How every player on the Philadelphia Phillies’ active roster was drafted

How did every current Philadelphia Phillies player get drafted?

On July 17, Major League Baseball teams will begin drafting the stars of tomorrow, and the Philadelphia Phillies have the 17th overall pick in the first round.

But before we look forward, let’s look back on the draft history of their current roster. They’ve got several homegrown talents, quite a few former Tampa Bay Rays, and some selections made by their current president of baseball operations back when he was heading another team’s front office.

Here’s how every player got their big break…

Phillies starting pitchers

Zach Eflin

The San Diego Padres selected Zach Eflin as the 33rd overall pick in the 2012 draft. Even though he’d signed a letter of intent with UCF, he signed with the Padres instead.

In December 2014, the Padres included him in a trade package to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who immediately flipped him to the Phillies in their trade for Jimmy Rollins.

Kyle Gibson

“Gibby” was the Minnesota Twins’ first-round pick in 2009, 22nd overall, but before that, he was the Phillies’ 36th-round pick in 2006. Rather than sign with them, he played college baseball at the University of Missouri.

In a full-circle moment, the Phillies acquired Gibson at the 2021 trade deadline. He was part of a package from the Texas Rangers that also included Ian Kennedy, pitching prospect Hans Crouse, and $4 million.

Aaron Nola

The rare homegrown pitching talent in this organization, Aaron Nola has been a Phillie his entire professional career so far. In 2014, the Phillies selected him in the first round, as the 7th-overall pick.

Cristopher Sánchez

The Tampa Bay Rays signed Cristopher Sánchez as an international free agent in November 2013. They dealt him to the Phillies in November 2019.

Ranger Suárez

The Phillies signed Ranger Suárez as an international free agent in 2012 when he was only 16 years old. He made his MLB debut on July 24, 2018.

Zack Wheeler

Zack Wheeler was the San Francisco Giants’ first-round pick in 2009, selected sixth overall. He’d committed to Kennesaw State, but signed with the Giants instead. The Giants dealt him to the New York Mets in 2011, in exchange for Carlos Beltrán, and it’s with them that he made his big-league debut in June 2013. The Phillies signed him when he became a free agent following the 2019 season.

Phillies relievers

José Alvarado

You’ll see quite a few former Rays on this list. They signed José Alvarado as an international free agent in 2012. He debuted with them in 2017, but the Rays traded him to the Phillies following the 2020 season.

Mark Appel

Mark Appel is one of the most famous first-overall picks in MLB history because he almost didn’t make it to the show. The Houston Astros selected him as the first pick in the 2013 draft, and after almost a decade of ups and downs, he debuted at the end of June.

Andrew Bellatti

Another Rays draft pick, Andrew Bellatti was selected 379th overall in the 12th round of the 2009 draft. After becoming a free agent following the 2016 season, Bellatti bounced around various farm systems and the Atlantic League before signing a minor-league contract with the Phillies in November 2021.

Connor Brogdon

The Phillies selected Connor Brogdon as the 293rd overall pick in the 10th round of the 2017 draft and he debuted in August 2020.

Sam Coonrod

Sam Coonrod was the Giants’ fifth-round pick, selected 148th overall in 2014.

Seranthony Dominguez

The Phillies signed Seranthony Dominguez as an international free agent in October 2011 and he made his MLB debut on May 7, 2018.

Jeurys Familia

The New York Mets signed Jeurys Familia as an amateur free agent in 2007 and he made his MLB debut with them in September 2012.

Brad Hand

One of the older players on the roster, Brad Hand was drafted so long ago, the Miami Marlins were still known as the Florida Marlins when they selected him in the second round of the 2008 draft. He was the 52nd-overall pick.

Corey Knebel

Corey Knebel is one of a few players on this list drafted by now-Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski back when he was the Detroit Tigers GM. The Tigers selected Knebel as the 39th overall pick in the 2013 draft.

Nick Nelson

Nick Nelson was the 128th pick 2016 draft, selected by the New York Yankees in the fourth round. The Phillies acquired Nelson from the Yankees last fall.

Phillies catchers

J.T. Realmuto

Another Florida Marlins draft pick, J.T. Realmuto got selected in the third round in 2010. He was the 104th-overall pick.

Garrett Stubbs

The Houston Astros selected Garrett Stubbs in the eighth round of the 2015 draft, as the 229th overall selection. Fun fact: they also drafted his brother C.J., also a catcher, and he’s still in their system.

Phillies outfielders

Nick Castellanos

Nick Castellanos is another Dombrowski draft pick from their Detroit days (say that five times fast). The 44th-overall pick in the 2010 draft, Castellanos signed a five-year deal with the Phillies this season.

Bryce Harper

When he’s healthy, the Phillies have multiple first-overall picks in their outfield. The Washington Nationals selected Bryce Harper first overall in 2010 and immediately signed him to a five-year contract. He debuted on April 27, 2012, and when he became a free agent following the 2018 season, signed his historic contract with the Phillies.

Odúbel Herrera

Odúbel Herrera signed with the Texas Rangers as an international free agent in 2008 and was poached by the Phillies in the 2014 Rule 5 draft.

Mickey Moniak

The Phillies drafted Mickey Moniak first overall in the 2016 draft. He debuted in 2020 and has been up and down from Triple-A ever since.

Kyle Schwarber

Kyle Schwarber was the Chicago Cubs’ first-round pick in 2014, the fourth-overall selection in that year’s draft. He played for the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox before signing with the Phillies this year.

Matt Vierling

Last but not least, the final homegrown talent on the roster. The Phillies selected Matt Vierling in the fifth round of the 2018 draft as the 137th-overall pick.

Every first-round draft pick in Philadelphia Phillies history

Ahead of the 2022 MLB draft, look back at every first-round pick and supplemental compensatory pick in Philadelphia Phillies history.