Phillies Draft Kevin Gowdy, Cole Stobbe in 2nd, 3rd Rounds

The Phillies followed up their first round selection of high school outfielder Mickey Moniak with two more high school players.  In the second round the Phillies added high school pitcher Kevin Gowdy, of Santa Barbara High School in Santa Barbara, California.  In the third round the Phillies selected shortstop Cole Stobbe, of Millard West High School in Omaha, Nebraska.

John Sickles of Minor League Ball profiled Gowdy recently:

Listed at 6-4, 175, Gowdy already has a low-90s fastball that could tick up a notch if he fills out his frame; if he gets to 6-4, 200 or so he could throw very hard indeed. He already has a very good change-up for a high school pitcher, one that projects plus with more experience. His slider can be inconsistent: on the right day it is also a plus pitch, but his command of it has wobbled a bit this spring. Still, it is an advanced pitch for a prep arm.

Gowdy is athletic and has a clean delivery that he repeats well. Overall, if he continues developing at his present pace Gowdy can be a workhorse number three starter with impressive command of three quality pitches.

After Gowdy, the Phillies selected Stobbe, a shortstop, who fell below some draft projects.

Stobbe is a player who was tagged as being picked in the first or second rounds of the draft, but slipped to the third.  A Nebraska newscast recently profiled Stobbe and reported that some draft boards had him as high as the 47th pick overall.  The Phililes grabbed Stobbe with the 78th pick.

An MLB.com report on Stobbe describes him as, "a quick, compact right-handed stroke and laces line drives to all fields". Stobbe is a candidate to change positions for the Phillies, possibly to second base or third base.  Stobbe represented Team USA in the 18-and-under World Cup in Japan.

The Phillies will still have to sign Moniak, Gowdy, and Stobbe.  However, the Phillies likely had the framework of an agreement with Moniak before selecting him, which could be how they could afford to woo Gowdy and Stobbe away from college.