Thanks to their dreadful final six weeks the Phillies will be picking high in the 2019 MLB Draft
After finishing the 2018 season two games below .500 the Phillies will select a player with the 14th overall pick in the June 2019 MLB Draft. It’s the lowest the Phillies will draft a player in the first round since 2013 when they took J.P. Crawford 16th overall. Each of their last five picks have been in the top-10, including Aaron Nola at seventh-overall the year after Crawford.
This marks just the third time in franchise history, and the first since 1995, the Phillies have held the 14th overall pick. Neither of their prior two picks at this position, Phil Meyer in 1967 or Reggie Taylor in 1995, provided much major league help.
Here’s the full first round order, courtesy of MLB.com and Jim Callis.
1. Orioles (47-115)
2. Royals (58-104)
3. White Sox (62-100)
4. Marlins (63-98)
5. Tigers (64-98)
6. Padres (66-96)
7. Reds (67-95)
8. Rangers (67-95)
9. Braves (compensation for unsigned 2018 first-rounder Carter Stewart)
10. Giants (73-89)
11. Blue Jays (73-89)
12. Mets (77-85)
13. Twins (78-84)
14. Phillies (80-82)
15. Angels (80-82)
16. D-backs (82-80)
17. Nationals (82-80)
18. Pirates (82-79)
19. Cardinals (88-74)
20. Mariners (89-73)
21. Braves (90-72)
22. Rays (90-72)
23. Rockies (91-72)
24. Indians (91-71)
25. Dodgers (92-71)
26. D-backs (compensation for unsigned 2018 first-rounder Matt McLain)
27. Cubs (95-68)
28. Brewers (96-67)
29. Athletics (97-65)
30. Yankees (100-62)
31. Dodgers (compensation for unsigned 2018 first-rounder J.T. Ginn)
32. Astros (103-59)
33. Red Sox (108-54)
Last year the Phillies drafted Wichita State third baseman Alec Bohm third overall. The jump from third overall to 14th highlights the Phillies improvement from last year despite the dramatic collapse in August and September.
Since Matt Klentak took over as the Phillies general manager the team has used two of their three first round picks on college bats, Adam Haseley and Bohm. The other was first-overall pick Mickey Moniak, a high school outfielder from Texas.
According to MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo, just 3 of the top 10 collegiate prospects are pitchers: Nick Lodolo, LHP, TCU; Zack Thompson, LHP, Kentucky; Graeme Stinson, LHP, Duke. Additionally, only 4 of Mayo’s top-10 high school prospects are pitchers, and none of which are from Pennsylvania.
Of the Phillies last 20 first round draft picks, just eight were pitchers, including Nola, Cole Hamels, and Gavin Floyd. Just 3 of the Phillies last 12 first round picks have made the major leagues, though the last four are still in the team’s minor league system.
No date has been set yet for the 2019 MLB Draft, but it will take place in June.