Beginning with this past weekend the Phillies have gathered the scouting troops, analytics and R&D folks and others within the organization in their draft room at CBP to vett and configure a draft ranking board for the 2024 draft which commences on Sunday.
In a zoom call on Wednesday Brian Barber - Assistant General Manager, Amateur Scouting discussed the upcoming draft, video highlights of the call are available on MLB dot com. In summary Mr Barber noted that this year’s draft is likely to be dominated by college position players with the early selections and that it’s an average draft class in comparison to others. He said there is depth in all quadrants of the draft (College position players/pitchers and HS position players/pitchers).
He stated that preparation has been ongoing for a long time and that for many of the college players they have notes dating back five years. In regards to picking near the end of each round Mr Barber said that you have to be prepared for many different situations - for example last year’s top selection Aidan Miller wasn’t anticipated as a player that would be available at their pick and that it didn’t become truly evident till about the 23rd pick or so that he would. Since the club had him ranked highly on their draft board they were very happy he was there to choose.
The first two rounds of the draft are Sunday with the final 18 rounds on Monday and Tuesday. He said that the balance of the draft selections depends on who they select in the first round and that they take direction from there in regard to draft dollar allotment and what’s available.
You can read all the mock drafts out there (and I do) but in reality none of them can truly predict the selections beyond the first few. That being said and as Mr Barber also pointed out on the zoom call while most every team has the players ranked in similar order it’s the outlier selection(s) that can and often does change things. Here’s a few players that may be available when the Phillies select in the first round that I believe rank high on their draft board.
Kash Mayfield - LHP - 19 years old - Elk City HS (Oklahoma)
Baseball America : “Mayfield established a reputation as one of the better strike-throwers in the 2024 class as an underclassman, though he didn’t pitch much on the 2023 summer showcase circuit. He’s a 6-foot-4, 200-pound lefthander with a smooth and easy delivery that he repeats excellently with great balance, solid extension and a steady finish in his landing. He has typically sat in the upper 80s and scraped a 91 here and there, but at PBR’s Super 60 showcase in February of 2024 Mayfield touched 94 and has the physical projection to dream on a bit more regular low-90s velocity in the future. On top of a developing fastball that he can spot with advanced feel, Mayfield has a mid-70s breaking ball and a low-80s changeup that look like solid offerings. Mayfield is old for the class after turning 19 in February and is committed to Oklahoma State.”
MLB “Gatorade's 2023 Oklahoma high school player of the year as a junior, Mayfield took the summer off following a heavy workload en route to the Oklahoma 4-A state semifinals. Scouts had him on their radar but weren't expecting him to break out and become a potential first-rounder this spring. He starred at the Super 60 Pro Showcase in February, touched 96 mph in his first game a month later and never let up while repeating as the state's Gatorade winner. After working with an upper-80s fastball last spring, Mayfield is dealing at 92-95 mph and reaching 97 with armside run and carry. He already possesses an advanced changeup that parks in the low 80s and drops at the plate, making his heater even more effective. His slurvy upper-70s breaking ball stands out more for his ability to locate it than its power or shape. Mayfield creates extension with his fluid delivery and repeats it well, enabling him to put his pitches where he wants. The Oklahoma State recruit is a bit scary for some teams because of a lack of track record and data from the showcase circuit, and some clubs will quibble with his age (19 years, 5 months on Draft Day), but his upside is obvious. He may have more projection remaining and shares some similarities with Jordan Wicks -- while being a much better prospect at the same stage.”
Brody Brecht - RHP - 21 years old - University of Iowa
Baseball America : “Brecht is an Iowa football recruit and a four-star wide receiver prospect according to 247Sports. Listed at 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, he certainly has the size for a wideout, but he’s also looked impressive this spring on the mound. Brecht is a late riser who teams were running in to see after he got on the mound, and he showed a fastball that reached 97 mph and a plus slider. Those are two extremely loud pitches for a player who lacks significant scouting history and will likely be an enigma for teams given that and his football commitment. He has the frame and the athleticism that scouts love to see on the mound, but there’s also a lot of moving parts in his delivery that will need to be ironed out in the future. He throws with effort and has a deep, plunging action in the back of his arm stroke that could lead to spotty command and inconsistencies with his secondaries, but he also has the physical projection in his frame to potentially throw 100 mph one day.”
MLB : “Despite displaying first-round stuff during his summer high school senior season and getting overtures of first-round money from pro teams in 2021, Brecht turned them down because he was set on playing wide receiver at Iowa. He redshirted in football in his first year with the Hawkeyes and played sparingly in his second before deciding to concentrate on baseball last March. He led NCAA Division I with a .143 opponent average in 2023 before getting off to a slow start this spring as scouts complained about how Iowa has messed with his pitches and mechanics. He made some adjustments on his own and finished strong, which should allow him to become the program's first first-rounder since Tim Costo in 1990. When he's on, Brecht's fastball and slider are comparable to those of Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick in last year's Draft. He can sit at 96-99 mph and touch 101 with his heater, which has explosive running action and superior shape to Skenes' fastball, though Brecht doesn't locate his nearly as well. All that said, his best pitch is a slider that parks at 87-89 mph and peaks at 91 with plenty of horizontal and vertical action. Iowa has had Brecht use more sliders than fastballs, which hasn't helped him improve his well below-average command of the latter pitch. He also doesn't have a lot of feel for his sparsely used splitter, which averages 93 mph with promising tumble at its best. He finished third in D-I with 61 walks in 77 innings last spring, has had similar control issues this year, may never have average command and comes with considerable reliever risk. But he's also an exceptional athlete and baseball has his full attention, so he could take off with pro instruction.”
Kellen Lindsey - SS - 18 years old - Hardee HS, Wauchula, FL
Baseball America : “In a down year for high school talent in Florida, Lindsey quickly became the pop-up player to know in the 2024 class thanks to his athleticism, speed and defensive skills at shortstop. Lindsey is a lean righthanded hitter with a 6-foot, 175-pound frame and a background as a multi-sport athlete. He threw for more than 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns as Hardee High’s quarterback last fall before moving to the diamond in the spring and showing scouts significant improvement as both a hitter and defender. Because of Lindsey’s 80-grade speed, there was some thought a year ago that he could slide from the infield and play an above-average defensive center field. This spring, he has shown all the hands, actions and arm strength necessary to stick at shortstop as an above-average defender in the long run. Offensively, Lindsey has quick, twitchy hands in the box and strong bat-to-ball skills, but he lacks pop and might have the frame of a player who never grows into anything more than average raw power. Given his speed, contact skills and defensive profile, Lindsey’s projected lower power output won’t hinder him if he is to profile as a top-of-the-order table-setter who sprays hard-hit line drives around the field. Lindsey is a Florida commit but should be drafted on day one with first-round upside. He earns plenty of Trea Turner comparisons thanks to his speed, size and contact skills.”
MLB : “The 2023 Draft was a good one for athletic high school shortstops in Florida, with Arjun Nimmala, George Lombard Jr. and Adrian Santana all going in the top 31 picks. The 2024 crop might not be as top heavy, but Lindsey has burst on the scene this spring to create buzz as a player with as much helium as any in the class. A former quarterback, Lindsey missed the summer showcase circuit because of injury but had scouts of all levels running to Hardee Senior High School to see him action.
A premium athlete who can record 80-grade run times, Lindsey has already taken a big step forward in all facets of the game after deciding to stop playing football and focus on the diamond. He has a better feel for the game than some might think based on his multisport background. He has a short, right-handed swing geared to making contact and sending line drives up the middle. He may never be a huge power guy, and he does need to add strength, but as he’s started to catch the ball out front, he’s impacting the ball more, with some pop to come. He has solid strike zone awareness with good swing decisions and takes walks against lesser competition. Lindsey’s defensive polish has also improved considerably this spring. He should be given every chance to stick at shortstop with at least an average arm and more than enough range to make all the plays. Even those not convinced about the premium spot know he’ll stick up the middle on the dirt, and the University of Florida recruit’s name was popping up in first-round conversations as the spring season wore on.”
Ryan Sloan - RHP - 18 years old - York HS - Elmhurst, Illinois
Baseball America : “Sloan is a large righthander with a 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame and a reliable three-pitch mix. His fastball has trended up and he now sits in the 90-94 mph range and touches 96 from a slot that varies from three-quarters to a lower three-quarters angle. In addition to his fastball, Sloan has a low-80s slider with sweeping shape and spin rates in the 2,500-2,600 rpm range and an 84-87 mph changeup that is a swing-and-miss offering against lefthanders. Sloan could improve his delivery and command, but his three-pitch mix is advanced for his age. He is committed to Wake Forest.”
MLB : “The Illinois high school ranks produced a pair of first-round pitchers (Owen Murphy, Noah Schultz) in 2022 and another arm who got first-round money (Blake Wolters) in 2023. Sloan has a better combination of stuff and polish than any of them and should become a first-rounder in July. He dominated throughout the summer showcase circuit while getting swings-and-misses with three different pitches that could grade as plus once he's fully developed. Gatorade's Illinois high school player of the year, Sloan shows the ability to manipulate a 93-96 mph fastball that tops out at 99, as he can ride and run it at the top of the zone, cut it in on left-handers or sink it for ground balls. He has a more advanced changeup than most prepsters, throwing hitters off balance with a mid-80s cambio that fades and sinks. His low-80s slider is nearly as good, featuring two-plane depth and some horizontal action as well. Six-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Sloan has a strong lower half and is built to eat innings. A Wake Forest recruit, he uses his size to create extension and a flat approach angle to add deception. He repeats his delivery well and throws his entire arsenal for quality strikes.”
Theodore Gillen - SS - 18 years old - Westlake HS, Austin, Texas
Baseball America : “Gillen stood out from an early age as one of the most talented players in the 2024 class, though he had right shoulder surgery in April 2022, so he missed much of the year. Gillen has long been an impressive athlete, but he has added more size and strength to his 6-foot-3 frame, with his tools taking another jump too. He has a strong offensive track record, using a line-drive stroke with a knack for going the opposite way. He’s still learning to fully tap into his power, but he has fast bat speed and is driving the ball with more extra-base damage now than he was before. Still working his way back from his shoulder injury, Gillen previously has shown good agility, body control and actions at shortstop. Depending on what happens with his arm, his athleticism and plus-plus speed would translate well in center field too. He is committed to Texas.”
MLB : “Gillen emerged as one of the top talents in Texas' 2024 high school class three years ago, only to be slowed by a torn labrum that required shoulder surgery as a sophomore and a knee injury as a junior. Finally healthy again this spring outside of a minor groin ailment, he has pushed his way ahead of the rest of the Lone Star State prepsters. He projects to become the first first-rounder from Westlake HS (Austin) since Kelly Gruber went 10th overall in 1980. Gillen may have the best bat of any high schooler in this Draft. He has a disciplined approach, quick hands and a sweet left-handed swing that combine to produce line drives to all fields. His hitting ability will allow him to get to most of his plus raw power, giving him a 20-homer floor, and he should develop more pop as he adds more strength to his physical 6-foot-2 frame. Scouts get run times from solid to well-above-average on Gillen, who looks more dynamic than he did last summer now that his knee injury is further behind him. The Texas recruit has better range to his left than his right at shortstop, but his arm hasn't bounced back from labrum surgery and will dictate a position change at the next level. He could become an offensive second baseman, his quickness makes center field a possibility and at worst he should produce enough offense to profile in left field.”
William Schmidt - RHP - 18 years old - Catholic High School - Baton Rouge, LA
Baseball America : “Few pitchers in the country have the ability to spin the ball like Schmidt. At 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, Schmidt has a starter look and projectable pitcher’s build with long limbs and significant room to pack on weight. That projection has already started to come through. After topping out around 91 a few years ago, Schmidt now sits in the low 90s and has been up to 95 mph. What sets him apart from his peers is a 77-79 mph hammer curveball with 12-to-6 shape and fantastic life. The pitch has huge spin rates in the 2,700-3,000 rpm range and it has depth, sharp biting action and more control than you would expect of a prep curveball with that sort of movement. It’s viewed as one of the best overall breaking balls in the class. Schmidt’s fastball/curveball combo is his bread and butter, but he has shown some feel for an upper-70s changeup. He has day one draft upside but is committed to LSU.”
MLB : “Schmidt could follow the same Catholic HS (Baton Rouge, La.) to Louisiana State to big leagues path blazed by Kurt Ainsworth, the Nola brothers and Josh Smith. But with the way he's pitched as a senior while leading the Bears to national and state Division I championships -- he spun a one-hit shutout in the title game -- he'll never make it to college. Gatorade's Louisiana high school player of the year, he sports the best curveball and one of the better fastballs in the prep class.
Schmidt can spin his curveball at upwards of 3,000 rpm, and it's an low-80s hammer that breaks so much that it often fools umpires as well as hitters. He has good command of a fastball that has gained 3 mph this spring, now sitting in the mid-90s and maxing out at 99 mph with carry and arm-side run. He rarely has needed a third pitch but shows some feel for a low-80s changeup with some sink. Not only does Schmidt have some of the best stuff in the Draft, but he also generates it with ease and fills the strike zone. He still has room to add more strength to his wiry 6-foot-4 frame, so he could get better. He used to elicit comparisons to three-time All-Star Adam Wainwright, but now he's better at the same stage of his career.”
Vance Honeycutt - outfielder - 21 years old - University of North Carolina.
Baseball America : “Honeycutt was a relatively under-the-radar player when he got to campus at North Carolina in 2022, but he quickly made a name for himself after hitting 25 home runs and stealing 29 bases as a freshman. Three years later, Honeycutt stands as UNC’s all-time home run leader with 61 deep flies. In 2024, he became the first Division I player to hit more than 60 homers and steal more than 70 bases in a career. Pair that power-speed combination with Honeycutt’s excellent athleticism and defensive prowess in center field and you have one of the most dynamic and high-upside players in the class. The fact that a 6-foot-3, 205-pound center fielder with his physical tools and production in the Atlantic Coast Conference isn’t viewed at the very top of the class speaks to the questions present in his offensive profile. Honeycutt has oscillated between a highly productive hitter with loads of strikeouts and one who can reign in the whiffs but at the cost of his power output. He hit over .300 for the first time in his career in 2024, though that came with a 28% strikeout rate. He has significant contact questions, particularly against secondary stuff. Honeycutt’s at-bats lead scouts to wonder about his pitch recognition at times, but he’s as capable as anyone of hammering a mistake pitch out of the park to left field or right-center. Honeycutt comes with real risk but should have enough potential to dream on to earn a first-round selection.”
MLB : “North Carolina has produced nine first-round position players, including first (B.J. Surhoff) and second (Dustin Ackley) overall picks, but the Tar Heels may never have had anyone as tooled up as Honeycutt. He quarterbacked and hit Salisbury (N.C.) HS to state 2-A championships in football and baseball in 2021, but he was physically underdeveloped and mostly flew under scouting radars despite the Giants drafting him in the 20th round. He broke into college baseball by hitting a school-record 25 homers and stealing 29 bases as a freshman and has recorded similar numbers this spring, setting new Tar Heels marks for single-season (28) and career (65) homers while winning his second straight Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award. Honeycutt comes with at least plus tools across the board with one notable exception: his bat. He carried a 30 percent strikeout rate as a freshman, cut it to 20 percent as a sophomore (when he wasn't nearly as productive) and has seen it shoot back up to 28 percent as a junior. He has a decent right-handed swing but needs to refine his pull-heavy approach, do a better job of making in-zone contact and cut down on his chases. How much Honeycutt hits will determine if he becomes Drew Stubbs or better than that. At 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, he creates well-above-average raw power with bat speed, strength, leverage and loft. He has similar speed and fine instincts, making him a basestealing threat and a potential Gold Glover in center field, where his plus arm is stronger than most at the position.”
Caleb Lomavita - catcher - 21 years old - University of California
Baseball America : “Lomavita was a standout high school player and the top prospect from Hawaii in the 2021 draft, but he made it to campus at California, where he initially split time at DH and catcher before taking over as the team’s everyday backstop in 2023. Lomavita is a 5-foot-11, 200-pound catcher who has stood out for his contact skills and athleticism over the last three years. He’s a career .302/.369/.534 hitter and also performed at a high clip in the Cape Cod League in two summers. Lomavita loves to swing the bat and does so often. He doesn’t work deep counts and will chase pitches out of the zone, but he has gotten away with that approach thanks to his advanced contact skills and strength that allows him to pull the ball with authority. He’ll need to develop a more nuanced offensive approach and potentially learn to use the opposite field with more frequency to become an above-average hitter. Barring that, he’ll be reliant on making great contact to over-perform a career 6.2% walk rate. Lomavita has a chance to be an above-average defender thanks to his athleticism, above-average arm and strong hands. He’s consistently gotten better as a receiver and blocker, and scouts have praised his work ethic and mentality for the position. Speed is an afterthought for catchers, but Lomavita is an above-average runner who went 35-for-42 in stolen base attempts in college. He has a chance to be the first catcher drafted in the middle of the first round.”
MLB : “Lomavita came out of a St. Louis High School program in Hawaii that produced such big leaguers as Jordan Yamamoto and Brandon League, but didn’t garner much pro attention in his senior season in 2021. He started making a name for himself as a freshman at Cal, then raised his profile with a .979 OPS and 16 homers as a sophomore. Hitting well for two straight summers in the Cape Cod League hasn’t hurt, making him one of the better catching prospects in the class. Lomavita’s stock has soared as his bat potential has improved. He utilizes an unusual approach and swing mechanics from the right side, with the drop of his back leg to create a launch-oriented swing, but he routinely finds the barrel. He can drive the ball to all fields and really started to tap into his raw power in 2023 as he chased less and recognized spin better. The chase rate did creep back up this spring and Lomavita could use some approach refinement as he is a very aggressive hitter who swings at everything. He runs very well for a catcher and can steal a bag with excellent instincts on the basepaths. While his athleticism helps him behind the plate, he’s still learning the nuances of receiving. He has plus arm strength, it would easily be a 60 arm from third base, but he’s still learning to shorten his arm stroke and quicken his release behind the plate. He could handle the hot corner or even the outfield if needed, but there’s no reason to think he can’t stick behind the dish and he was appearing to win the Northern California college catcher battle with Stanford’s Malcolm Moore”
PJ Morlando - 1B/OF - 19 years old - Summerville HS (South Carolina)
Baseball America : “Morlando is one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the 2024 class thanks to an excellent combination of contact skills, plate discipline and power. A 6-foot-3, 200-pound lefthanded hitter, Morlando has elite bat speed, which along with his strength and leverage in his swing generates some of the most raw power in the prep class. It’s an easy plus power projection that should allow him a chance to be a 30-plus home run threat in his peak seasons. The way Morlando is able to generate that power is especially impressive and allows it to translate in games. He doesn’t have many moving parts to his swing, setting up with a wide base and a simple lower half load, keeping his head locked in to help him track pitches well. He has quiet hands before unleashing a tight, compact and pretty swing with clean, fluid path through the hitting zone, enabling him to punish the ball for extra-base damage to all fields with easy, explosive pop. Morlando has shown the ability to barrel mid-90s velocity with the plate coverage to hammer fastballs in any part of the zone and is especially effective on fastballs up. The best chance for hitters against Morlando is to try to get him to swing through soft stuff down and away, but he’s a patient hitter who will take his walks. Morlando has caught in the past, but his most likely defensive homes are corner outfield or first base, though an upright, heel-striking running stride could make him best suited for first base where he could be a quality defender. Morlando’s offensive ability gives him a chance to be the first high school player selected. He is committed to South Carolina.”
MLB : “Morlando's track record of performing against top competition includes winning the High School Home Run Derby and the MVP award at the High School All-American Game at the All-Star Game last July. He also starred with the U.S. 18-and-under team in each of the last two years. But his stock has dropped this spring amid questions about his usable power and athleticism, making it unlikely that he'll go in the first round as once projected. Gatorade's South Carolina prep player of the year, Morlando has advanced feel to hit, showing the willingness to work counts and to make two-strike adjustments. He has bat speed and strength in his 6-foot-3, 198 pound frame, but the pop he displays in batting practice hasn't translated into game power last summer or this spring. He can get pull-happy and his left-handed swing can get uphill on occasion. While Morlando has caught and played some third base in the past, he's destined for left field or first base, making power imperative. He can post solid 60-yard dash times but plays as more as a fringy to average runner and possesses similar arm strength. He'll be 19 on Draft Day and eligible again in 2026 if he attends college at South Carolina.”
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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