This is the Phuture Phillies forum for the discussion of prospects eligible for the amateur draft that is scheduled to be held in about 4-5 months (July 11-13, 2021). You can place video, scouting reports, or just comments here. You can reference these weekly discussions on the menu above.
Feel free to discuss the 2021 international signing period, too. It began on January 15, 2021, and runs through June 25, 2021.
This space is for the discussion of prospects in the upcoming draft and international signing period. This is NOT a place for you to complain about past picks/signings or the organization’s past/current draft and international philosophies.
Phuture Phillies 
Thanks for the new thread, Jim. It’s opened just in time to talk about the beginning of the college baseball season. Most teams opened play this past weekend. Here’s a look at some players who could be available for the Phillies this July.
The top pitching matchup of the weekend occurred when Mississippi St faced Texas. Saturday’s game featured a couple of dudes who could go in the first round this summer:
* Ty Madden RHP Texas … could go in the top 10 if he throws well this season. Madden carries a four pitch mix (including a mid to upper 90’s FB). The 6’3″, 215 lb hurler looked great early, but ran into trouble later vs the Bulldogs. He totaled 4 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K.
* Christian MacLeod LHP Mississippi St … is a high floor prospect. The 6’4″, 220 lb RS SO uses plus command of his low 90’s FB and high spin CB to rack up lots of K’s (15 K/9 IP last year). MacLeod looked sharp in his debut vs the 9th ranked Longhorns. He went 4 IP, 1 R, 6 H, 0 BB, 7 K.
* Jaden Hill RHP LSU … is another guy who is projected to go top 10. However, I don’t believe that is written in stone just yet. The 6’4″, 235 lb hurler has TOR stuff, but has accumulated <22 IP in his first two seasons at LSU because of injuries and the shortend COVID season. He worked strictly out of the BP last year. On Saturday, he started vs Air Force. Hill went 4 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K. Hill threw upper 90's early, but was at 93-94 by the third inning.
* Ryan Cusick RHP Wake Forest … is your ultimate high risk-high reward prospect. He's got incredible size (6'6", 230 lbs), an even more incredible FB (up to 99 MPH), two high spin breakers (CB & SL), and an avg CH. That allowed him to average a whopping 17.3 K/9 IP last season. The problem is … Cusick's control is still a work in progress (7.3 BB/9 IP & 1.84 WHIP last season).
On Friday night, the Deamon Deacon "ace" totaled 6 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 2 BB, 9 K vs Northeastern. Cusick was still hitting 97 in the 6th inning.
* Tommy Mace RHP Florida … returned to school for his senior season (actually a second junior season because the NCAA gave everyone an extra year of eligibility) after putting out a high bonus demand last summer. On Friday, the 6’6″, 210 lb thrower used two FBs (95 MPH 4-seam and 92 MPH 2-seam), a cutter, and CB to beat 21st ranked Miami. Mace totaled 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 8 K.
* Andrew Abbott LHP UVA … is an interesting name to keep an eye on (post round one) for a couple of reasons: he’s got really good stuff, and he has a history with Brian Barber. Abbott has been used almost exclusively as a reliever at Virginia in his first three seasons, but has been promoted to the team’s Friday night starter this year. The 6’0″, 170 lb southpaw primarily lives on a 93-95 MPH FB that he throws up in the zone with lots of life, and a plus CB that he tunnels with his FB. As a starter, he’s now mixing in a developing CH. At Virginia, Abbott has a long history of punching out batters (13.7 K/9 IP during his career, including 18.9 in the abridged 2020 COVID season). This weekend, Abbott pushed the Cavaliers past UConn by totaling 5.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 9 K.
Brian Barber was part of the NYY’s scouting dept that selected Abbott out of HS on day three of the 2017 draft. He obviously turned them down.
Here’s what some of the top draft eligible hitters did.
* Matt McLain SS UCLA … came out of the gates like a house on fire. McLain went 5 for 11 (HR & 2 doubles), 1 R, 3 RBI’s, 2 BB, 1 K. However, it wasn’t enough to keep the #2 ranked Bruins from dropping two of three to San Francisco.
I probably won’t mention McLain again because there’s no way he’ll be around at 1-13.
* Adrian Del Castillo C Miami … is a career .332/.428/.565 slasher in college. He (and the Hurricanes) took two of three from top ranked Florida this weekend. The 5’11”, 205 lb LHH went 4 for 15 (2 doubles), 3 R, 4 RBI’s, 2 BB, 2 K.
* Jud Fabian CF Florida … is currently the most highly ranked college OFer for the draft, despite a very underwhelming career stat line. The 6’1″, 200 lb RHH has only slashed .247/.367/.460 in 239 AB’s as a Gator. He’s all tooled up, but he’ll need to begin producing to get picked in the top 10.
It was not a good start for Fabian vs Miami. He collected just one single in 13 AB’s. To make matters worse, the Florida CFer K’ed 7 times (vs 3 BB).
UPDATE: Fabian went 2 (singles) for 6 last night vs North Florida last night.
* Zack Gelof 3B Virginia … is/has been my sleeper position player for the draft. The Delaware native has always been good with the glove, but he has matured into a dynamic bat. Gelof raised his OPS nearly .450 points from his froh to soph seasons (.313/.377/.396, 2 HRs in 227 ABs in 2019 vs 349/.469/.746, 5 HRs in 63 ABs in 2020).
Gelof was good this weekend vs UConn. He went 4 for 10 (double), 2 R, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 1 K, 1 SB.
Yesterday, Gelof continued his hot start when he went 3 for 5 (including a double and a 409′ HR), 3R, 2 RBIs vs VMI.
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The HS season has even begun in some areas of the country.
* Brady House SS/3B … is the tooled up prepster who could slide to the Phillies this summer like Mick Abel did last year. Brady is built like a “House”. The 6’3″, 215 lb RHH has plus bat speed and plus power that produces monster HRs. He’s off to a torrid start (ignore the first tweet below, see tweets 2 and 3 for House).
Actually both tweets are of Brady House bombs. Sorry about that.
mechanics kinda remind me of Spencer Howard
This might have been mentioned before but have there been any reports on who the Phils are “on” in the international market for ’21. And I haven’t been on in a while, so it was great to hear the news about your wife, Jim. See p up the good reports.
Gmwannab … I haven’t heard/read any specific names linked to the Phillies, but Eric Longenhagen recently put out a detailed explanation of how COVID has turned the J2 signing periods into the wild west. Some early agreements have been nixed, and some players who had handshake agreements are being poached because teams are now not allowed to trade for additional J2 money.
You can read about it here https://blogs.fangraphs.com/international-player-update/
Hinkie i heard one name but cant find him, Henry Aldrich ss
Of all the Videos posted I think I like the Cusick kid the best…
Draft the arms buy the bats!
Plus I want my $2
One of my favorite topics covered………..great stuff Hinkie!
Hinkie..great work.
Maybe House will be aviate at 13 and the Philies can put their bid in……he seems like he will be a good pick and ready to go at third in 3/4 years.
aviate?????..auto-disconnect
‘available’
For a few seconds there, I thought aviate was a new term, kind of like helium was a few years back.
Yeah……for me, a combination of aging eyes, phatty phingers, and sadly, a growing illiteracy of new and latest electronic advancements.
I’m slowly turning into rocco. 🙂
Great work Hinkie! I am a big fan of Sal Frelick. I think he has a lot of upside as a college player either in center field are second base.
Hah….he was comp by one site to Phillies GM Sam Fuld when he was a player.
Frelick seems like a fun player. I’m a fan of Frelick’s teammate, Cody Morissette.
One college team I’m looking forward to following this season is Louisville. The Cardinals have a few prospects who should be in play when the Phillies pick at 1-13.
* Henry Davis … is an uber athletic catcher who Wows! with the glove and the bat. The 6’2″, 210 lb Bedford, NY native is slashing .500/.625/1.000 after Louisville’s first four games. He’s also hit two bombs, collected 3 BB, 1 HBP, and has yet to K. Behind the dish, Davis is a plus defender.
I’ve previously mentioned to v1, Romus, and a few others, I’m not big on using first round picks on catchers, but Davis has definitely got first round talent.
* Alex Binelas … is a power hitting 3Bman. The Nationals selected the 6’3″, 215 lb slugger on day 3 of the 2018 draft out of a Wisconsin HS. Binelas was really good as a freshman (.291/.383/.612 , 14 HRs). Last season was a washout. A hand injury limited the him to just 7 ABs. It’s been a slow start for the LHH third sacker so far this year. He’s collected just one single in 13 ABs.
* Levi Usher … can play any OF spot, and has Casey Martin type tools (plus wheels, arm, and bat speed). In addition to the tools, Usher has a track record of success. The 6’1″, 200 lb LHH spent one year at a JUCO and batted .409 with 36 SBs there. Last season (his first at Louisville), Usher slashed .411/.484/.571, and swiped 11 bases in 12 attempts. The Iowa native is off to a good start in 2021 slashing .333/.375/.667, and has 3 SB in four games.
Glenn Albanese … is a RHP who’s pitched well for the past year, but really started climbing draft boards last fall. The 6’6″, 220 lb. RHP worked out of the Cardinal’s BP last season at 92-93 MPH with a solid breaking ball and averaged 18.7 K/9 IP in the shortened COVID season. He went on to pitch as a starter in the Northwoods Summer League, and totaled 48 K’s in 28 IP. Albanese really opened eyes during fall ball at Louisville when he upped his velo to 94-96 T98 (and stayed there into the middle innings) and increased his spin rate to 2600 RPM. Albanese used his new and improved FB, plus CB, and avg CH to sytmie Bellarmine last Friday night (5 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 7 K).
There are a couple of other Louisville Cardinals who the Phillies could consider on day two (or three) of the draft.
* Jack Perkins … is a RHP who has been a swiss army knife for the Cardinals. The 6’1″, 200 lb hurler has served as a starter, closer, and fireman. Perkins is a TJ survivor who features a 95 MPH FB and a plus SL.
* Luke Brown … is an excellent defensive CF’er, with some of the best speed in all of college baseball. Offensively, he’s mostly a slap hitter who will also lay down bunts to use his legs to reach base. The 5’10”, 185 lb LHH started his career at Western Kentucky, then went JUCO for his soph season before landing at Louisville in 2020. He’s a .356/.399/.400 career slasher. So far in 2021, the OFer is .333/.412/.333, and is 2 for 2 on SB attempts.
Brian Barber has a history with Brown. Barber scouted the kid as the NYY’s national cross checker before the Yankees picked Brown in the 25th round of the 2019 draft.
Could be a 4th or 5th round hidden gem.
Phillies seem to do well in that 5th round.
Could they go back to back prep pitchers (after Mick Abel last year) with their first round picks?
I wouldn’t put too much stock into this (5 months out from the draft) … but … Mason McRae says the Phillies like the top two HS arms for the 2021 draft.
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I’ve posted video of these two kids in the past. I’ll do it again for anyone who may have previously missed it.
* Andrew Painter … is the consensus top rated HS arm. He’s long and projectable (6’6″, 210 lb), and has very good command of a four pitch mix (including a 95 MPH, SL, CB, and CH).
* Chase Petty … was born in Millville(!), but now lives in Somers Point. He’s probably got the quickest arm in the draft. The 6’1″, 185 lb, 17 YO RHP already hits 100 MPH. His second best offering is a two plane SL.
Hinkie….o sole mio……..no Solometo?
I like Solometo a lot. I just posted video of Painter and Petty because they are the two HS arms Mason McRae links to the Phillies at 1-13.
Right now Callis/Mayo have him at 35….but wondering if they downgraded his FB 5 points to 55….cannot remember if it was 60 early in the year.
FB-55……..SLDR-55
CHANGEUP-50
CONTROL-55
OVERALL-55
…but he could be a first round pick in the teens
So there should be some talent available at 13. Luck will play a big role.
Excellent ACC game yesterday! UNC beat Virginia 3-2. The game featured a couple of Cavaliers I wrote about earlier in this thread: Andrew Abbott (7 IP, 3 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 6 K) and Zack Gelof (1 for 4). Gelof nearly tied the game in the 9th, but was robbed by this kid:
* Justice Thompson … is a JUCO transfer who showed incredible athleticism in his first game as a Tar Heel. The 6’4″, 185 lb Instantaneously put himself onto the 2021 draft prospect map.
1. Jordan Lawlar
2. Jack Leiter
3. Kumar Rocker
4. Jaden Hill
5. Matt McLain
6. Marcelo Mayer
7. Brady House
8. Gunnar Hoglund
9. Adrian Del Castillo
10. Kahlil Watson
13. Jud Fabian
14. Ty Madden
21. Sal Frelick
22. Andrew Painter
24. Alex Binelas
32. Eric Cerantola
35. Henry Davis
41. Tommy Mace
43. Christian MacLeod
44. Ryan Cusick
15 others of note:
Anthony Solometo
Zack Gelof
Benny Montgomery
Cody Morissette
Levi Usher
Fabian @ 13…….will the Phillies have a Fabian soon?
Hinkie…LOL…very good.
Hinkie
In addition to the Phillies, I am a die-hard Tar Heel fan. Justice Thompson is a junior college [Northwest Florida] transfer playing as a draft-eligible sophomore at UNC. I have seen him a couple of times on the ACC Network, and he is a stud athlete who has been raking since he came to Carolina. It will be interesting to see where he is drafted this summer.
Here are a few highlights from the weekend.
* Jud Fabian … shook off a horrific opening weekend by going bananas this week. The Florida CFer went 8 for 22 (including 4 HR’s), 8 R, 12 RBI.
* Henry Davis … is now at .409/.567/.682 with 8 BB/HBP vs 0 K after a 4 for 13 series vs Western Michigan this weekend. The Louisville backstop should be a mid first round pick.
* Sal Frelic … is the little BC CFer who makes the Eagles offense go. The 5’9″, 175 lb LHH went 6 for 13 (HR & double) vs Duke this weekend. For the season, Frelic is slashing .429/.484/.607.
* Justice Thompson … is flying up draft boards. The former JUCO CFer helped UNC take two of three from Virginia this weekend by going 6 for 10 (2 doubles & HR), 4 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB, and was incredible with the glove. As a Tar Heel in 2021, Thompson is at .520/.586/.920.
* Jaden Hill … has just a slim chance (only because of past injuries) of lasting to the 1-13 pick. If he continues pitching like he did Friday vs Youngstown St. (6 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 4K), Hill will be a pipe dream for the Phils.
* Ty Madden … was up to 98 MPH again this weekend. He dominated BYU 7 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 11 K.
* Gunnar Hoglund … is a former first round pick (1-36) who turned down the Pirates for the Univ of Mississippi. The 6’4″, 220 lb RHP saw his four pitch mix tick up in the fall. He’s now up to 96 MPH, and his secondaries have all jumped a grade. On Saturday, Hoglund went 7 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 0 BB, 10 K vs Central Florida.
* Tommy Mace … was very good again this week. He totaled 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 11 K.
* Ryan Cusick … might have the most incredible “stuff” in the draft. His FB touches 100. His breaker is plus. However, the control and command still lag behind. On Saturday, the 6’6″, 235 lb RHP went 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 12 K vs Notre Dame.
Speaking of heat throwers …
* Eric Cerantola … made his first appearance of the season. The Mississippi St RHP missed last weekend with COVID. The 6’5″, 220 lb Canadian was throwing hard, but the results weren’t good (2.1 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K).
* Christian MacLeod … had better results for Mississippi St this weekend. The southpaw totaled 4 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K against Tulane.
Finally …
* Andrew Painter … who is the highest ranking prep pitcher, rebounded from a shaky first outing to reestablish his draft ranking.
* Gunnar Hoglund … is a former first round pick (1-36) who turned down the Pirates for the Univ of Mississippi. The 6’4″, 220 lb RHP saw his four pitch mix tick up in the fall. He’s now up to 96 MPH, and his secondaries have all jumped a grade. On Saturday, Hoglund went 7 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 0 BB, 10 K vs Central Florida.
* Tommy Mace … was very good again this week. He totaled 6 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 11 K.
* Ryan Cusick … might have the most incredible “stuff” in the draft. His FB touches 100. His breaker is plus. However, the control and command still lag behind. On Saturday, the 6’6″, 235 lb RHP went 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 12 K vs Notre Dame.
Speaking of heat throwers …
* Eric Cerantola … made his first appearance of the season. The Mississippi St RHP missed last weekend with COVID. The 6’5″, 220 lb Canadian was throwing hard, but the results weren’t good (2.1 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K).
* Christian MacLeod … had better results for Mississippi St this weekend. The southpaw totaled 4 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K against Tulane.
Finally …
* Andrew Painter … who is the highest ranking prep pitcher, rebounded from a shaky first outing to reestablish his draft ranking.
It appears he is a Kyle Lewis type player…athletic, tall and able to play CF…though he may have a tick more speed than Lewis, who grade a 50-Run coming out 5 years ago.,
Also assume Thompson has a 60 Power tool…same as Lewis
From the snippets of video he does look like an exciting player. More of a second round pick for me though.
KLaw did his initial ranking in the Athletic today of Top 30. I usually disagree a lot with him, but bringing it up because I found a couple of interesting things. He did not have Jud Fabian in his Top 30, and I have seen him mocked to us. Also, no Andrew Painter, who I have also seen us get in mock drafts. And, around pick 15, he has 4 College RHPs, Mace, Fitts, Madden and Bachman, and College LHP Jordan Wicks
matt13…every year KLaw seems to come up with surprises.
matt … Bachman would be a fun guy to draft. He hit 100.8 this weekend. He’s also got one of the best CH in the draft. Some concern that he could end up in the BP because of his body (6’0″, 235 lb)
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Look at the ridiculous movement on both the FB and especially the CH.
Hinkie….talk about a guy who can put it in overdrive…Bachman Turner Overdrive! 🙂
Yeah. Sam is really “Taking Care Of Business” at Miami Ohio!
He sure is taking care of it……and as he tells local Miami, Ohio sport reporters….you ain’t seen nothin yet! 🙂
He is quickly becoming one of my top choices for our draft.