Philadelphia Phillies: 5 best first-round draft picks in franchise history
By Tim Boyle
With the 18th pick in the first-round of the 1965 MLB draft, the Philadelphia Phillies select pitcher Mike Adamson from Point Loma High School. The Phillies failed to sign him. Was this an omen of things to come?
Adamson hardly became a regrettable miss for the team. When he did eventually make it to the major leagues with the Baltimore Orioles, he lasted only 25.1 innings in parts of three seasons. This doesn’t help us digest how many major misses the club has had in the first-round of the annual MLB draft.
From 1965-2021, the team has had ample opportunities to rebuild their franchise with future stars. Like every organization, they’ve missed more than they hit. But when picks have gone their way, some of them have led to championships. Drafting well is key to a team’s success. These top five Phillies draft picks from the first-round prove it.
5. Philadelphia Phillies best first-round draft pick: Aaron Nola.
You don’t need to look very far to find the fifth-best first-round draft pick in Phillies history. Taken 7th overall back in 2014, Aaron Nola, a present day member of the club, shot through the minor leagues quickly and was a mainstay in their rotation by 2015. After a little bit of seasoning at the major league level, he found himself finishing the 2018 campaign with his first All-Star selection and a third-place finish in the Cy Young race.
Nola has continued to pitch well in the years since, now holding a 67-49 record and 3.68 ERA. While it may not be the most impressive result, Nola is already sixth in WAR among all Phillies first-round draft picks. This includes numbers players put up with every team and even those that never played an inning for the organization.
I’m looking at you, J.D. Drew.
Nola’s reputation with the Phillies isn’t perfect. Already seven MLB seasons under his belt, he has a very realistic chance to climb this list at least one more spot before he plays his last game for Philadelphia.