That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies first-round picks a mixed bag of results in 2017

By John Town

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 06: Starting pitcher Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 6, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 06: Starting pitcher Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 6, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 22: Starting pitcher Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch in the third inning during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park on June 22, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

2014: Aaron Nola

Aaron Nola was the first college player the Phillies drafted since 2007 and was regarded as a pitcher who could rise quickly through the system. That was the case as after just 30 minor-league games Nola made his major-league debut just a year after being drafted. Nola’s 2016 season put his future in question, but this year he is back on track.

As a whole this season, Nola has a 3.12 ERA, 25.4 percent strikeout rate, and 1.18 WHIP. His 3.6 bWAR is seventh-highest among NL pitchers and his 3.0 fWAR is 12th among all qualified pitchers. Nola has been among the league’s best pitchers this year.

Nola has easily been the team’s most successful first-round pick since Cole Hamels, with fans hoping Nola can be this generation’s version of Hamels – the homegrown pitcher who can center a World Series rotation.

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