Drafted in the 15th round (430th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2003.
View Draft Report
Six-foot-2, 190-pound RHP Andy Baldwin reached the mid-90s last summer in the Cape Cod League, but didn't show that velocity this spring. He has a funky arm action that produces good sink on his fastball. His slider, also an above-average pitch at times, was inconsistent.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
Baldwin rates as an intriguing pick on several levels, the first being that the Phillies brought in solid fifth-rounders the previous three years in Javon Moran, Jake Blalock and Ryan Howard. Baldwin's uncle John Hiller was a Tigers reliever who missed 1971 after a heart attack, but returned to set a major league record with 38 saves in 1973. Baldwin went 5-5, 5.10 as a draft-eligible sophomore at Oregon State (where he also sat on a student-athlete advisory committee), and impressed Phillies scouts with a lively 91-94 mph fastball and plus slider in a February appearance before losing his confidence and command late in the season. The Phillies still liked his potential for two plus pitches, and they say his athleticism and inexperience work in his favor because his arm is fresh and there's room for projection. His changeup and breaking ball are inconsistent. Baldwin could emerge as a No. 3 or 4 starter at the major league level, but he'll need to miss more bats after leading the New York-Penn League in hits allowed. He'll begin this year in the low Class A rotation.
Download our app
Read the newest magazine issue right on your phone