With the 14th overall pick in Monday's MLB draft, the Phillies selected UNLV shortstop Bryson Stott.
Stott was believed by some to be a Top 10 pick. He hit .356 this season with 10 homers, 36 RBI and more walks (55) than strikeouts (39), which you know the Phillies took note of.
Many players are drafted as shortstops but Stott, who stands 6-foot-3 and is 200 pounds, has a chance to stick at the position because of his strong defense. He is the first college shortstop the Phillies have taken in the first round since 1965 when the amateur draft was instituted.
"I think I can stay there," Stott said about an hour after hearing his name called. "I think I can move well and get to all the balls."
Stott, being from Vegas, has a tie to Bryce Harper. Harper's sister cheered for Stott's mom while they were in high school, Stott said. "Building our own relationship as I got a little older was pretty awesome," he continued.
The left-handed hitting Stott was a Golden Spikes award semifinalist and a finalist for the Brooks Wallace award, which honors the top college shortstop in the nation.
"We selected a dynamic middle infielder who can play exceptional defense, hit for average and hit for power," Phillies scouting director Johnny Almaraz said in a statement. "He is a leader, has tremendous intangibles and we expect great things from him."
MLB
This marks the third straight year the Phillies have selected a college position player in the first round. They took third baseman Alec Bohm third overall last June out of Wichita State and outfielder Adam Haseley eighth overall in 2017.
Haseley was recently promoted to Triple A and could make his MLB debut this summer.
Bohm is hitting .342/.405/.541 this season with 17 doubles, two triples and six home runs. He earned a promotion to High A Clearwater on April 30 and hasn't stopped hitting.
The Phillies do not have a second-round pick. They forfeited it when they signed Bryce Harper. Their next pick is 91st overall Tuesday afternoon.
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