That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies Draft History : Studs, Thuds and Duds

By Jason Slater

Apr 27, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley (26) bats against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley (26) bats against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next

PHILLIES “DUDS” FIRST ROUNDERS

Phillies
The Phillies selected Drew out of Florida State in the 1997 first round despite being told by the player and his agent, Scott Boras, that he would not play for the Phils. (Photo Credit: floridastate.247sports.com /

J.D. Drew – 1997 – Florida State University – Rd 1, Pick 2

This may go down in history as one of the worst moves in Phillies history. Not just Phillies draft history, but their franchise history. Drew made it abundantly clear that he would not sign if Philadelphia selected him. The Phils chose him anyway, and Drew returned to FSU, where the following season he went 5th overall to St. Louis. What makes it worse is that Troy Glaus, Vernon Wells, Michael Cuddyer, and Lance Berkman were all selected after the Phils took him. Doh !

Brad Brink – 1986 – University of Southern California – Rd 1, Pick 7

Brink would go 0-4 with a 3.99 ERA in seven starts over two seasons with the Phillies. He’d go on to log a few more starts with San Francisco and was then sent to the minors. Brink bounced from the Giants to the Oakland A’s organization in 1995, but was out of baseball after that at age 30.

Carlton Loewer – 1994 – Mississippi State University – Rd 1, Pick 23

Loewer was one of many failed attempts by the Phillies to draft solid pitching in the 1990’s. Across 34 career starts, he went 9-14 with a 5.68 ERA and 1.500 WHIP. Loewer would only go on to make seven more starts in the majors after leaving Philadelphia. He was clearly nothing like the previous Carlton to don the red pinstripes.

Greg Golson – 2004 – John R. Connally H.S. ( Austin, TX ) – Rd 1, Pick 21

Drafted mainly for his speed, this light-hitting outfielder would appear in all of six games as a Phillies player. He appeared in only 40 games over his MLB career, slashing a paltry .195/.214/.244 mark. He last appeared briefly with the 2011 Yankees in MLB, then played four more minor league seasons. He is currently playing Independent ball with New Britain in the Atlantic League at age 30.

Reggie Taylor – 1995 – Newberry H.S. ( Newberry, SC ) – Rd 1, Pick 14

Taylor would appear in 14 games over two seasons with the Phillies. In 19 PA, he had a .056/.105/.056 slash line. What makes it worse was Roy Halladay went three picks later to Toronto. Of course, the Phils did eventually get Halladay, it just took almost fifteen years.

Next: PHILLIES DRAFT HISTORY: MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

Home/Phillies Draft