Phillies use 13 of their 20 picks in the MLB draft on college pitchers: ‘It was a good year for it’

The Phillies have a type: college pitchers.

They used their first six picks in this year’s draft on collegiate arms as they did not draft a high schooler until the seventh round. The Phillies followed Sunday night’s selections — Arkansas pitcher Gage Wood, Iowa pitcher Cade Obermueller, and Vanderbilt pitcher Cody Bowker — with three straight college pitchers when the draft resumed on Monday.

Of their 20 selections, 13 were college pitchers.

“It was a good year for it,” Phillies assistant general manager and amateur scouting director Brian Barber said. “I don’t know if it’s necessarily going to be a trend in college baseball but this was one of those years where we identified that there was talent throughout the draft and a lot of guys we liked.”

Sean Youngerman, RHP, Oklahoma State

He struck out 59 batters and walked just eight in 52 innings, working mostly in relief in his first season with Oklahoma State after transferring from Division II Westmont College.

Gabe Craig, RHP, Baylor

Craig was Baylor’s closer this season and led the nation in ERA (0.56) while being named an All-American and one of five finalists for the National Pitcher of the Year Award. A sixth-year senior, the 24-year-old was dominant as he struck out 51 batters in 32 innings and did not allow a run in his final 12 appearances. He pairs a mid-90s fastball with a slider that MLB.com said is the best in the draft.

“We see it as a wipeout pitch,” Barber said. “And it gives him the chance to be a pretty-good reliever.”

James Tallon, LHP, Duke

A freshman All American in 2023, Tallon cooled off the last two years with Duke. He posted a 5.29 ERA as a sophomore and 3.96 ERA this season as a junior. All but four of his 68 college appearances were in relief. He struck out 50 batters and walked 19 over 36⅓ innings this season.

Matthew Fisher, RHP, Memorial High (Evansville Ind.)

He was ranked by MLB.com and ESPN as a top-50 prospect, pegging him to be drafted on Sunday. Fisher instead fell to Monday afternoon. He is signed to play baseball at Indiana University, and concerns about his signability may have caused him to fall in the draft. Fisher’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and he was an all-state quarterback at Memorial.

“That was a little bit of a shock to us that he got down to that level,” Barber said. “As far as bringing him into the organization for sure, I can tell you that we’re hopeful but nothing is ever across the finish line until it actually happens. I’m sure hopeful that he’s going to become a Phillie.”

» READ MORE: What they’re saying about first-round pick Gage Wood, from his ‘unhittable’ fastball to when he might join the Phillies

Brian Walters, RHP, Miami

He started this season in the rotation before moving to the bullpen in April after six starts. His strikeout rate (9.9 per nine innings) was significantly lower than last season’s mark of 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Walters’ brother Andrew was a second-round pick in 2023 by Cleveland who reached the majors last season as a right-handed reliever.

Matthew Ferrara, SS, Toms River East

Committed to the University of Pittsburgh, Ferrara hit .405 this season for Toms River East and can also play the outfield. His high school is just 10 miles from the Jersey Shore Blue Claws, where he could soon play if he opts for the Phils instead of college.

“We just think Matt is a really good baseball player with good tools who can swing the bat,” Barber said. “There’s a lot to like there.”

Cole Gilley, RHP, Indiana

He posted a 3.54 ERA this season in 18 games, 12 of which were starts. Gilley struck out 75 batters and walked 20 in 68⅔ innings after transferring from Indiana State.

» READ MORE: Draft picks Gage Wood and Cade Obermueller should be in the Phillies bullpen by September

Will Vierling, C, Murray State

He’s the younger cousin of former Phillies outfielder Matt Vierling and was on the wrong side of first-round pick Gage Wood’s no-hitter last month in the College World Series. Vierling went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against his now fellow farmhand. The left-handed-hitting Vierling hit .312 with a .924 OPS for Murray State after transferring from Louisville.

Tyler Bowen, RHP, Lander University

He had a 3.90 ERA this season at Lander, a Division II school in South Carolina. Bowen struck out 14.2 batters per nine innings and trimmed his walk rate (5.6 per nine) nearly in half from his freshman year. He grew up in Southern Delaware.

Jack Barker, OF, College of Southern Idaho

The left-handed hitter hit .465 this season with eight homers and a 1.333 OPS for the junior-college program. He is the program’s single-season record holder in average, hits, doubles, and triples.

» READ MORE: From ‘Fat Head’ to the Phillies: The story behind first-round pick Gage Wood’s unique childhood nickname

Jonathan Gonzalez, LHP, Stetson

He posted a 2.11 ERA in 15 starts while registering a 0.972 WHIP over 93⅔ innings. Gonzalez was the Atlantic Sun Conference pitcher of the year after missing 2024 with an elbow injury.

Jacob Pruitt, RHP, Mississippi State

Pruitt struggled after transferring from Indiana State as he posted a 7.23 ERA with 15 walks and 15 strikeouts over 18⅔ innings. He committed last month to Missouri.

Logan Dawson, SS, Eastern Regional High School

He hit .318 this season with a .612 slugging percentage in 85 at-bats at Eastern, according to stats compiled by NJ.com. Dawson grew up a diehard Phils fan in South Jersey. He is committed to Boston College and was at his orientation when the Phillies drafted him. He’ll now decide what he wants to do.

Richie Cortese, RHP, Lander University

He posted big strikeout numbers (16.1 per nine innings) but walked 14 batters in 15⅔ innings and had a 5.17 ERA.

» READ MORE: MLB draft: Harleysville’s Will McCausland goes in the seventh round; two area players taken in the eighth

Matthew Potok, RHP, Coastal Carolina

The New Jersey native had a 2.52 ERA in 21 appearances, 20 of which were in relief. Potok, who went to Jackson Memorial, struck out 33 batters this season and walked eight in 35⅔ innings.

Robert Phelps, SS, Reinhardt University

He hit .350 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs in 55 games for the NAIA program in Georgia.

Landon Schaefer, SS, Fayetteville High

He’s a premier high school player and committed to play at the University of Arkansas. But the Phillies believe there’s a chance they can sign him. His father, Todd, is an assistant women’s basketball coach at Missouri.

“We’re taking a shot,” Barber said. “We’re going to do our best to bring him into the organization. We have a kid with talent who we’ve liked for a while so we’re not going to let that opportunity pass up.”