The Phillies draft ended Wednesday night with a meeting inside Citizens Bank Park as the team’s scouts, cross-checkers, and decision makers toasted another year with hope.
It is nearly impossible to judge a baseball draft in the immediate aftermath. Many of the players drafted in the 40 rounds will not even sign with the team that drafted them. Even more will never reach the major leagues. And the ones who do will still be years away.
But it is possible to see the strategy the Phillies used to leave the ballpark on Wednesday feeling hopeful.
First, try to draft quick movers
It’s not crazy to think that the first three players the Phillies picked — third baseman Alec Bohm, righthander Colton Eastman, and centerfielder Matt Vierling — could reach triple A by the end of their second full professional seasons.