nod to start in either Game 2 or, if it is required, Game 3.
Arkansas righty Oliver to Phils in fourth round
The Phillies continued their streak of drafting pitchers with their fourth-round selection in the First-Year Player Draft.
They selected Chris Oliver, a 6-foot-four, 185-pound right-hander from Arkansas. In 2011, Oliver was drafted in the 27th round by the Orioles.
Oliver ranked 48 on MLB.com’s 2014 Prospect Watch. The 20-year-old went 9-4 with a 2.51 ERA in 16 starts as a junior for Arkansas.
Oliver’s greatest weapon is his fastball, which he can dial up past the mid 90s at times. According to MLB.com’s scouting report, “Oliver calls his breaking ball a curve, but it’s really a slider. It’s inconsistent from start to start, but it shows flashes of being an out pitch. His changeup is below average and behind the other two. That, along with his command, are the two things that hold him back as a starting pitching prospect.”
It remains to be seen if Oliver will remain a starter, but he has the bevy of power pitches needed to succeed as a reliever.
The Draft concludes on Saturday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 1 p.m. ET.
Power-hitting Hoskins taken by Phils in Round 5
After selecting four pitchers to begin their 2014 First-Year Player Draft, the Phillies took first baseman Rhys Hoskins with their fifth-round selection.
Hoskins is a 6-foot-4, 225-pound power hitter. The righty belted 12 home runs in 203 at-bats as a junior this season for Sacramento State, and finished among the Cape Cod League leaders in home runs last summer.
The 21-year-old has also played some corner outfield as a freshman and on the Cape, but regardless of where he plays, the Phillies are investing in Hoskins’ potential as a slugger.
Hoskins struck out 46 times in 215 at-bats and 42 times in 198-at bats in 2012 and ’13, respectively. This season for Sacramento State, he trimmed his strikeouts to 29 in 203 at-bats while posting a career-high 37 walks, two more than he had in his previous two seasons combined.
Hoskins doesn’t have much speed, but his patient approach complements his above average bat speed and excellent raw power.
The Draft concludes on Saturday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 1 p.m. ET.
In Round 6, Phils tab college lefty Leibrandt
The Phillies picked up another left-handed arm with their sixth selection of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft.
Brandon Leibrandt, Philadelphia’s fifth pitcher selected through the first six rounds, has been hit by the injury bug in the last year. He suffered a broken right ankle during fall ball and then missed the final two months of the spring season due to a severe bone bruise on his left shin. Liebrandt was limited to six starts as a junior in 2014.
When Leibrandt has been on the mound, the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder has been a staple atop Florida State’s rotation. In his 41 collegiate starts, Leibrandt accrued a 22-8 record and 2.89 ERA. In 227.0 innings pitched, he’s posted a 190/68 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
According to MLB.com’s scouting report, “Leibrandt throws his fastball in the upper-80s and has the ability to add or subtract velocity as needed. His changeup can be a plus pitch and he isn’t afraid to throw it in any count. His curveball can get slurvy, but still gives him a solid third pitch.
Brandon’s father, Charlie Leibrandt, pitched for the Reds, Royals, Braves and Rangers from 1979-93.
The Draft concludes on Saturday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 1 p.m. ET.
Phils nab college shortstop Marrero in Round 7
Alabama State hadn’t had a player drafted since 2002, but that has changed with the Phillies’ seventh round-selection in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft.
Emmanuel Marrero hit .332 in 190 at-bats as a junior this season. The Puerto Rican-born shortstop is a switch-hitter who’s better as a right-hander, and won’t provide much power. While the 2014 Southwestern Athletic Conference player of the year will be more suited as a bottom-of-the-lineup hitter as he begins his professional career, he’s been a star in the field at Alabama State.
Says MLB.com’s scouting report: “Marrero has all the tools to play shortstop in the big leagues. He has smooth actions, quick hands and a strong, accurate arm. Though his pure speed doesn’t grade as better than average, he still offers plenty of range at shortstop.”
The Draft concludes on Saturday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 1 p.m. ET.
The Phillies selected their first pick out of high school in the eighth round of the First-Year Player Draft.
Sam McWilliams, the 232nd overall pick by Philly, is listed at 6-foot-7 and 190 pounds. The right-hander pitches downhill and his electric fastball sits in the mid 90s.
McWilliams went went 6-2 with a 1.30 ERA with Beech High School in Tennessee and has signed with Tennessee Tech.
The Draft concludes on Saturday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 1 p.m. ET.
Temple’s Hockenberry goes to Phils in Round 9
The Phillies continued to stock up on pitchers in the First-Year Player Draft, selecting Temple University’s Matt Hockenberry with the 262nd overall pick in the ninth round.
The 6-foot-3 right-hander has five pitches in his repertoire, with a four-seam fastball being his most effective. He also employs a cutter, curveball and changeup.
Hockenberry threw 93 1/3 innings as a senior, posting a 5-6 record with a 3.18 ERA and 71/23 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Hockenberry has been especially stellar of late. The 22-year-old posted a 1-2 record with a 1.86 ERA in four games in May. Against No. 5 Louisville, he struck out 10 while walking three and allowing two runs in a complete game.
In six innings against No. 16 Houston, he led the Owls to an upset victory with zero earned runs, four strikeouts and only three hits allowed. In the senior’s final collegiate performance, he threw a complete game against No. 16 Houston in the American Athletic Conference Tournament.
The Draft concludes on Saturday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 1 p.m. ET.
Phils close Day 2 with college outfielder Shortall
In the 10th round of the First-Year Player Draft, the Phillies grabbed only their fourth position player in the first two days.
Philadelphia selected outfielder Matt Shortall with the 292nd pick. In his junior and senior seasons at Texas-Arlington, the 23-year-old posted .367 and .344 batting averages, respectively.
A pure hitter, Shortall leaves UTA as the program’s single-season leader in doubles after hitting 26 this season. In 2014, the right-handed hitter was named a Louisville Slugger preseason third-team All-American and is in the top 10 in the nation in doubles and total bases. His 88 hits rank 16th and his 57 RBIs rank 23rd.
The Draft concludes on Saturday, with exclusive coverage of Rounds 11-40 beginning on MLB.com at 1 p.m. ET.
