Mark Phillips Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Mark S Phillips
Born 12/30/1981 in
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: L
Drafted in the 1st round (9th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2000 (signed for $2,200,000).

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The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Phillips was an unknown commodity on the national scene until this year because he did not attend any of the major high school showcases last summer. Instead, he pitched his American Legion team to the state title, though he was overworked in the process and worn out by the end of the season. His velocity jumped to 93-94 mph and even touched 95 this spring, attracting crosscheckers in droves. With minor exceptions, he was solid every time out with command of three pitches. He quickly moved past Florida's Sean Burnett and most of the nation's other established high school lefthanders. He was even on the Marlins' short list for the No. 1 pick at one point.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Getting Phillips last spring when they traded Rondell White to the Padres for Bubba Trammell looked like a coup at the time for the Yankees. The ninth overall pick in the 2000 draft, Phillips was one of the Padres' top prospects in each of his first three seasons. He reported to spring training out of shape in 2001 and 2002, though he was nearly untouchable by the end of each of those seasons. Phillips was in good shape after the trade, but the Yankees never saw the same power stuff they had scouted. When he's right he can run his fastball up to 97 mph and sit in the low 90s. Yet in 2003, he couldn't consistently break 90 mph. His curveball drops out of sky and is the best breaking ball in the system. There's speculation that Phillips' arm isn't sound, and he ended the season on the disabled with a nagging leg injury. His arm action was different and not as fluid as it had been with the Padres, and his delivery was out of sync all season. His command was already an issue, and mechanical concerns further hinder his ability to throw strikes. After an offseason of rest and conditioning, Phillips will look to bounce back in high Class A this year.
Oliver Perez passed him as the top lefthander in San Diego's pecking order last year, but he can't match Phillips' pure stuff. Few southpaws can. Raw when he signed in 2000, he started to put it all together last August, posting a 2.53 ERA and a 37-9 strikeout-walk ratio in his final 32 innings. When he maintains his arm slot, Phillips shows two plus-plus pitches at times. His fastball touches 97 mph and sits in the low 90s, and farm director Tye Waller describes his curveball as "dropping out of the sky." After arriving out of shape for his first spring training, Phillips now understands the commitment needed to be a professional. He has a clean, effortless arm action. It all comes down to mechanics for Phillips. When he repeats his delivery consistently, his stuff is sharp and finds the strike zone. When he doesn't, his pitches aren't as crisp and he falls behind in the count. His changeup is effective at times but still developing. Phillips will join most of the players on this list at Double-A Mobile in 2003. The Padres hope he's ready to follow Perez' express route to San Diego.
Phillips' willingness to agree to a club-record $2.2 million bonus before the 2000 draft played a role in the Padres picking him ninth overall, but his ability outstrips his signability. Sentenced to extended spring at the start of 2001 because he arrived out of shape in spring training, he ended the year in high Class A. Phillips' arm is rare among lefties. He throws 92- 94 mph with little effort, and the pitch seems to jump when it gets to the plate. Phillips also has a plus curveball he can throw for strikes or get hitters to chase out of the zone. Mechanics are the key for Phillips. His velocity was down in spring training because his delivery was off, and staying in sync will improve his command. His changeup lags behind his other pitches at this point. Phillips could begin this year in Double-A at age 20, or the Padres could play it safe and give him a few more starts in the Cal League. Either way, it's going to be hard to keep him in the minors for long once he learns to repeat his delivery.
With Rockies first-round pick Matt Harrington still unsigned, Phillips may have the most upside of any pitcher from the 2000 draft. He agreed to a predraft deal with the Padres worth a club-record $2.2 million. He blossomed late as a prospect, with his velocity suddenly shooting up last spring after he didn't attend any of the national showcases the previous summer. Phillips best pro outing came in the Rookie-level Pioneer League playoffs, when he threw 7 1/3 shutout innings and struck out 11 to win the clincher. Phillips has the best fastball among 2000 high school draftees who signed, throwing 93-94 mph on a regular basis. That's exceptional velocity for a lefthander. He also has one of the best breaking balls from the prep crop, a curveball that he throws so hard that it looks like a slider. When he throws strikes with both pitches, he's untouchable. Phillips is more of a thrower than a pitcher. His command needs a lot of improvement and he'll have to add a changeup after not needing one in high school. Fairly skinny, he needs to get stronger, which should boost his fastball even more. Considering his stuff and the fact that he's lefthander, Phillips is a good bet to be the first high schooler from last year's draft to reach the majors. That said, he's going to have to add a lot of polish before he's ready for San Diego. He's ticketed for low Class A Fort Wayne in 2001.

Minor League Top Prospects

Phillips watched several Padres minor league pitchers, including Storm teammate Oliver Perez, make their way to San Diego in 2002. While he dreamed of following in their footsteps, he still has some adjustments to make. He made some strides, but his path may be one that requires more patience with a potentially greater reward at the end. "When he finds the zone, he's as tough as anyone," Gayton said. "He has the potential to be a frontline starter when he throws strikes." The problem is that Phillips led the minors in walks and was unable to string together a consistent run of dominant starts. His fastball approaches 95 mph and he works around 93. His curveball has all the makings of a big league strikeout pitch, but he lacks a consistent changeup. While his arm action is clean and effortless, his delivery needs refinement. Phillips tends to rush, which leaves his pitches up and out of the zone.