Phillies 2016 MLB Draft Predictions

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Jul 31, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies former left fielder Pat ‘the Bat’ Burrell is honored as the 37th inductee into the Phillies Wall of Fame before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

The Philadelphia Phillies hold the top overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, which begins on Thursday night.

For the first time since choosing Pat Burrell out of the University of Miami with the first overall pick in the 1998 MLB Amateur Draft, the Phillies hold the top overall selection.

The Phils and their fan base would have to say that the Burrell pick worked out wonderfully. Along with shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who had himself been selected by the team in the 2nd round just two years earlier, Burrell became one of the earliest pieces to the 2008 World Series championship puzzle.

After just a single, full minor league campaign in 1999 and then the opening weeks of the 2000 season, Burrell made his big league debut in late-May of 2000. Other than for a brief injury rehab in 2004, he would never return to the minors.

He finished in 4th place in the 2000 NL Rookie of the Year voting to launch his career. Then over nine seasons spent almost entirely as the Phillies left fielder, Burrell banged 292 home runs and drove in 976 runs.

Last summer, Burrell was honored with a place on the Phillies Wall of Fame, becoming at age 38 the youngest person ever to be enshrined by the organization and its fans.

Before now, that 1998 selection of Burrell was the only time in the MLB Draft’s half-century history that the Phillies have had the top overall pick. When the club makes its selection on Thursday, they will be hoping the results are at least as rewarding.

Here at TBOH we have surveyed our staff over the past week or so, looking for their input as to which prospect they feel that the Phillies should select.

Making any absolute prediction as to whom the Phils will select is, at this point, purely conjecture on anyone’s part. We’re not going to make an official site pick, because as you will see here, our writers are all over the map on this one.

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The fact of the matter is that, unfortunately, there is no hands-down, consensus marquis talent available this time around, such as the division-rival Washington Nationals found waiting in both 2009 and 2010 when they picked first and landed Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper.

TBOH co-editor George Stockburger couldn’t make a pick:

"“I honestly have no clue. I watched tape on a lot of these guys, and they all have major red flags in my eyes. Puk has the frame of Chris Sale, but he lacks control of his pitches. Kyle Lewis’ swing scares me, with his big leg kick and a lack of power coming from his lower body. The rest of the guys just don’t have “It”, which is a shame the Phillies miss out on a franchise-changing prospect like Bryce Harper.“"

However, it remains that there are a number of extremely talented players at the top of this draft. The key will be making the best selection possible to help the Phillies push the building program forward over the next few seasons.

Let’s take a look at the players who our staff is focusing on for the first overall pick:

Next: Phillies Possible Top Pick Contender #1

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