The 2016 MLB draft is a little less than a month away, and for the first time since 1998, the Phillies hold the first pick. In 1998, the Phils selected outfielder Pat Burrell with the first pick. Burrell helped the Phillies win two divisions titles and the World Series, something the organization hopes one of the names below can replicate.
Our Phillies writers Alec Whitaker (pitchers) and J.P McClatchy (position players) take a look at the possible prospects that general manger Matt Klentak may take first overall on June 9th.
Pitchers
Jason Groome
Position: LHP Age:17 School: Barnegat High School Hometown: Barnegat, NJ Commit: Vanderbilt Height: 6’6 Weight: 220
Scouting Grades: Fastball:65 Curveball: 60 Changeup: 50 Control: 55 Overall: 60
Jason, better known as Jay, Groome is a left handed starter from Barnegat, New Jersey. Groome spent his junior year of high school at IMG academy in Florida, IMG is basically an academy for top high school athletes across the country and gives them an opportunity to play at the national level. After an impressive stint on the summer circuit, Jay decided to return back to New Jersey for his senior year. Unfortunately, Groome and his coach were unaware that Jay had inadvertently violated the New Jersey Athletic Association’s transfer rules by not sitting out two weeks prior to the start of the season. It came as a shock, considering Groome was returning home and not changing schools. All of the games he played in were vacated, including a 19 strikeout no hit performance. Groome is now eligible again and dominating the league. Groome’s fastball has touched 96MPH, but he sits in the 92-94MPH range. The 17 year old has three above average pitches with his fastball, Curveball, and Changeup. He also has excellent control for his age, and has no legitimate red flag. Taking a high school pitcher first overall has only happened three times, and the player hasn’t panned out in any of those situations, but Groome may be very special, with his ceiling being an ace.
Red Flags: Make up and commitment to play in college.
Comparisons: Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers)
Riley Pint
Position: RHP Age: 18 School:St. Thomas Aquinas (HS) Hometown: Lenexa,KS Commit: LSU Height: 6’4 Weight: 210
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 Curveball: 60 Slider: 50 Changeup:60 Control:45 Overall:60
No starter in the 2016 draft has a faster fastball than Kansas high school right handed pitcher Riley Pint. Pint, 18, has hit 102MPH with his dominant fastball, although he usually sits in the 93-97MPH range. Pint counters his fastball with a great curveball, helping to give him comparisons to a couple of young Mets starters. Riley has one of the best arsenals in the draft with his fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup, the latter he does not use that often, but when he does, he can reach 88MPH with it. Pint plays in the highest competition level for Kansas high schools, and last year, his ERA sat at 2.20. To start this season, Pint won his first two outings giving up zero runs, only 3 hits, and striking out 21 in 11 innings. Despite his power pitching, Pint has trouble with control and command on occasion, raising some red flags. Its worth noting that no right handed high school pitcher has ever gone first overall, but with frontline starter potential, Pint may make history in June.
Red Flags: Command, consistency, and commitment to play in college.
Comparisons: Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey(Mets)
A.J. Puk
Position: LHP Age: 21 School: University of Florida Hometown: Cedar Rapids, IA Height: 6’7 Weight: 230
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 Slider: 55 Changeup: 50 Control: 45 Overall:55
Long considered the Phillies choice, Puk has instead put the Phillies in a situation to second guess that. When college junior is on his game, he’s the best in college baseball, when he’s not, like last week when he walked 6 in 3.1 innings, he’s forcing the Phillies and other teams with top picks to start looking elsewhere. Puk hits 99MPH with his fastball, he generally sits in the 93-95MPH range. Puk also has an above average slider which sits in the 90MPH range. Puk is very strong and is able to maintain his velocity deep into outings. Puk’s ERA is 3.04 right now, which is no small feat considering he pitches in the loaded SEC. The issue continues to be his control, as he’s walked 25 batters in 50 innings. If he can regain his control and command, Puk is the most MLB ready pitching prospect out there, the problem is if he can achieve that.
Red Flags: Control and command.
Comparisons: Chris Sale (White Sox)
Dakota Hudson
Position: RHP Age:21 School: Missouri State Hometown: Dunlap, TN Height: 6’5 Weights:215
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 Slider:65 Curveball:50 Changeup: 50 Control:50 Overall: 55
Hudson, a junior, was never thought of a possible frontline starter in the majors during his first two years of college. Dakota came onto the scene during a summer tour in the Cape Cod league last summer. Hudson is a rare find with four plus pitches up his sleeve. He hits 97MPH with his fastball, but sits 93-95MPH, he also adds lots of sink to his fastball. Hudson also posses one of the best sliders in the draft. Hudson may also be the best pitcher in the NCAA right now as well. On Friday, he threw a complete game shut out while allowing only 6 hits and striking out 6 as well, this was Hudson’s third complete game of the season. Hudson may be a more serious candidate for the Phils if he didn’t have trouble finding the strike zone, but with the projection of a very good #2 and the possibility to be an ace, Hudson won’t stay on the board for long.
Red Flags: Trouble throwing strikes.
Comparisons: Taijuan Walker (Mariners)
Position Players
Kyle Lewis
Position: RF Age: 20 School: Mercer Hometown: NcMurray, PA Height: 6’4 Weight:195 Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 Power: 60 Run:50 Arm: 50 Field:50 Overall: 55
Lewis aims to become the first first-rounder ever from Mercer and being in contention for the NCAA lead in batting and home runs could make him a lock for it. Scouts say Lewis resembles a right-hander version of Jason Heyward, but Lewis looks able to generate more power, which is what the Phillies need. Lewis plays center field at Mercer, but his defense isn’t his strong suit so he could potentially end up in right field. Lewis would be a good fit for the Phillies, because they lack power in their farm system and Lewis has easy power to all fields and could possibly accompany that with a high batting average.
Red Flags: Some defensive troubles.
Comparisons: Jason Heyward (Cubs)
Corey Ray
Position: CF Age:21 School: Louisville Hometown: Chicago, IL Height: 5’11 Weight: 185 Bats/Throws: Left/Left
Scouting Grades: Hit:55 Power: 55 Run:60 Arm: 50 Field: 55 Overall:55
Ray was drafted out of high school by the Mariners in the 33rd round of the 2013 MLB Draft, but opted to go to Louisville to get more experience. Ray is considered the best position prospect in 2016 because he offers the best combination of hitting and athletic ability. Ray has more mobility than Kyle Lewis, which is why a lot of scouts think he can make a career in centerfield. But, he does profile as being able to play all three outfield positions. Ray has a quick left-handed bat and makes hard contact giving him the potential to hit for average and some power. I don’t think he’s what the Phillies need though because they have a ton of the guys in the system with speed and good defensive skills. What the Phillies need is a power hitter and someone who can protect Maikel Franco.
Red Flags: No major concerns or red flags.
Comparisons: Lorenzo Cain (Royals)
Delvin Perez
Position: SS Age: 17 School: International Baseball Academy (Puerto Rico) Hometown: Loiza, Puerto Rico Height: 6’3 Weight: 163 Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 Power: 40 Run: 60 Arm:60 Field:60 Overall: 55
Perez is a 17- year old senior at the International Baseball Academy and he is another extremely talented Puerto Rican shortstop. Perez possesses the necessary skills to stay at short stop long-term. He has good speed and instincts, which allows him to have great range. Perez also showcases a plus arm, has soft hands, and his only flaw defensively is that he tries to do too much sometimes. Perez’s bat is no where near his glove, but they can be worked on. His approach at the plate and pitch recognition needs to be refined. Perez’s speed plays offensively and with maturation, he can develop some more power. With J.P. Crawford not too far off, it wouldn’t make much sense for the Phillies to draft a shortstop, even though premium middle- infielders can be hard to find at times.
Red Flags: Tries to do too much defensively sometimes, needs better pitch recognition.
Comparisons: Carlos Correa(Astros)
Nick Senzel
Position: 3rd Base Age: 20 School: Tennessee Hometown: Knoxville, TN Height: 6’1 Weight: 205 Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Scouting Grades: Hit: 55 Power: 50 Run:50 Arm:55 Field: 55 Overall: 55
Senzel is a junior at Tennessee and after having a solid first two years, he has taken his game to another level this year. Senzel has become a third baseman with a solid arm and awareness at the hot corner. Senzel could be the first position player off the board in the 2016 draft and he looks to become the highest pick in Tennessee history. Senzel is a right-handed bat that can reach all fields and he has excellent plate discipline, which can possibly allow him to hit for average and power. Senzel isn’t going to be worth the number one overall pick for the Phillies, unless Senzel can play somewhere else because third base is taken by Maikel Franco.
Red Flags: No major concerns or red flags.
Comparisons: Todd Frazier (White Sox)
Our Picks
We now take a look at who our writers would take with the first overall pick.
Alec: LHP Jason Groome
Despite being a high schooler, Groome is the best pitcher in this draft. Groome may need a longer time in the minors than Puk, but he does not posses the control problems Puk has, which could keep Puk in the minors longer than expected. The Phillies have a surplus of pitching in the organization, so there is no need to rush Groome. Let him take his time and develop into his ace potential, then in 4 or 5 years, bring him up and let him help lead what should be an already loaded rotation. Groome does not come with much concern, except that he may opt to go to college instead, which happened the last time a high school pitcher was taken first overall in 2014 when Brady Aiken decided not to sign with the Astros and attend college instead. Some have compared the 17 year old to Clayton Kershaw, I don’t know if he’ll ever reach that stature, but chances are he will be a very good pitcher for a long time.
J.P.: OF Kyle Lewis
The Phillies organization seems to be lacking one thing, power bats. Well, Lewis may be the solution to this problem. The outfielder has a great amount of power potential and may hit upwards of 25 home runs per year. Lewis also has the capability to hit for average, another trait that seems to be hard to find with this Phillies team. Lewis fits in with the Phillies the best out of all the position players in this draft. With top prospect J.P Crawford a short stop, Perez wouldn’t be the choice, the same goes for Senzel with Franco at the hot corner and Corey Ray would have an uphill battle behind both Herrera and prospect Roman Quinn. Being an advanced college hitter, Lewis may not need more than a year or two until he’s impacting the Phillies lineup, much like the last outfielder taken first overall by the Phillies did.
The Phillies Pick
We now take a look at who we believe the Phillies will take with the first pick at this time.
Phillies: LHP A.J. Puk
It is still believed that the Phillies are leaning towards University of Florida ace A.J. Puk. Despite his control problems, the Phillies like that Puk is seasoned, playing three seasons in college baseball’s most loaded conference. Puk also has the ability to advance rather quickly in the minors, something he’ll have to do, considering he’s already 21. Puk possesses ace potential and there’s no reason he can’t reach that ceiling if he can refine his control and command on the mound.
Kyle Lewis seems to be a close second at this time, and he’s seemingly closing the narrow gap between himself and Puk daily. The Phillies really like his ability to hit for average and power, along with above average speed. Jason Groome is a distant third at this time, his suspension hurt his chances at being taken first overall by the hometown team, but if any more concerns about Puk arise, and if the Phillies are locked in on taking a pitcher, then Groome would most likely jump Lewis and be selected first overall.
A lot can change over the next three weeks, we will keep you posted on any changes in the Phillies draft board.
*Note: Scouting grades are graded between 20-80 with 80 being the highest and 20 being the lowest.
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