12/13/23 : Did Ya Know 🧐

Some Phillies MLB Draft Trivia :

The initial year of the MLB amateur draft was 1965, in the 59 years that the draft has been held the Phillies have had 36 of their first round draft selections reach the major leagues.  1971 to 1974 marked the first time the club had four consecutive years where their number one pick eventually reached the majors (Roy Thomas -‘71, Larry Christenson - ‘72, John Stearns - ‘73 and Lonnie Smith - ‘74).  The four-peat occurred again from 1981 to 1982 (Johny Abrego - ‘81, John Russell - ‘82, Ricky Jordan - ‘83 and Pete Smith - ‘84) and once more from 1993 to 1996 (Wayne Gomes - ‘93, Carlton Loewer - ‘94, Reggie Taylor - ‘95 and Adam Eaton - ‘96).

A five year run of first round draft choices that eventually reached the majors occurred from 1998 to 2002 (Pat Burrell - ‘98, Brett Myers - ‘99, Chase Utley - ‘00, Gavin Floyd- ‘01 and Cole Hamels - ‘02).  From 2004 to 2007 another four year run occurred (Greg Golson - ‘04, Mike Costanzo - ‘05, Kyle Drabek - ‘06, Joe Savery - ‘07). 

Another four year run occurred of selectees eventually reaching the show with the selections from 2016 to 2019 (Mickey Moniak - ‘16, Adam Haseley - ‘17, Alec Bohm - ‘18 and Bryson Stott - ‘19) and if the 2020 and 2021 draftees (Mick Abel - ‘20, Andrew Painter - ‘21) reach the majors as projected it would represent the longest consecutive run of picks where the Phillies number ones did so, six years.  With the 2022 and 2023 picks also looking promising (Justin Crawford - ‘22, Aidan Miller - ‘23) if they reach the majors it’s an eight year run representing four picks under the guidance of Johny Almarazand four under Brian Barber.  In fact if that were to occur the club would have a period beginning with 2013 (JP Crawford - ‘13, Aaron Nola - ‘14) where ten of the eleven picks reached the majors.

From that group JP Crawford (Seattle), Aaron Nola, Mickey Moniak (LA Angels), Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott are all expected to be lineup regulars this coming season.  Add in Rhys Hoskins - free agent (2014 - 5th round), Matt Vierling -Tigers (2018 - 5th round), Logan O’Hoppe - Angels (2018 - 23rd round) and Orion Kerkering (2022 - 5th round) you get nine players expected to be major league regulars in 2024 that were selected and signed by the Phillies over a seven year draft period (2013 to 2019).

Just facts 😎.

Relatively recent Phillies International Signings :

RHP Hanfermin Vargas (19 yrs old - Dominican Republic -signed in December), RHP Jousten Venegas (17 yrs old - Venezuela - signed in December), RHP Eligio Arias (20 yrs old - Dominican Republic- signed in December, he’s 6’7”), SS Denilson Aguila (17 yrs old - Cuba - signed in December),  RHP Joshue De La Cruz (18 yrs old - Dominican Republic- signed in December), RHP Orlando Gonzalez (21 yrs old - Mexico - signed in July) and C DeClain Spears (18 yrs old - Australia - signed in September).

All have been assigned to the Dominican Academy roster. DeClain Spears is presently playing for the Melbourne Aces in the Australian Baseball League - he’s appeared in six games. Orlando Gonzalez has pitched briefly over the last two seasons in the Mexican Summer League for Saraperos de Saltillo.

Rule 5 Draftee Note :

At this year’s winter meetings first baseman Bryce Ball was selected by the Phillies in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft from the Cleveland Guardians.  Before he attended Dallas Baptist University (played there one season in 2019, he joins Darick Hall, Cole Moore and Herbert Iser as DBU alums in the Phillies organization) he went to North Iowa Area Community College (2017-2018) where he played for current Phillies minor league pitching coordinator Travis Hergert.  Mr. Hergert was the head baseball coach at North Iowa at that time, he served there as head coach from 2012 to 2019 and as an assistant coach from 2004 to 2012.  Phillies minor league RHP Mitch Neunborn also played for Coach Hergert at North Iowa.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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