For a few minutes Monday night, while the Phillies are on the clock to make their first selection in the annual amateur draft, all the pain from all the losing of the past five seasons will once again be replaced by hope.
The Phillies hold the third overall pick, the fourth consecutive year in which they have drafted in the top 10. In past drafts, the No. 3 pick has yielded a franchise-changing player, from Hall of Famers Robin Yount in 1973 and Paul Molitor in 1977 to perennial All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria in 2006. Matt Williams went third overall in 1986.