Phillies: History of the 3rd-overall pick in the MLB Amateur Draft

History is on the Phillies side entering the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft

For the fourth time in the history of the MLB Amateur Draft, the Phillies hold the third overall pick, this time after a record of 66-96 in 2017. Picking behind the San Francisco Giants and Detriot Tigers, Philadelphia has an opportunity to draft a foundation piece for the franchise.

Philadelphia has been lucky with the third overall pick in years past, selecting Mike Lieberthal, Lonnie Smith, and Larry Christenson, the last being Lieberthal in 1990. Of those three the Phillies got a terrific hitting outfielder, arguably the greatest catcher in franchise history, and a quality Major League starter who won 83 games over 11 years.

More recently, teams have found superstars with the third pick, one of the more recent ones being Manny Machado for the Orioles. Kansas City found Eric Hosmer, Matt Williams went to San Francisco, and Troy Glaus was selected by the Angels.

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Perhaps even more impressive picks are the Hall of Famers that have been selected third overall. Milwaukee struck gold twice picking third overall with Robin Yount and Paul Molitor, who combined for over 6,000 hits, 485 home runs, two MVPs, seven Silver Sluggers, and 10 All-Star appearances over 41 combined seasons.

A future Hall of Famer picked third overall is former Tampa Bay Ray third baseman Evan Longoria out of Cal State.

Even more recently, the pick has produced Jon Gray, Mike Zunino, Trevor Bauer, and Carlos Rodon.

The last three picks have been drafted by National League teams and come out of high school, and 7 of the last 11 picks have been high schoolers.

In the history of the Phillies, 16 of the last 20 first round picks have come out of high school, and four of their last five have been hitters. From 2008-12 none of the organization’s first round picks have ever played for the major league club, and Jessie Biddle is the only to ever reach the majors, but with Atlanta.

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Because the organization signed free agents Carlos Santana and Jake Arrieta, they forfeited their second and third round picks.