3: Cole Hamels (17th overall 2002)
The Phillies selected Cole Hamels out of Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego, California with the 17th overall pick in 2002. Although he was limited due to injuries, Hamels dominated in eight starts across three levels of the minors in 2006, posting an ERA of 1.10 with 68 strikeouts in 49 innings.
On May 12, 2006 Hamels made his Major League debut against the Reds. He didn’t allow a run on a single hit, five walks and seven strikeouts. Hamels went 9-8 with a 4.03 ERA in 23 games the rest of the way.
Coming into his own in 2007, Hamels was an All-Star and sixth in the NL Cy Young Award voting. He finished 15-5 with a 3.39 ERA. Heading into the 2008 season with increased confidence, Hamels won 14 games, logged 227 1/3 innings and posted an ERA of 3.09. He dominated in the postseason, winning MVP honors in the NLCS and World Series, going 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA.
Hamels had a bit of a World Series hangover in 2009, winning just 10 games with an ERA of 4.32 and 16 earned runs allowed in 19 innings during the playoffs. After the rough 2009 campaign Hamels bounced back to win 43 over the next three seasons, including a career-high 17 in 2012. He was also in the middle of eight straight seasons with at least 200 innings pitched.
In his final start in a Philies uniform on July 25, 2015, Hamels pitched one for the ages by no-hitting the Cubs in a 5-0 win. He was traded to the Rangers on July 31 and went 7-1 for Texas the rest of the way.
Hamels was an All-Star in 2016, going 15-5 with a 3.32 ERA and hit the 200-strikeout mark in a season for the fifth time. Injuries have hampered Hamels’ effectiveness over the past few seasons with the Cubs. Although a reunion in Philadelphia seemed possible, Hamels signed with the Braves this offseason.
If 422 career games, Hamels has a record of 163-121 with 2558 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.42.