The 2025 MLB Draft will take place July 13-14 in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of the week's All-Star festivities. The best high school and college players from across the country will gather and wait to hear their name called, in hopes of being part of the future plan for an organization. A couple of prominent MLB analysts believe the Phillies will be planning to address the catching position with UNC's Luke Stevenson.
Officially beyond halfway through the 2025 MLB season, the Philadelphia Phillies are exactly where they planned to be when the campaign started. The Phillies have a slim one-game lead over the New York Mets, the only team in the division within 10 games of them. Eyes are set on October baseball at the Bank, but executives in the organization have to start thinking much beyond then.
USA Today, Baseball America have the Phillies thinking catching in first round of MLB Draft
The Phillies will have the 26th pick in the first round of the draft this weekend. "Best player available" is usually the mindset, but some analysts believe Philadelphia will have the future of catcher in mind when they are put on the clock.
With the 26th pick in the 2025 MLB Amateur Draft, both USA Today and Baseball America (subscription required) have the Philadelphia Phillies selecting Luke Stevenson, a sophomore catcher out of the University of North Carolina. The soon-to-be 22-year-old smacked 18 home runs this season from the left side of the plate. The Athletic's Kieth Law has him rated as the 27th best player on the board (subscription required) but notes that he believes Stevenson will slip into the second round.
Who Mock Drafts have the Phillies selecting at #26 in the MLB Draft.
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) July 2, 2025
The Athletic: RHP Matthew Fisher
USA Today: C Luke Stevenson
Baseball America: C Luke Stevenson
ESPN: 3B Josh Hammond
MLB Pipeline: 2B Sean Gamble
CBS Sports: SS Daniel Pierce
My MLB Draft: C Luke Stevenson pic.twitter.com/X7fjDsn2bx
J.T. Realmuto is a free agent after this season. He will headline a bleak catching free agency class going into 2026. Eduardo Tait is the No. 4 prospect in the Phillies' system, currently with Single-A Clearwater. Tait is not projected to reach the majors until 2028, according to MLB Pipeline, and might not even be around after this year's trade deadline.
If the Phillies believe they are getting a bargain with Stevenson at the 26th pick, who's to say they don't go for it? The draft can sometimes be a cluster you-know-what, but catching is premier in baseball. If the Phillies have a chance to get a "dude," they'll have to strike.