Get to know every Philadelphia Phillies 2021 draft pick
Phillies Second-Round Pick: Ethan Wilson
Ethan Wilson, who impressed scouts with his plate discipline, went to the Phillies 49th overall in the second round.
At South Alabama, the outfielder won All-Sun Belt honors in his two full seasons but missed part of his 2021 season due to injury.
This pick feels like a steal for the Phillies; Wilson was ranked 26th by Baseball America in their Top-500 Draft Prospects list. He was still available all the way down at 49th when the Phillies took him.
Thank you God for the opportunity of a lifetime!!! Thank you to everyone that has helped me make this dream of mine into a reality!! I am so excited to get to work and am blessed to be apart of such a great organization!! LETS GO BABY!!! GO PHILS💪🏻
— Ethan Wilson (@ewils5) July 12, 2021
Wilson began his professional career with the Phillies’ Low-A Clearwater Threshers. Over 30 games, he hit .215/.282/.374 with a .656 OPS, four doubles, two triples, three home runs, 15 runs scored, and 17 batted in.
However, as is often the case, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Baseball America notes that Wilson “earned praise for his contact rate, bat speed, power potential.”
Phillies Third-Round Pick: Jordan Viars
Viars didn’t turn 18 until after the draft, making him one of the youngest players to be taken this year, though there was also a 28-year-old drafted this year!
Viars himself couldn’t believe it when the Phillies selected him 84th overall.
Joining first-round pick Andrew Painter in the FCL, Viars hit .255 over 22 games, with a double, three home runs, 13 runs scored, and 18 driven in. He only struck out 12 times, and drew 11 walks.
Phillies Fourth-Round Pick: Micah Ottenbreit
The Phillies kept the teenager trend going with Micah Ottenbreit, another player born in 2003. Feel old yet?
Ottenbreit joined Viars and Painted in FCL, and posted a 4.50 ERA over his first five professional relief appearances. However, all of his three earned runs came in one appearance against the Yankees’ rookie team.
The biggest thing for Ottenbreit going forward is minimizing walks; he issued a walk in three of his five games.
Phillies Fifth-Round Pick: Griff McGarry
Baseball-Reference has the Phillies’ fifth-round pick listed as a pitcher and left-fielder, but he’s gotten his professional start as a pitcher.
After signing with the Phillies, Griff McGarry pitched for both Low-A Clearwater and High-A Jersey Shore in 2021, compiling a 2.96 ERA over eight games between the two levels. He made four starts, finished one game, and earned a save.
Perhaps he’ll become a Ranger Suárez-esque pitcher, able to do it all, but he’ll need a lot of work first. As NBC Sports Philadelphia noted at the time of the draft, McGarry has “serious control issues.”