Phillies 2020 Draft: Matt Klentak talks adapting, four picks
By Matt Rappa
Phillies general manager Matt Klentak discusses the 2020 MLB Draft
Philadelphia Phillies general manager Matt Klentak recently joined former infielder and current broadcaster Kevin Frandsen on the “Pine Tar for Breakfast” podcast to discuss his thoughts on the unique circumstances surrounding this month’s 2020 MLB Draft.
Klentak and Frandsen went over the unique 2020 draft process, the importance of listening to everyone’s opinion throughout the draft process, getting to know the prospects during these unique circumstances, and how prospects took advantage of technology to show teams their worth.
Also, they reviewed each of the Phillies’ four draft picks, which include RHP Mick Abel (round 1), infielder Casey Martin (round 3), RHP Carson Ragsdale (round 4), and outfielder Baron Radcliff (round 5).
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Klentak says the Phillies are excited about the balance of their draft picks: “a prep righty followed up by shortstop, college righty, [and] college outfielder. It’s well-balanced.”
For Klentak, it was his fifth draft since joining the Phillies in October 2015 to replace Ruben Amaro Jr. as general manager. He had a new colleague this year helping out in the process, recently hired amateur scouting director Brian Barber, who joined the organization after spending several years with the New York Yankees.
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And, while Klentak, Barber and the Phillies are betting on these amateur draft picks’ tools to come to fruition, Klentak says Abel, Martin, Ragsdale and Radcliff have “makeup, athleticism, and a lot of other things” that they like.
“All four of them really do possess exciting big-league tools,” he says. “With just like any player that’s drafted, there’s going to be a long road of development, ups and downs, and failures along the way, but I think, as a group, we’re excited about the tools.”