Inside The Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies Get Incredible Prep Pitcher in Latest MLB Mock Draft

The Philadelphia Phillies have gone with high school pitchers with recent first-round picks, and they could do it again.
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The Philadelphia Phillies have loaded up on high school arms with their first-round picks of late. Could the Phillies do so again next month?

MLB.com published its most recent mock draft and took into account the Phillies’ recent history with prep pitchers, even though the mock was geared to tying into the College World Series, which is being played in Omaha, Neb.

The Phillies selected Andrew Painter out of high school in 2021 and Mick Abel out of high school in 2020. They are two of the Phillies’ top three pitching prospects per MLB.com, with the third being Griff McGarry. All three are at Double-A Reading.

If this mock is accurate, the Phillies would dip into the prep ranks again and take Charlee Soto, a right-handed pitcher from Reborn Christian Academy in Kissimmee, Fla.

Soto is 6-foot-5 and at one time played shortstop. He already has a fastball that can top 98 miles per hour, according to perfectgame.org. Soto is also committed to UCF. 

The first five picks of the mock draft held steady from previous mock drafts. The Pittsburgh Pirates took LSU outfielder Dylan Crews at No. 1 overall. The Washington Nationals took LSU pitcher Paul Skenes at No. 2. The Detroit Tigers selected Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford at No. 3. The Texas Rangers took outfielder Walker Jenkins from South Brunswick High School in Southport, N.C. The Minnesota Twins selected outfielder Max Clark from Franklin (Ind.) High School.

The MLB Draft will be held July 9-11 in Seattle during All-Star Weekend.

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Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers Major League Baseball for OnSI. He also covers the Big 12 Conference for Heartland College Sports.

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