Alex Carr's Phillies 2025 MLB Draft Primer
It's July 1st -- and you know what that means -- the MLB Draft is nearly upon us!
Ah, July. The most wonderful time of the year.
The MLB Draft is less than two weeks away. The hot stove has officially begun to spark. The temperatures are uncomfortably high…
This is the life.
With all the festivities set to ensue, I present to you your ‘Can We Phix It’ Phillies Draft Primer — your source for anything and everything you may need to prepare for the Phillies’ upcoming 26th overall pick and beyond.
Let’s dive right in!
The Class at a Glance:
This 2025 draft class is widely thought to lack in premium, high-end draft talent outside of the top three-to-five names. Thus, the Phillies are relatively well positioned at 26 this year — what this class lacks in premium skillsets, it makes up for in depth, with solid names piling up late into the late 20’s / early 30’s.
There seems to be a good deal of uncertainty floating around this particular group of players and, with two weeks until the draft gets underway, the general consensus seems to be that this draft could get a touch chaotic. With a lack of obvious elite talent, teams are jonesing to get creative.
Thus, it’s hard to predict which players might be available for the Phillies come the 26th overall pick — but that’s what makes the draft so much fun!
Where Things Currently Stand:
The Phillies are approaching this draft with one of the more loaded systems they’ve had. They have a near-consensus six prospects that stand among the Top 100 in all of baseball. Andrew Painter, Aidan Miller, Eduardo Tait, Justin Crawford, Aroon Escobar, and a resurgent Mick Abel have received significant attention this season. Unfortunately, the system is entirely top-heavy, as the team is continuously forced to shed prospect capital to upgrade at the trade deadline.
Some notes before we dive in:
I was not a fan of the Phillies’ ‘24 draft at the time, and early returns on the class are poor. First rounder Dante Nori has started showing flashes — but as things currently stand, Carson DeMartini, the team’s 4th round pick, is the best of the bunch. They should probably switch up the draft strategy (picking every power-light, toolsy outfielder under the sun) this year.
While two of the team’s top six prospects are starting pitchers, the Phillies are lacking substantially in starting pitching depth within their system — thanks to a combination of trades, injuries, and developmental setbacks. If I were a betting man, I would almost guarantee that the Phillies won’t wait until the 8th round to select their first pitcher like they did in 2024.
I say this every year, but this Phillies system is significantly lacking power. I would be surprised if they didn’t attempt to inject some high-damage bats into the mix. It certainly paid off in the case of DeMartini last year.
The Phillies went bold in their approach in 2024 — and it did not pay off. If they’re smart, they’ll stick more to their strengths this year. Look for them to dig up an arm or two that could move quickly and possibly aid them in the near future.
What the Experts Think the Phillies Will do:
The majority of pundits have the Phillies selecting a prep bat with their first pick of the draft — and I can’t say I blame them. The Phillies have selected a prep player with their first pick in each of their last four drafts (Abel, Painter, Miller, Nori.)
This draft is particularly flush with prep talent, and the Phillies’ head of amateur scouting, Brian Barber, has long believed prep pitchers to be an undervalued commodity in previous drafts this decade.
A vast percentage of mock drafts have had the Phillies going high schooler, so it certainly wouldn’t be a shock to see them stick to that trend, particularly when picking so late in the first round.
What I Think the Phillies Should Do:
Due to the lack of premium talent on the board this year — particularly at pick 26 — I think the Phillies are perfectly positioned to take a big swing on either of the top college catchers in the 2025 class.
Luke Stevenson and Caden Bodine are both slated to go somewhere within or just outside the 20-30 range (Baseball America mocked Stevenson to the Phillies in their most recent Mock Draft.) Both are near-locks to stick behind the plate, but have drastically differing offensive skillsets.
Stevenson, a plus-power, plus-arm backstop, has major pedigree. He consistently struggled against breaking stuff at UNC, but more than makes up for it with his impressive receiving skills and powerful arm behind the dish.
Bodine, my personal favorite between the two, may very well have the best pure hit tool of any college hitter in this draft — as a switch-hitting catcher. He is not as staunch a defender as Stevenson, and certainly doesn’t carry the same canon for an arm, but he is still a safe bet to stick behind the plate.
With J.T. Realmuto slated to reach Free Agency following the 2025 season, the Phillies are without a “catcher of the future,” as Eduardo Tait has yet to prove he will be a sure thing behind home plate. He also could be on the block this summer, as the Phillies look to meaningfully upgrade at the Trade Deadline.
So, while I’m not always a proponent of drafting for need, this class presents a pretty decent opportunity to do so, and potentially saves you the prospect bullets of eventually trading for an established MLB backstop to fill J.T. Realmuto’s massive shoes.
It’s also worth noting that the team could save a buck here — likely more by selecting Bodine over Stevenson — and may use that saved cash to float a prep player they like further down the draft. I think the Phillies should go catcher at 26.
What the Phillies Will Probably Do:
The Phillies have a type, and if you’ve been paying attention to their last few drafts, you probably know exactly what that type is: toolsy, speedy prep bats.
The problem: they have yet to successfully develop one. Point to Justin Crawford (who is exceptionally talented) all you’d like, but I’ll believe that one when he makes the transition to the Majors without pounding every ball into the dirt.
Last year, the Phillies selected all of Dante Nori, Griffin Burkholder, and John Spikerman with their first three picks in the draft — and all three (with the recent exception of Nori) have gotten off to lackluster starts in their pro careers.
Will they let that stop them? I doubt it, especially if someone like Jace Laviolette continues to steadily fall down draft boards after a lackluster 2025 season.
Given how highly touted he was at the start of the season, It feels highly unlikely — but if Laviolette, a former consensus top name, does make the stark drop to the Phillies at 26, I have a hard time seeing them passing on the opportunity. The A&M standout is exceedingly athletic, with as plus-plus power as you’ll find in the 2025 class, but has been in freefall down draft boards since the end of the College Baseball season.
18-year-old Slater de Brun, a five-tool-potential outfielder, also sticks out in terms of the Phillies’ type, as do names like Daniel Pierce, Kayson Cunningham, and Sean Gamble — all prep infielders that have a chance to make their way to 26.
At the end of the day, you can never properly predict which direction the Phillies will go. They tend to keep a tight lid on any and all information — particularly when it pertains to draft strategy — but they’ve bled their hand a bit over these last few years. I would be surprised to see them make a drastic shift at this point.
Outside of the First Round:
Following the first round craziness, I would expect the Phillies to target outlier traits, as they tend to do: players with funky slots, elite extension, huge stuff and no idea where it’s going, etcetera.
This section might as well be subtitled, “Alex’s Favorites,” but a man can dream.
Some names to look out for post-first-round:
The Second Round:
AJ Russell - RHP Tennessee
Russell had internal brace surgery last year, which is a big red flag (and why he has fallen down public boards) but he has an incredible, ride-riddled fastball that highlights an elite two-pitch mix, and he commands the ball well. He could move really quickly, and has explosive potential.
Big? (6’6”) Check. Outlier traits? Check. If he’s there for the Phillies at 63, he could be an exciting second round pick that has the potential to help the Phillies this season.
Marcus Phillips - RHP Tennessee
Marcus Phillips kind of reminds me of *gulp* Paul Skenes? (A very, very, very lite version, obviously.)
He is NOT NEARLY as polished, but he has real velocity, and a funky slot that aids in the deception of the pitch. He is every bit as athletic with the velocity and mix to match, but he has some serious control issues.
Joseph Dzierwa - LHP Michigan State
You’ll be hard pressed to find a pitcher I like more than Joe Dzierwa, a 6’8” behemoth of a southpaw.
He just feels so *Phillies.* More velocity will clearly come with the frame, and he already has a dynamite changeup. He needs a slider, which the Phillies have done well at adding for guys in the past.
Charles Davalan - IF/OF Arkansas
Though he may be small (5’9”) he is mighty! Davalan has rocketed up boards of late for his combination of low whiff rates, contact ability, and pop.
He probably won’t make it to the Phillies in the second round, but he’s an enticing player, and probably a first round talent if he had more of a pedigree.
Chase Shores - RHP LSU
*DJ Khaled voice* Anotha one.
Shores is 6’8” with an injury history — but he can gun it. Yet another arm that will probably move quickly with a nasty two-pitch combo.
The Third Round:
Brian Curley - RHP Georgia
Curley is one of my favorite potential third round finds for the Phillies. His entire profile is an outlier, as he stands at 5’10” but boasts ballistic stuff.
He didn’t struggle this past year the way that the Griff McGarry’s and George Klassen’s that came before him did, but Curley has as good stuff as anybody in this draft. Picking him would feel very akin to those two aforementioned names — just earlier in the draft.
Jared Spencer - LHP Texas
The Phillies drafted Jared Spencer in the 14th round last year, but he made the smart decision to play another year, and it paid off big time for him. He’s now slated to go in the first 3-4 rounds of this year’s event.
He’s put together a solid arsenal, boasting three above average offerings from the left side, and pitches from a funky slot. If he can command the ball a bit better, he’ll be a real find for a team.
Cam Leiter - RHP FSU
If the last name looks familiar to you, it’s no wonder. Cam Leiter is indeed the cousin of former Phillies legend Mark Leiter Jr (and the nephew of the great Al Leiter.)
He’s a big body with a killer fastball/slider combo. Another name that could move quickly if the Phillies decide to snap him up.
RJ Austin - OF Vanderbilt
I threw Austin in here because he feels so Phillies — or at least the model they’ve coveted over the last few years.
He has real wheels and plays a strong defensive center field with a great baseball brain.
Mason Morris - RHP Mississippi
Morris already has a plus-plus cutter, and the Phillies love their cutters.
Tanner Franklin - RHP Tennessee
I really, really like Tanner Franklin. He has the potential to make it to the Phillies in the third or even fourth rounds given his reliever ceiling, and it would be a coup if they found him there.
Franklin throws strikes, and has a ridiculous fastball. It has touched 102, and has exactly what you look for these days in a ton of ride and run. The stuff screams closer potential here, even though he has yet to find a truly plus offering to pair with his fastball.
JT Quinn - RHP Georgia
Another tall (6’6”) stuffed-up college arm with velocity. The Phillies like those.
Ethan Frey - OF LSU
I am including Ethan Frey here because he is probably the most oddly enticing prospect in this entire draft.
At 6’6”, he is a force in the box, and will easily develop more power — which as I mentioned further up, the Phillies could use in their system. Frey broke out in a huge way this year, and is mostly question marks… but there could be a huge ceiling here.
The Fourth Round:
Matt Scott - RHP Stanford
Scott is all projection, but at 6’7” he could be worth the shot — particularly when he’s slated to fall as a far as the fourth or fifth round.
He already has some enticing breaking pitches, but could use some help adding velocity, and needs to command the baseball better.
Gabe Davis - RHP Oklahoma State
Triple-digit fastball. 6’ 9”. Need I say more?
The Fifth Round and Beyond:
Paxton Kling - OF Penn State
Local guy alert! Kling is from Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania, and put up superb numbers at Penn State this year.
He just so happens to fit the Phillies mold in that he is speedy and tooled up, but there are questions about the hit tool. Still, the Phillies have undoubtably seen a whole bunch of him, and he could fall as far as the fifth or sixth round.
Aidan Teel - OF Virginia
Another local guy! Aidan Teel, the brother of star prospect Kyle Teel, attended New Jersey Prep, and played primarily center field for Virginia this year while putting up solid numbers at the plate.
He doesn’t have the speed the Phillies seem to covet, but he can do just about everything else.
Damian Bravo - OF Texas Tech
Bravo is, once again, that same Phillies mold. While he lacks a bit on the speedy side, he has a very solid hit tool and a cannon of an arm, and is lauded for his high exit velocities and spray-hitter tendencies.
Could be a tantalizing Day Two pick for the Phillies.
Jacob Morrison - RHP Coastal Carolina
If the Phillies did pick Caden Bodine in the first round, they could also look at selecting some of his pitching staff!
Morrison is 6’8”, and has solid stuff that would likely see a step forward under a professional organization’s watch.
Jason Reitz - RHP Oregon
6’8” this, 6’9” that — how about 6’11”!!
Jason Reitz has an injury history, but at his size, if he can learn to tap more in to his lower half, there could really be something here.
That said, the Phillies have employed truly massive pitchers before, see Kyle Young circa 2019 who retired after just four pro seasons. Pitchers of this stature can break down quickly, and are almost always relievers, but they exist. Look at Sean Hjelle! (Or wait, maybe don’t.)
Kyle McCoy - LHP Maryland
Another local guy! McCoy grew up in New Jersey, and stands at 6’6” with a big left arm.
He too has an injury history, but commands his arsenal well. Some back-end rotation ceiling here.
Gabe Craig - RHP Baylor
While he is nearly 24 years old, Craig boasts what may be one of the best pitches in the entire draft in his devastating slider — and because of his pure reliever ceiling, he may make it as far as rounds six or seven.
Once again, if the Phillies were looking to add an arm they could move quickly, this could be the guy.
Christian Foutch - RHP Arkansas
Foutch is the victim of a bad fastball shape, but screams vintage Phillies to me.
He has velocity, and features a sick splitter that would really benefit from the addition of a good breaking pitch. Similarly, his fastball would really benefit from the addition of a patented Phillies cutter. Feels like a clearly talented arm, and a worthwhile project.
Brody Donay - C Florida
I think Brody Donay is one of the more underrated prospects in this draft, and if the Phillies don’t nab a catcher in the first round, I would love to see them give him a shot in the late single-digit rounds.
Because of his size (6’5”) many predict he won’t last long at catcher — and they’re probably right — but Donay has ridiculous power, and certainly has the arm for a corner OF spot were he to move off of the dish.
He has a swiss cheese swing, but I think the power is well worth the risk here, particularly given where he’s slated to fall in the draft.
Ryan Weingartner - SS Penn State
The local bug strikes again!
Weingartner is really a one-tool guy — speed — but he has shown some ability at the plate, and can square up the ball every now and again.
He’s probably more of a system player, and will probably make it to the late single-digit rounds, but I like his game.
This was another one that took a while folks — so I can’t thank you enough for reading!
I’ll be putting together a Phillies Draft Tracker on the day of the draft, so make sure you subscribe to stay up to date with any and everything Phillies draft related!