Introducing Shane Watson
The latest Phillies and baseball news from Philly.com.
Introducing Shane Watson
David Murphy
Here's the skinny on the Phillies' top pick in this year's draft. . .
Baseball America had him ranked 30th in this year's crop of draft-eligible high school and college players. ESPN.com's Keith Law had him at 50th. The Phillies split the difference and selected him at No. 40.
Most of the scouting reports rave about Watson's curveball. To enter the minor leagues with an already-developed secondary pitch is something that a lot of high school pitchers do not have the luxury of doing. He's listed at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, with a fastball that creeps up into the low 90's, but with his size and delivery the potential is there for more velocity to be added. The tool set indicates some serious bullpen potential down the road, although the Phillies will obviously try to get him to develop a changeup, and everything will be contingent on command.
He has a commitment to USC. The Phillies usually don't draft guys who are a signing worry this early.
Here's a story from Watson's local paper. And here's one from the Long Beach Press-Telegram.
i thought the plan was to get college position players ready to contribute in two to three years?— lanzascat- There was nobody on the board at that time worth the 40th pick. All of the good college bats were taken in the first round. — PHLSG22
- Uh, we need some bats.— jimmymack
- Watson attended Lakewood High School,in a suburb of LA in the Long Beach School District...Travis D'arnaud, who the Phillies shipped out for Roy Halladay, starred there a few years ago...The competition is fierce, so lets hope the kid progresses...I'm sure the rest of this draft will be heavy on outfielders and catchers.— bearsfriend
- Great, a HS pitcher with a developed curveball...Tommy John surgery here we come.— spittooncj
- spittooncj, you're right moron, we should only draft pitchers what have NO pitches mastered.— JBinPA
- so they don't get a position player, like they were targeting, but instead get a RHP? WTF?— main liner
- Purely a money decision...sign High schoolers on the cheap and hope they come along in 2-3 years. This smacks of PURE RUBE!!!— Trot
- Anyone complaining about not drafting bats because of the current Phillies hitting woes just aren't the brightest of fans. You have no idea who will be in the lineup in 4 years. You win with pitching. You sustain long-term success with young, cost-controlled pitching. I love the picks. Great job!— xfactor
- Trot you couldnt be more wrong. Top round high school picks get more money because they are younger, have options of college, and the team gets more development time with them. Most college guys have no negotiating left, they are finished and have to sign.— philsfan in the atx
- First we have real "aces" loaded on the big league roster.....then we have "baby aces" scatterred through the lower levels of the minors.....now we have even younger guys "embryonic aces?" being drafted for when the "baby aces" grow up?
@spittoon, you are correct. It's never a good idea to draft a kid that young who's already mastered the curveball...bone chips and TJ surgery are probably right around the corner. It is a competitive league out there as a poster already said, which means he probably had to throw it 50% of the time so look out! Seriously? Was this the best that was available at #40? No 5-tool hardhitting OFs, SSs or 3bmen????? Catchers? Anybody? So far this may go down as the worst draft of the last 10 years IMO.— Mark1npt - How do you know either way whether bone chips and TJ surgery are "right around the corner". Unles you've had an insider look at the guy's medicals, I'd say that your guess has no more merit than me saying he will end up at 3rd base. Have you done any draft research? Did you know that Watson has been looked at on many mock drafts as a 1st round talent? The Phillies took the best player available on their board. And to the consensus experts they got exceptional value on both players. As far as the draft, it's well short of talent, and I agree with you there. — PHLSG22
Comment removed.- Traditionaly teams draft best prospect. Signability also enters in the equation. After first few picks it's an educated guess. You can always use pitching or they can be used in trades. Schmidt was a 2nd round pick, Mike Piazza was a last round pick. Possibly the best hitting catcher got passed over around 1000 times. Reportedly Phills in the mix for Cuban OF Soler.— Don w
- WASHINGTON NATIONALS— tobyjoe
