Phils sign 28 picks by deadline
Jun 7, 2013; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers pitcher Aaron Nola (10) pitches in the third inning against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Baton Rouge super regional of the 2013 NCAA baseball tournament at Alex Box Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
Friday’s 5 pm ET deadline to sign Major League draft picks didn’t have the same buzz for the Phillies as it did for the Astros failing to sign the number one overall pick or even Johnny Manziel obviously not signing with the San Diego Padres. Instead Philadelphia signed 28 of its picks well before the deadline, the most recent signing came on July 3rd for Nathan Thornhill. Most of the unsigned were selected towards the end of the draft with the exceptions of pitcher Ryan Powers who is unsigned after being selected in the 22nd round and catcher Scott Tomassetti taken in the 34th round who was the lowest draftee signed by the Phillies. Except for Powers and Tomassetti, no draftees were either unsigned before the 28th round or signed after the 28th round.
Tom Flacco, brother of Raven’s quarterback Joe Flacco, was drafted in the 32nd round (952nd overall), but did not sign by the deadline.
Most of the players to sign have begun playing in rookie ball and the low minors.
Right-handed pitcher Aaron Nola of Louisiana State University was taken 7th overall by the Phillies. He is 1-2 with Class A Advanced Clearwater and has an ERA of 3.86. The 6th overall draft prospect in 2014, Nola ranks third in LSU strikeout history. He is a two time SEC Pitcher of the Year and a two time First Team All-American.
Another Aaron draftee, outfielder Aaron Brown, is doing well with Class A Short Season Williamsport. The former Pepperdine University star was taken in the third round as the first position player to be drafted by the Phillies this year. He has a .282 batting average with 3 home runs, 10 RBIs and 7 stolen bases in just 27 games.
The youngest player to sign with the Phillies this year is pitcher Sam McWilliams, who turns 19 in September. He is 0-2 with a 4.00 ERA in Gulf Coast League rookie ball. McWilliams was taken in the 8th round by the Phillies.
Of the 28 players to sign, 16 of them are pitchers (5 lefties). The remaining 12 are comprised of 3 outfielders, 3 catchers, 4 middle infielders and 2 corner infielders.