The Philadelphia Phillies' front office surprised some by selecting a multitude of college arms in the 2025 MLB Draft. This approach differs greatly from the organization's draft strategy over the past few seasons, but it seems that there is a plan in place: stockpile arms who can make an impact quickly.
While the most noteworthy selection was Gage Wood, the Arkansas standout, other choices are equally intriguing.
Fifth-round pick Gabe Craig is one of those pitchers. In fact, he has one quality that has drawn some comparisons to current Phillies' reliever Orion Kerkering.
Phillies' fifth-round pick Gabe Craig has a slider drawing comparisons to Orion Kerkering
Craig was selected with the 161st pick out of Baylor University. He is a unique draft prospect in that he spent six years at various colleges and junior colleges before being taken by the Phillies.
His final season at Baylor demonstrated why the Phillies' scouting department felt he was worthy of a pick. His most recent spring featured an 0.56 ERA and a 0.50 WHIP while compiling 51 strikeouts over 32 innings.
Gabe Craig is disgusting.
— Baylor Baseball (@BaylorBaseball) March 16, 2025
He has struck out EACH OF THE LAST EIGHT BATTERS HE'S FACED! 🤢🤢🤢#SicEm 🐻⚾️ | #Together pic.twitter.com/3ARvN24KdJ
At 24, Craig is on the older side of those drafted, however, his age may mean that he makes his major league debut faster than others in this draft class.
While he is older, that should not be a concern. The Phillies feel that they got a good one in Craig. The assistant general manager of amateur scouting Brian Barber touted his fifth-rounder's talent, especially his debilitating slider.
"He might have one of the best sliders in the entire country this year," Barber said. "On our scale it would grade out as a 70, a well above-average slider on the major league scale. He's able to put guys away with it, he's able to throw it for strikes. He's up in the mid-90s with his fastball as well, but it's his slider, we see it as a wipeout pitch, and it gives him a chance to be a pretty good reliever."
In his final collegiate season, opposing hitters batted just .111 against Craig's slider, including 43 punch-outs, according to his MLB Pipeline scouting report. With a solid mix of a hard fastball and effective slider, Craig drew comparisons to Kerkering from some in the front office. Barber went on to say.
"We had Bryce Harman, who was our area scout for Orion Kerkering, put some comparisons to his slider at the time," Barber said.
Kerkering, who is in his third season with the Phillies, is the same age as Craig. The reliever is known for his two-pitch mix of a hard fastball and his sweeper which he uses as his out pitch. It is easy to see the link between the two players.
The Phillies will hope that their fifth-rounder can move through the minor league system like Kerkering did back in 2023, when he advanced through each level of the farm system in one season.
After hearing Barber's remarks, it appears as though Craig is destined for a role in the bullpen, an area in which the club needs help. While it is not a definite that he gets to the big leagues in 2025, a promotion next year is certainly feasible.