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Phillies Mock Draft: ESPN projects Phillies top draft pick

By George Stockburger |
Dec 10, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; ESPN Baseball Tonight analyst Buster Olney talks about the Baltimore Orioles retracting the seven year 150 million offer to first baseman Chris Davis (not pictured) during the MLB winter meetings at Gaylord Opryland Resort . Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 10, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; ESPN Baseball Tonight analyst Buster Olney talks about the Baltimore Orioles retracting the seven year 150 million offer to first baseman Chris Davis (not pictured) during the MLB winter meetings at Gaylord Opryland Resort . Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Another pitcher could join the Phillies rotation based on current projections

Phillies executives and scouts are pouring over tape and scouting reports as the MLB Draft inches closer. With the eighth overall pick in next month’s draft, the Phillies have multiple options when it comes to finding their next star.

Keith Law, a Senior Writer for ESPN who focuses on the draft and minor league prospects, released his first mock draft Thursday morning. His thought on where the Phillies could go aligns with others in the industry.

With the eighth overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, the Phillies are projected to take Shane Baz, a right-handed pitcher from Concordia Lutheran High School, Tomball, Texas.

Here’s what Law thinks about Baz, who turns 18-years-old this summer and is currently committed to play for TCU.

Baz has touched 98 with a good slider, but there is concern about the delivery and how well hitters seem to see his fastball.

A flaming fastball with no command could spell horrors in Citizens Bank Park, but remember that the kid is just 17-years-old.

Baseball America lists the righty at 6’3, while also noting he’s played some third base. Baz is likely to be a right-handed pitcher whose fastball typically sits in the mid-90s with the potential to hit a tick higher.

Able to throw a cutter, change, and a slider, Baz has the arsenal of a major league pitcher. But will the command show up is the big question.

Luckily, he’s gotten some great advice along the way from a guy named Nolan Ryan.

You can watch more of Baz in this clip below, where he shows off that overpowering fastball and a good mix of secondary pitches.

Next: Nola Improving After AAA Start

Rounds one and two begin Monday, June 12, at 7 p.m. and can be seen on MLB.com.

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