Kevin Goldstein checks in with his mock draft today, and he comes to the same conclusion I did.
The Phillies tend to favor young, toolsy players with their top picks, but they went against the grain last year when Rice southpaw Joe Savery fell into their lap. There’s not going to be a player like that for them this year, and based on where it looked like he would go as recently as a week ago, Collier is a nice find here. Once seen as a top 15 pick, Collier’s game is a bit on the crude side, but his tools all grade out well, and many think his potential ranks with any high school position player out there.
Selection: Zach Collier, OF, Chino Hills HS (CA)
Jim Callis has us grabbing Shooter Hunt
24. PHILADELPHIA. With Matusz and Crow seeking major league contracts and Scheppers getting hurt, Hunt was positioned as the best slot-money college starter just a couple of weeks ago. He hasn’t pitched well down the stretch and is sliding, but his stuff is too good to drop out of the first round. The Phillies have been associated with toolsy high school athletes such as fast-rising Connecticut shortstop Anthony Hewitt and California outfielder Zach Collier, but they may wait until their sandwich pick at No. 34 to take that plunge.
Projected Pick: SHOOTER HUNT, rhp, Tulane.
Jonathon Mayo ends up going with Zach Collier as his final guess.
24. Philadelphia Phillies: Zach Collier, OF, Chino Hills HS, Calif.
The Phillies don’t shy away from the toolsy high schoolers and could very well take someone like Anthony Hewitt in this spot, with a sleeper like Destin Hood getting some consideration as well.
Last projection: Ethan Martin
Keith Law adds to the Collier party
24. Philadelphia — Zach Collier, OF, Chino Hills (Calif.) H.S.
Collier won’t get past the Twins at No. 27 if the Phillies go with Hewitt or Jason Knapp here.
I saw one mock draft that had the phillies picking Collier with the 1st rounder, then in the supplemental round at 34 taking Mike Montgomery a lefty high school pitcher from California. Do you have any info on Montgomery? He seems to be in their mold as far as pitchers go.
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I did a writeup on Montgomery a few days ago here
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Every year as the draft approaches you form Ideas about who you’d love for them to pickup. Then slowly more and more you see the names associated with their pick and you realize who you really don’t want them to pick and start to settle on guys you wouldn’t be upset with. Collier is the kinda guy I wouldn’t be upset by. Heartbroken by a scenario where Shooter Hunt was chosen just before them though.
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MIKE (NY): WHO DO YOU THINK THE PHILLIES WILL TAKE IN THE 1ST ROUND
Keith Law: (2:07 PM ET ) Hearing them linked to Hewitt and Knapp, and to some of the college relievers.
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Snapper Bean (Greater Kensington): Hey Jim, What are the chances of Hosmer falling to the Phils? If so, would they break slot considering that they may have to trade Howard in the coming year or two?
SportsNation John Manuel: I think we have Hosmer going quite a bit higher than that, but there should be other 1Bs available later if they want to go that route. They found Howard in the fifth round, I don’t see a tools-oriented Pat Gillick/Mike Arbuckle/Marti Wolever team going the 1B route in the first round even if Hosmer were available. That’s not been that group’s MO in any org.
Kevin (Fresno, CA): Where do you think Tanner Scheppers will get drafted? Is he a first rounder? I’ve seen different mocks that have him all over the place. Some say he’s one of the best pitchers in the draft and others claim he’s a 3rd rounder. What do you think?
SportsNation John Manuel: Before he got hurt he was going in the first 15 picks for sure. Now, no one is quite sure what the injury is; all I have on the record is “significant wear and tear” on the shoulder. It’s difficult to know where he fits but he should be a decent flier for a team with extra picks; frankly he makes sense for a club like the Mets or Brewers in the supplemental round.
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Wolever’s and Arbuckle’s comments have me optimistic that they might go aggressive tomorrow, but I’ll have to see it to believe it.
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Guys I hope come off the board before the Phillies pick:
Gerrit Cole
Jason Castro
Dan Schlereth
Ryan Perry
Andrew Cashner
Anthony Hewitt
SQUIRE
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You know, as weird as it sounds, I wouldn’t mind Cole. Though I know theres no chance they’ll take him at 24 because of the slot money. I want no part of the rest of those guys though, so I’d have to agree. I’m super pumped for tomorrow.
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Salisbury/Zolecki mention 6 guys of interest to the Phillies and it isn’t the 6 I was hoping for:
Kyle Skipworth (won’t get there)
Zach Collier
Anthony Hewitt – I think we should prepare ourselves here
Josh Fields
Ryan Perry
Ike Davis
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Man, that’s a real worst case scenario. I think there is real hope that most of those guys are gone before it gets to us. I really don’t want Ike Davis, Perry or Hewitt.
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I’m not well connected to any of these names, but why don’t we want Hewitt?
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Because he has the highest ceiling of any one in the draft
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Actually, its because he can’t hit. He’s the best athlete in the draft, which means he has tools galore, but he basically can’t hit, and thats facing weaker competition in the Northeast.
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As I posted in today’s thread, Jim Callis has his final mock up, and has us taking Shooter Hunt.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/mock-draft/2008/266271.html
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I think fish expressed exactly what I go through as well. I don’t care for the names associated with the Phillies and at this point am hoping for a pick that I “won’t hate” rather than one that I would like or love.
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Where’s Cutter Dykstra projected to go? 2nd Round?
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MLB.com has the Rays taking Tim Beckham with the #1 pick.
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