That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies: 5 players they just missed in the MLB Draft

By George Rider

SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 06: New York Yankees draftee Aaron Judge (R) poses for a photograph with Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig at the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft at the MLB Network on June 6, 2013 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NJ - JUNE 06: New York Yankees draftee Aaron Judge (R) poses for a photograph with Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig at the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft at the MLB Network on June 6, 2013 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MARCH 08: Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets in action against the Houston Astros during a spring training baseball game at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – MARCH 08: Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets in action against the Houston Astros during a spring training baseball game at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

2010 MLB Draft: Noah Syndergaard 

In the 2010 Draft the Phillies held the 27th overall pick and with it chose LHP Jesse Biddle out of Germantown Friends High School in Pennsylvania. Biddle grew up a Phillies fan and a month before the draft he was asked about possibly being drafted by his hometown team.

"“I couldn’t ask for more, pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies would be a dream come true and as a kid it’s all I ever wanted to do. Pitching in the Major Leagues that’s one thing and that’s obviously a dream, but more specifically pitching for the Phillies, I mean, that’s as good as a situation as I could ask for and that’s what I want.”"

Things started off well for Biddle, in his first year as a professional in the Gulf Coast League and Williamsport the 19 year old went 4-1 in 12 games with an ERA of 3.92, including a complete game shut out. But things never seemed to get better for him.

After playing 6 Minor League seasons for the Phillies he bounced around from A ball to AA ball finally making his AAA debut in 2015. But for Biddle his Lehigh Valley stint didn’t work out as he pitched in nine games throwing 44.2 innings with an ERA of 6.25. He also struck out 32 batters while walking 27.

After 2015 he was done in Philadelphia and didn’t make his Major League debut until 2018 with the Atlanta Braves. In his 90 game MLB career he has a -0.5 WAR.

With the 38th pick in the Draft the Toronto Blue Jays selected RHP Noah Syndergaard out of Legacy High School in Texas. After only three seasons in the Blue Jays Minor League system Syndergaard was involved in a blockbuster trade.

The New York Mets traded star pitcher RA Dickey, Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas. in exchange for Syndergaard, Travis d’Arnaud, John Buck and Wuilmer Becerra. Syndergaard was Toronto’s #3 prospect at the time.

Since making his MLB Debut in 2015 he’s posted a 3.31 ERA in 716 innings, 775 K’s, 166 walks and a WAR of 15.7. Syndergaard has amazing stuff on his pitches, he throws a fastball 97.8 MPH on average with a sinker that averages out at 97.5. Along with that he has a 91.1 MPH changeup with a  slider and curveball involved.

Through five MLB seasons he was been a solid starting pitcher, with his velocity and movement on his pitches it looks like he could be one of the best pitchers in the league but he is far from it. After an up and down 2019 season, Syndergaard has now been diagnosed with a torn UCL and requires Tommy John surgery. But, I do believe Philadelphia wouldn’t mind going back in time and taking Noah Syndergaard over Jesse Biddle with the 27th pick in 2010.

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