Breaking down Phillies Day Two draft picks: Rounds 4-10
By John Town
Round Nine: Right-handed pitcher Dominic Pipkin
Domonic Pipkin may just be the steal of Day Two for the draft. He was selected No. 257 overall but ranked No. 92 on MLB.com’s draft rankings and No. 104 per Baseball America. He is committed to California but could be swayed with the right signing bonus. The pick is allotted $153,600, but Pipkin may get more.
Pipkin made waves when he threw 96 miles per hour at the Area Code games last summer. His fastball normally sits in the low 90s, but he has enough room to add weight that he could conceivably sit close or at that 96 mph mark. Pipkin’s two secondary pitches, a curve and changeup, both could be above-average but do need work.
Pipkin’s command is the real question mark to his future development. If he can put things together, he can be a good starting pitcher and a true late Day Two steal. Otherwise, I just get the vibe of a reliever if his fastball velocity can stay in the mid-90s.