Phillies and the Draft: What Could Have Been

Aug 17, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) pitches to Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed (L) during the fourth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

2008: Anthony Hewitt

This is the one that stings the most. Even when Hewitt was drafted, many evaluators and prognosticators openly questioned it, noting his rawness, and that he might become nothing with the bat. Phillies officials saw his raw ability and thought they could create an upper echelon talent, one that costs a lot of money on the free agent market.

Unfortunately, Hewitt has been a complete and total loss, the very definition of a “bust” pick. In 8 minor league seasons, Hewitt’s batting line stands at .223/.265/.368, and he has developed almost zero idea of the strike zone (779/96 K/BB ratio career). Mercifully, he was released by the Phillies in 2014, ending their relationship with probably the worst draft pick in the past decade or so.

Notable players drafted after Phillies’ pick: Lance Lynn, Wade Miley, Gerrit Cole*. Lynn has been a mainstay in the Cardinals’ rotation, and quite possibly, one of the most underrated pitchers in the game today. Miley has been serviceable as a mid-rotation workhorse for the Diamondbacks and Red Sox. Both would have bolstered this current rotation in a big way. Cole, it should be noted, was drafted after Hewitt by the Yankees, but elected to go to college instead. It turned out to be a great decision, as he ended being the #1 overall pick in 2013.

Next: Phillies Draft 2009: What Was and Could Have Been