Philadelphia Phillies 2024 MLB Draft Report Card

Best Pure Hitter: Outfielder Dante Nori (1) was one of the most consistent in-game performers in the prep class and has a short, compact and direct swing that leads to plenty of hard hit line drives all over the field. He has a chance to be an above-average pure hitter.

Best Power Hitter: Outfielder Griffin Burkholder (2) has a 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame that can add more strength and could develop plus raw power. Outfielder Joel Dragoo (7) had a monstrous spring with Presbyterian when he homered 18 times in 56, while outfielder Carter Mathison (5) broke Indiana’s freshman home run record in 2022 with 19 and finished with 42 homers in 182 games for his career.

Fastest Runner: The Phillies drafted more high-level runners than any organization in this year’s draft, signing 70-grade runners with each of their first three selections. Each of Nori (1), Burkholder (2) and outfielder John Spikerman (3) can absolutely fly, and an outfield made up of the three of them would be a challenge for any hitter to land a ball in the grass. 

Best Defensive Player: Spikerman (3) is probably the most advanced defensive outfielder of the trio at the moment and can be a plus fielder at the position. He was selected as shortstop but played exclusively the outfield in his pro debut with Low-A Clearwater.

Best Fastball: Righthander Marcus Morgan (9) has a fastball that sits in the low 90s but will get into the upper 90s at peak velocity. It could be an above-average pitch if his control improves. 

Best Secondary Pitch: Righthander Ryan Degges (17) has a low-80s sweeping slider that averaged more than 13 inches of glove-side movement last spring with Charlotte. It’s a high-spin offering that earned big Stuff+ grades on BA’s internal metrics and should be a consistent bat-misser. 

Best Pro Debut: Dragoo (7) was the most impressive Phillies hitter among 2024 draftees, with a .955 OPS, six doubles and more walks than strikeouts in his 15-game debut with Low-A Clearwaater. Shortstop Carson DeMartini (4) also hit well with Clearwater, slashing .315/.385/.478 in 24 games with two home runs, two triples and five doubles.

Best Athlete: Burkholder (2) is a strong athlete who has above-average arm strength to go with his double-plus speed and should develop into an above-average center field or plus defender in an outfield corner. 

Most Intriguing Background: Kodey Shojinaga (6) was a converted catcher who spent most of his time at second base with Kansas in his college career, though some scouts were intrigued with the idea of getting the gear back on him in pro ball. The Phillies selected him as a catcher, and he spent seven of his 15 games with Low-A Clearwater at the position. He’s also a Honolulu, Hawaii native. 

Closest To The Majors: DeMartini (4) is a reasonably well-rounded hitter with three years of high-level performance as a hitter in the ACC. Nori (1) could move quickly because of his polish as a hitter and his advanced age, which will start to look like much less of an issue against age-appropriate pro competition.

Best Day Three Pick (Or NDFA): Degges (17) has tantalizing arm talent for a player drafted in the 17th round, but he has real strike-throwing concerns that will need to be improved for him to maximize that arm talent in games.