So this draft review is about 5 days overdue, but better late than never.
On the day of the MLB Draft, Phillies ace lefthander Cole Hamels tossed a shutout. Hamels, the 17th overall pick in 2002, was an advanced high school talent with control and a great feel for a changeup and curve, but he fell in the draft because of some character concerns stemming from a fight during his junior year that resulted in a broken arm. Hamels recovered from his injury and had a brilliant senior year, posting a 10-0 record with 108 strikeouts in 57 innings and flashed a 91-94 mph fastball to compliment his devastating array of secondary pitches. In hindsight, the Phillies gamble on Hamels was a stroke of genius and, hopefully, their top selections in the 2008 Draft work out as well as Hamels did because they are all raw high school players who could either flourish or fold. Here's hoping they turn out to be the next Hamels or Jimmy Rollins and not the next Jeff Jackson or Greg Golson.
Without further adieu, here are my scouting reports on the Phillies top four selections in this year's draft -
Anthony Hewitt, 6-1, 195 (Round 1, 24th overall)
SS, Salisbury HS (CT)
Hewitt looks like he plays wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles (actually, he couldn't do any worse for the Birds than the guys they currently have). Unfortunately, Hewitt might look like Tarzan and play like Jane. His swing is max-effort. I mean he goes all out every time and looks foolish against high school pitching sometimes. He needs a lot of work, but he is a premiere athlete with blazing foot speed, huge power potential and a cannon for an arm. Best case scenario is an Eric Davis-like career with annual numbers boasting a .280 average, 35 homeruns, 50 stolen bases and Gold Glove defense in centerfield.
Zach Collier, 6-2, 185 (Supplemental Round 1, 34th overall)
OF, Cino Hills HS (CA)
Collier has a classic lefthanded uppercut stroke at the plate that should project for plus power, especially when he learns to bend his back knee and maximize his extension. In the film I saw, he has a mediocre arm that projects to leftfield. An athlete who can run, Collier has a huge potential upside, which could amount to nothing, but I can't stress how natural and pretty his stroke looks. I'd bet on him making it.
Anthony Gose, 6-1, 190 (Round 2, 51st overall)
OF/RHP, Bellflower HS (CA)
Gose has said that he wants to be an outfielder, not a pitcher, but almost every scout loves his potential on the mound and is not sold on his bat. Look for the Phillies to try him briefly as an everyday player to get him signed, and then quickly shift him to the mound when he falters at the plate. Gose throws up to 96 mph and is a good athlete who can repeat his delivery. He has a very thin frame, so unless he becomes the next Tim Hudson or Roy Oswalt, I'd profile him more as a reliever. In the outfield, he looks and runs like a centerfielder with a cannon for an arm. Think Corey Patterson without the pop.
Jason Knapp, 6-5, 225 (Round 3, 71st overall)
RHP, North Hunterdon Regional HS (NJ)
Knapp is a big-bodied pitcher. Big ass, thick legs, looks like a pear. The video I saw was from his junior year of HS and he was throwing 88-91 mph, but he was said to be throwing 94 mph leading up to the draft. Knapp has a slow, low maintenance delivery that is followed by violent arm action. This could be beneficial in disrupting hitter's timing, making his fastball seem even faster, ala Sid Fernandez, whom he shares a similar build. His curveball is loopy and slurvy and needs work.
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