Phillies 2016 MLB Draft Predictions
By Matt Veasey
A.J. PUK, LEFT-HANDED PITCHER, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Puk has been the Matthew Veasey pick from the beginning, and I’m standing by it. I believe that he has the talent to be worthy of this top overall selection, that he will come quickly, much as Aaron Nola did, and that he will be signing enough below slot that the Phils could lure a later-round hesitant signee.
In my piece last month on Puk, I said the following:
"“At 6’7″, 230 pounds, and with a fastball that has regularly hit the upper-90’s, comfortably sitting in the mid-90’s, Puk is no finesse left-hander. This is an advanced 21-year old who, much as with Aaron Nola before him, should not take very much developmental time at all. With a pitcher like Puk, you are talking a summer of 2017 big league debut in all likelihood. At that point he would join…whatever others emerge from among the talented young arms the Phillies have percolating in the minors in making up an all-under-25 rotation.”"
Related Story: Phillies Draft Prediction: A.J. Puk
Puk was also the pick of Ethan Witte, Jason Slater, and David Mosemann, though with some hesitation on Ethan’s part:
ETHAN WITTE:
"“As much as I would like to see them take the top talent in the draft in Jason Groome, it’s becoming more apparent that they are going to spread around their draft bonus allotment in order to maximize the incoming flow of talent. So I’m going to say they go with A.J. Puk, sign him below the $9.015 slot value (let’s say $6.5 million) and get a tough sign with their second rounder.“"
DAVID MOSEMANN:
"“The Phils have an obvious need within their organization. They lack a pitcher who is capable of taking charge in their rotation to be a true number one. That hole will be filled by A.J. Puk, who has the talent to do so, and is one of the safer bets in this draft.”"
JASON SLATER:
"“Despite character concerns, Puk is the top-rated pitching prospect on just about everyone’s draft board. The Phillies continue to stockpile arms, and this draft should be no exception. MLB has become a ‘arms race’, loaded with great power pitchers who regularly top out at 100 mph. Puk gives the Phillies a chance to develop their own power arm from day one.”"