ERIC MENCHER / Staff Photographer
The Phillies drafted Rob Amaro (left), nephew of Phillies' GM Ruben Amaro Jr. (right), in the 40th round.
- Ibanez's 3-run homer in 10th lifts Phils over Mets
- Madson the answer for now, and maybe later
- Phillies' Werth shaking off slump
- Phils-Red Sox series will run on electricity
- Red Sox-Phillies Pitching Matchups
- Amaro, Flacco among area picks on draft's final day
- Warming up for Phils' show
- Big struggle for Boston's Big Papi
- Bucs' LaRoche chops down Braves
- Top pick credits Gwynn
- Red Sox rally to beat Yankees
- The mound king
- Phils' minor-leaguer Ozuna suspended for drugs
- Slayden's pinch-hit slam gives Reading a sweep
- Andy Martino: The Phillies Zone
- Photos: The 2009 Phillies
- More on the Phillies
- Buy Phillies jerseys, playoff t-shirts, hats, and more
- Purchase Phillies playoff photos & reprints
- Photos: 2009 Phillies
- Relive the memories: Coverage of the World Series run
RELATED STORIES
Amaro, Flacco among area picks on draft's final day
Two third basemen with local and noteworthy athletic roots were among the area players selected on the final day of Major League Baseball's first-year player draft.
Penn Charter's Rob Amaro was drafted by the Phillies in the 40th round, while Mike Flacco of Catonsville Community College, Baltimore County, was chosen in the 31st round by the Baltimore Orioles.
The three-day, 50-round draft concluded yesterday with the final 20 rounds.
Amaro's uncle is Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., while Flacco lived this past year with his brother, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.
"I was very excited to hear the news," said Amaro, who has a scholarship to the University of Virginia. "Now I'll discuss with my parents whether to play college or pro ball."
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Amaro is playing this summer in a college league, and the Phillies will monitor his play before he makes a decision.
Last week, Amaro attended a workout at Citizens Bank Park for draft prospects.
"I didn't originally want to get drafted and have people think it was a family thing, but I guess [Ruben Amaro] talked to their scouting guys, and they wanted to draft me."
Flacco is a 2005 graduate of Gateway Regional High School, Gloucester County. He was the fifth player selected in the 31st round and 926th overall.
The 6-5, 215-pound Flacco has overcome a back injury. This was his first season at the junior college, where he hit .399, with 14 home runs and 51 RBIs. Last week, Flacco was invited to a workout by the Orioles in Camden Yards.
"I'm pretty excited, but I'm surprised I didn't get picked [Wednesday]," he said.
La Salle University junior lefthander T.J. Chism from Sun Valley High was selected in the 32d round by the New York Mets. His father, Tom, played briefly with the Baltimore Orioles.
"I don't think this has hit me yet," Chism said. "I am so excited I can't even eat."
Mount Olive College third baseman Rick Racobaldo of Camden Catholic High went to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 37th round.
Sean Barksdale, a senior outfielder from Temple and a Cardinal O'Hara graduate, was selected in the 38th round by the Houston Astros.
Barksdale had gone to Houston for a predraft workout.
"I'm thrilled, relieved, and ready to get going," Barksdale said.
A.J. Casario, a junior outfielder from the University of Maryland, who attended Overbrook High in Pine Hill, N.J., was selected in the 38th round by the Chicago White Sox. In 2006, he was drafted in the 27th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
University of Missouri junior shortstop Greg Folgia, of Christopher Dock High, was taken in the 40th round by Cleveland. The Phillies selected Frankford High rightfielder Wander Nunez in the 48th round.
Kennedy-Kenrick third baseman Christian Walker was drafted in the 49th round by the Dodgers.
Also in the 49th round, Malvern Prep leftfielder Chris Gosik was taken by the Phillies. Former Penn State safety Anthony Scirrotto, who hasn't played baseball since his days at West Deptford High, was selected in the 50th round by the Kansas City Royals (No. 1,502 overall).
Scirrotto has signed a free-agent contract with the Carolina Panthers and is working out with the team. He said he received a call about a month ago from Royals scout Casey Fahy, a former player at Gloucester Catholic, who said the team might have interest.
"This is truly a blessing," said Scirrotto, who was a shortstop and closer in high school. "Right now, I'm going full steam with football, but if it doesn't work out, it's great to have a backup plan."
Later in the final round, the Phillies selected Emory University senior outfielder David Hissey of Unionville High.
Contact staff writer Marc Narducci
at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.
