The Philadelphia Phillies made their early draft plan known on Sunday evening by taking three straight collegiate pitchers. The strategy perhaps signals that former first-rounder Mick Abel and other pitching prospects might see their time with the team running out with the trade deadline around the corner.
The Phillies had already deviated from the traditional first-round high school pick that the organization has done since 2020 and then followed by taking two more college pitchers for a total of three for three on Day 1.
In 2024, the Phillies waited until round eight to select their first pitcher, and in 2023 it was round six. This may be looked at as the Phillies realizing the team needed to shift into a more pitching focus to replenish what was missed the last few years. However, this seems to be a potential foreshadowing of a few weeks when prospects could be dealt at the 2025 MLB trade deadline.
Phillies heavily focus on college arms on Day 1 of 2025 MLB Draft
The Phillies selected three collegiate pitching arms with similar characteristics. Each has a strong fastball and experience that could see them quickly rise in the Phillies organization. The first-round pick was Gage Wood, who throws a consistent 94 mph, topping out at 98. People view this pick as a major upgrade and a steal in the first round.
After taking Wood at No. 26, the Phillies followed suit with another college pitcher at pick No. 63, selecting left-handed arm Cade Obermueller out of Iowa. Obermueller checks in with good value for the Phillies, as MLB Pipeline rankings had him at No. 53. The 21-year-old just finished his junior season at Iowa, throwing for three seasons, and he also has a fastball that has hit 98 mph.
In round three, pick No. 100, the Phillies selected Cody Bowker out of Vanderbilt, who pitched his first two seasons at Georgetown. He spent three years in college baseball with a 9-7 record, while posting a 3.50 ERA and striking out 205 hitters in 162 innings of work. He started his career as a two-way player before transitioning to pitching only at Vanderbilt, becoming their No. 2 pitcher. Bowker's fastball ranges out to 95 mph with a high chase rate.
Mick Abel's days in the Phillies organization could be numbered after draft
Now to the present day, where the Phillies face the trade deadline in a few weeks. They will be aggressive and have trade chips in pitchers Andrew Painter (Phillies' No. 1), Mick Abel (No. 5) and Moisés Chace (No. 7), all prospects in the Phillies' top 10, and the first two in MLB Pipeline's Top 100. It seems clear that the Phillies will not move Painter; however, their three Day 1 draft picks certainly put Abel’s future in jeopardy.
The three picks, especially Wood, are expected to shine in the Phillies system and potentially work quickly through the ranks. This gives the Phillies flexibility to make moves with reinforcements already in place.
Abel came up and threw well in his limited time with the Phillies before stumbling at the end. In his first Triple-A start back in the minors he carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, upping his trade stock one last time. Abel will be a key trade piece come late July, which felt like a hit to the farm system before Sunday. But now, using Abel to bring back something at the deadline seems like a fine move with the solid draft reinforcements the Phillies are bringing in.
Before the draft, the Phillies may have been reluctant to make a big prospect trade, giving up a pitcher, but now they can do so without harm. Outside the top 10, the Phillies' top 30 prospects include nine other pitchers, with two names already seeing big league action in Michael Mercado and Seth Johnson. If teams want an experienced arm, this could create an interesting movement on that front as well.
Day 2 of the 2025 MLB Draft is on Monday, starting at 11:30 a.m. ET and can be watched at MLB.com or MLB.TV.