Looking ahead to the 2018 draft

[Austinfan]

Travis Swaggerty

Ugh, Swaggerty looks like a better fit but we have lots of fast CF types. He does have a good eye, his power has steadily increased, he doesn't strike out much, but how good of competition does he face?

Madrigal just doesn't make sense for us, for one thing, for a short guy he doesn't walk that much, and given his size and limited power projection, OBP is his ticket to the Show. His low walk rate is probably not going to change, if a 5'7 guy can't work a walk from college pitchers, he's not going to do so in the Show. Which makes me think their "interest" in him is a red herring, maybe to get a discount from someone they really want.

I'm hoping for Bohm, he's shown steady improvement, and had a real nice summer in the Cape Cod league, always a good litmus test for a top prospect.

[Squire]

Brady Singer v. Casey Mize tonight. I still think Singer should be in the conversation

[Purduke]

Re: Singer, wonder who the last kid was who seemed to be the consensus #1 going into the season and stayed there. Een the lefthander from N Carolina State a couple years ago (forget his name), who seemed absolutely a cinch, got talked down during the season. Ended up in the majors two years later.

Almost seems like a build them up so we can tear them down thing.

[kmc1019]

Carlos Rodon is the lefty you are thinking of from NC State. Super-talented, but has been plagued by arm injuries and command challenges since making the majors.

Singer and Mize both outstanding in their matchup tonight, with Singer and Florida coming out on top.

I would absolutely draft either Mize or Singer if available at 3. I am not sure why Singer has dropped in some mocks. His ceiling is Nola with higher velocity.

[fish]

Singer with 7 innings, 1 er, 8 k
Mize 7 innings, 2 er, 10 k

Mize has a whistling 4-seamer that he doesn’t use enough and a good 2 seamer. Even with that good fastball it seemed like he was throwing at least 40% sliders, splitters, and cutters that landed up in the zone with quite a bit resulting in a few hard hit balls (including a bomb by Jonathan India). Really good stuff, just didn’t seem like he was sequencing well or consistently aggressive with his fastball. Based on that performance alone I wouldn’t say he looks like a clear cut 1-1.

Singer on the other hand was aggressive with his fastball, spotting it well, getting good life and weak contact. His slider reminds me of Nola’s in college, which is to say about half the time it looks solid average, the other half not as good. Not nearly the number of changeups as he threw last week against Kansas- which looked like a pretty good pitch for him but I guess he’s not comfortable with it.

[Squire]

MLBPipeline Updated their draft rankings:

1. Casey Mize, RHP
2. Carter Stewart, RHP
3. Nick Madrigal, SS
4. Matt Liberatore, LHP
5. Brady Singer, RHP
6. Shane McClanahan, LHP
7. Travis Swaggerty, OF
8. Jarred Kelenic, OF
9. Joey Bart, C
   10.Jonathan India, 3B
   11.Alec Bohm, 3B

[andyb]

Kiley McDaniel on yesterday's Fangraphs chat: "hearing 2-3-4 will go Swaggerty-Bohm-Madrigal now, with Cincy at 5 being the first wild card where people don’t really have a beat on it."

[Squire]

I'm OK with Bohm. I think I prefer Singer again but the scouty types seem down on him. Ever since Bohm came on the radar, he's been really mediocre at the plate.

[andyb]

Ever since Bohm came on the radar, he's been really mediocre at the plate.

The cynic of course would say he would fit right in then. I DO think Bohm has good upside and maybe taking a chance on a high upside pick is something we should do after the less risky guys the last 3 years not setting the house on fire. McDaniel at least had some positive words on Haseley after seeing him this week (sounds like he is writing a post shortly). Said he has improved his swing and still thinks he is a bottom half of the top 100 prospect. It is just a profile with 50-55 speed and so-so power for a corner OF. So the end result is more likely a good but not star player.

[Squire]

BA Updated their rankings today too.

1. Mize
2. Liberatore
3. Madrigal
4. McClanahan
5. Singer
6. Bohm
7. Bart
8. Stewart
9. Turang
10. Swaggerty

[teabag259]

We need a “sure thing” at 3. To me that is Singer. I think we would all happily take another Nola.

[fish]

The cynic of course would say he would fit right in then. I DO think Bohm has good upside and maybe taking a chance on a high upside pick is something we should do after the less risky guys the last 3 years not setting the house on fire

In some ways he's pretty similar to the last three 1st rounders in that he shows a good approach at the plate and slightly above average athleticism. What he does have that the others don't (besides playing 3rd) is big power. For whatever reason he doesn't seem to be driving the ball and he's hitting a lot of balls the other way the last few weeks that I've seen him- but the power is definitely in there, there's no hoping he grows into it like Randolph, Moniak and Haseley.

Any of Mize/Singer/Bohm or Liberatore and i'd be excited. I couldn't get upset about Madrigal because I have confidence he'll be a good big leaguer, jut not necessarily the kind we need right now. Bart looks like he's gone to the Jorge Alfaro school of hitting- swing early and often.

[Squire]

BA Mock:

1. Tigers - Mize
2. Giants - Bart
3. Phillies - Bohm
4. White Sox - Madrigal
5. Reds - Liberatore
6. Mets - McClanahan
7. Padres - Stewart
8. Braves - Rocker
9. A's - Singer
10. Pirates - Turang
11. Orioles - Hankins
12. Blue Jays - India
13. Marlins - Kelenic
14. Mariners - Swaggerty
15. Rangers - Rodriguez

[Austinfan]

I think it's obvious the Phillies will go Bohm or the pitcher they like best on the board.
Madrigal makes no sense with Crawford, Hernandez and Kingery, and Brito et al in the minors.
If Franco doesn't hit this year, you could put Kingery at 3B until Bohm is ready.

[nycphils]

And Gamboa

[Squire]

Bohm with a 2 run Homer tonight at UCF.

Update: Had a nice night. Finished 2-4, HR, BB, 3 RBI, Run

[allentown]

Phillies Minor Thoughts with a nice article on the merits of Liberatore at 1.3. I agree he is the best H.S. pitcher and it's a plus that he is a lefty. The attrition of H.S. pitching draftees is a bit scary, but I think Liberatore vs a college hitter like Bohm comes down largely to 1) do the Phillies now have enough talent in the system to make it to the WS with addition of a couple of FAs and 2) do we think Franco can be an average MLB 3B (or can one of our FA signings be a plus 3B?}

If we have enough talent to buy our way to a WS shot, then a guy like Liberatore is a good choice to extend our period of competitiveness by half a decade. If 3B is covered, either by a plan to sign a FA 3B which is more than a wish and prayer or Franco can improve from what he is now, then Boihm becomes a bit less appealing.

If we really do need pitching most, top of rotation pitching, sooner rather than later to reach WS, then I'm looking hard at Singer. Mize would be great, but he isn't falling to us.

[Squire]

My ever changing board is currently
1. Mize
2. Singer
3. Liberatore
4. Bohm

[kmc1019]

Squire, agree on names and order.

For an organization with stated philosophy of "grow arms, buy bats", the system at the lower levels (since new regime took over and excluding Sixto) is pretty devoid of high ceiling starters. And they haven't exactly excelled at selecting hitters who flourish in pro ball.

I would take any of Mize, Singer and Liberatore - and at least one has to be available to the Phils at #3.

[zambonir]

For an organization with stated philosophy of "grow arms, buy bats", the system at the lower levels (since new regime took over and excluding Sixto) is pretty devoid of high ceiling starters.

Interesting point. That was a MacPhail thing, dating back to the Orioles if not before. I know he's restated it since taking over the Phillies - but the reality is, he probably has little input into the draft and it may not be a mantra Klentak and Almaraz believe in as strongly. Of course there's also only been two drafts (and some injuries) under this group. And, they decided to buy an arm (three if you count the relievers).