Here’s what you need to know about the Phillies and the MLB Draft
The Phillies will have only four picks in the 2020 MLB Draft after the annual event was heavily reduced due to COVID-19.
Here’s what you need to know about the Phillies in the 2020 MLB Draft.
The Phillies have fewer picks than most teams
Because Philadelphia signed starting pitcher Zack Wheeler, they forfeited their second round pick. This leaves them with only four selections in the middle of each round.
Here is the list of Philadelphia’s draft picks in the 2020 MLB Draft:
- 1st round – 15th overall: Mick Abel, RHP
- 3rd round – 87th overall
- 4th round – 116th overall
- 5th round – 146th overall
How to watch the 2020 MLB Draft
This year the 2020 MLB Draft will be aired on ESPN and ESPN2 over two days.
- June 10: Round 1, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
- June 11: Rounds 2-5, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN2
How have the Phillies drafted in recent years?
Since the hiring of General Manager Matt Klentak in October 2015, the Phillies have drafted three college hitters (Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, Adam Haseley) and one high school hitter when they took Mickey Moniak with the first overall pick.
Thus far only one player, Haseley, has reached the big leagues. Bohm was expected to play in the big leagues at some point in 2020 and Moniak was recovering from a slow start in the minors.
How will the Phillies use the 15th overall pick?
MLB Mock Drafts have not been consistent for the Phillies until recently when MLB Pipeline and Baseball America both projected them to take high school catcher Tyler Soderstrom. Other mock drafts have had them taking college pitcher Cade Cavalli, Central Bucks East pitcher Nick Bitsko, high school outfielder Austin Hendrick, and high school outfielder Robert Hassell.
Given Klentak’s history of taking college players who can move to the big leagues quickly, I’d be surprised if he took a high school bat.