Phillies close draft with locals, including GM’s nephew

Robert was chosen in the 40th round with pick No. 1,217. He told the Daily News this afternoon that he learned he was selected while playing wiffle ball in Ocean City when he got text messages from friends.

The Phillies are looking at him as a prospect at catcher, a position he did not play that much in high school. He will play summer ball and then evaluated his options, although attending the University of Virginia appears to be his most likely destination.

"I probably am looking at college," Robert said. "I was getting some interest from the Phillies and I did pretty well at [a special workout] that I thought it was reasonable that they were looking at me."

Said his dad, David: "This is nice, but I think he is going to go to college, for sure."

In the 48th round, the Phillies selected one-year wonder Wander Nunez from Frankford High. The 18-year-old rightfielder moved from the Dominican Republic and is enrolled in freshman-level classes at Frankford.

One thing the pros won't have to worry about is the transition from aluminum to wood bats. Wood is all Nunez uses. He said little kids do use aluminum in his homeland, but that he changed to wood at age 12 and has stuck with it ever since.

In the 49th round, the Phillies chose Malvern Prep leftfielder Chris Gosik. He spent most of his senior season at third base. He has signed with East Carolina.

In the final round, the Phillies took Emory University outfielder David Hissey, a West Chester native from Unionville High. Hissey had intended to play in Germany, but instead opted to try to sign with a pro organization in the United States.

PHILLIES DAY 3 SELECTIONS

31-947, David Doss, South Alabama, C, 6-1, 190

32-977, Kevin Angelle, San Jacincto College North, Houston, LHP, 6-3, 195

33-1007, Colin Cleevan, R.E. Mountain SS, Langley, British Columbia, RHP, 6-5, 207

34-1037, Arthur Griffin, Univ. of San Diego, RHP, 6-4, 205

35-1067, Phil Aviola, Wilmington College, C, 6-1, 225

36-1097, Matthew McConnell, Metro St. College of Denver, 2B, 5-10, 185

37-1127, Brodie Greene, Texas A&M, 2B, 6-1, 190

38-1157, Cory Wine, Penn State, 1B, 6-5, 210

39-1187, Samuel Kidd, Ohio County High, Hartford, Ky., RHP, 6-2, 180

40-1217, Robert Amaro, Penn Charter, 3B, 6-3, 215

41-1247, Jeffrey Gelalich, Bonita HS, La Verne, Calif., CF, 6-1, 180

42-1277, Matthew Laney, Miami Dade (Fla.) South CC, LHP, 6-4, 235

43-1307, Francois Lefreniere, Ahuntsic College, RHP, 6-5, 200

44-1337, Brian Feeken, Iowa Western CC, LHP, 6-6, 224

45-1367, Richard Bain, Trinity Christian Academy, OF, 6-3, 180

46-1397, Jeffrey Ames, Skyview High, Vancouver, Wash., RHP, 6-4, N/A

47-1427, Ryan Bollinger, Magic City High, Minot, N.D., 1B, 6-6, 185

48-1457, Wander Nunez, Frankford High, RF, 5-11, 174

49-1487, Chris Gosik, Malvern Prep, LF, 6-0, 210

50-1507, David Hissey, Emory University, OF, 5-11, 175

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