The Philadelphia Phillies are in desperate need for another outfielder. Right now, the front office shouldn't panic too much in their search for one. They just need a rental of some sort to boost the team's postseason push.
But beyond that, the Phillies probably don't need to wait too long for their long-term answer. Philadelphia selected UCLA outfielder Will Gasparino in the sixth round of the 2026 draft. Though he was just drafted, and though he has yet to play in a pro game, we could very well see Gasparino suiting up for the Phillies very soon.
Phillies prospect Will Gasparino could be one of the first 2026 MLB Draft picks to reach the major leagues
Already ranked the sixth-best prospect within Philadelphia's farm system by Baseball America, Gasparino brings more than just hype to the table. He surprisingly fell to the 161st pick despite being a Top 75 projected pick all year, but don't let his draft slide fool you.
Gasparino already has a mature swing. As part of a Bruins team that was ranked No. 1 in the country for the greater part of the 2026 season, Gasparino belted 20 home runs, 12 doubles, and two triples with UCLA this past season. He led this juggernaut squad — which had 10 players drafted this year — with a .659 slugging percentage, too. So it's well-established that he can hit great pitching.
Will Gasparino goes yard at Globe Life? No surprises here.
— FloCollege | Baseball (@FloCollegeBSB) February 27, 2026
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Perhaps Gasparino's best asset is his age. He will be 22 years old in December. So basically, he doesn't need long to develop in the minor leagues. We see his power. We see his 6-foot-6 frame. Now, he just needs a little bit of time adjusting to pro ball before the Phillies think he is big-league ready.
On top of his maturation, he's spent his entire life around the game. His father Billy is the Los Angeles Dodgers' Vice President of Baseball Operations. He was also the team's former Vice President of Amateur Scouting for a half-decade.
So not only has Gasparino performed at a high level at UCLA, but he has the rare experience of pro ball being part of his day-to-day since he was a kid. When you ball all of that up, it should excite Phillies fans. Will Gasparino could very well be the franchise's next cornerstone manning the outfield.
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