The Philadelphia Phillies had to wait until the 36th overall selection to choose in the 2026 MLB Draft - that'll happen when you exceed certain CBT thresholds, unfortunately - but they went high-ceiling when they finally got the chance to choose.
Tyler Spangler, a high school shortstop from the same California program that produced Kyle Harrison, fell to the Phillies and came off the board. Though he ended the pre-draft process ranked 53rd overall by MLB Pipeline, the potential upside in the Spangler selection is evident.
MLB's draft broadcast comped Spangler to Colson Montgomery, while MLB Pipeline used Corey Seager as their big-body, fluid power swing equivalent. Will he stick at shortstop long-term? It'll be years before that's official. But after watching Aidan Miller hit an unfortunate injury wall as a high-ceiling high school draftee, the Phillies are ready to play a similar game again (and see if they can sway him away from Stanford).
The Philadelphia Phillies are selecting Tyler Spangler at pick No. 36 of the 2026 MLB draft. (per @JoeDoyleMiLB)
— Tobey Schulman (@tschulmanreport) July 11, 2026
A strong frame and arm, with above average tools offensively, this is a solid pick as the pendulum swings back to the high school crop. pic.twitter.com/VWOIeaEsLr
Phillies draft high school shortstop Tyler Spangler with 36th overall selection
The Phillies love high school picks, and we thought catcher Will Brick was the bat who best fit their philosophy. As it turns out, the Phillies went with slightly higher upside by selecting Spangler.
Anyone who follows the Phils' farm system knows that they require as much high-ceiling talent as possible; this is almost a situation for a bottom-up rebuild. Justin Crawford's graduation has left the top of the system with Gage Wood, youthful breakout Francisco Renteria, and Miller's uncertain future leading the way. Andrew Painter, um, also qualifies as a top participant in Philly's confounding farm under Dave Dombrowski.
Spangler won't be an immediate quick fix or a ceiling-raiser for the entire system, but it's a bet on upside at a slot where they were disadvantaged to begin with. So what's next? The Phillies must spend the rest of their draft pool taking similar swings, unrestricted by "drafting for need". Take upside plays who'd fit into any system and try to raise the ceiling as high as you can. Spangler's a nice start. Now, it's on the Phillies' front office to make sure the enthusiasm continues throughout the weekend.
Colson Montgomery in Phillies pinstripes would be a nice sight to see, though.
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