If there is a favorite for who the Philadelphia Phillies will select with the No. 1 overall pick in June's draft, it would appear to be Florida left-handed starting pitcher A.J. Puk.
Earlier this month, Peter Gammons of Gammonsdaily.com reported that Phillies' adviser and former general manager Pat Gillick watched Puk throw in a preseason scrimmage. Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly.com says that Gillick also watched him throw late last year, and was joined by an important slew of Phillies' brass at Puk's first start of the season today.
Phillies front office man Pat Gillick, the Hall of Fame executive who loves scouting, made a special trip to Gainesville to watch Puk throw in the fall. He was there again Saturday, on a post-card 75-degree day, to watch Puk make his hotly anticipated season debut.
Three other Phillies scouts, including scouting director Johnny Almaraz, were also among the crowd of 4,682 at McKethan Stadium. You can bet the ranch that Phillies scouts and selected front-office folks will be on hand for every start Puk makes before the draft. Ditto for the other top prospects eligible for this draft, including South Jersey high school lefty Jay Groome, profiled here.
Salisbury went on to note that Puk gave up four unearned runs in his season-opening start. Stats matter, but the Phillies were probably looking more at what Puk projects to be, and less of exactly how he pitched today.
In a world where both Marcus Mariota and Andrew Wiggins have alluded the grasp of Philadelphia's sports teams in recent years, it's nice for the Phillies to be the first team to be "on the clock". Whether it is Puk or another talented young prospect, the Phillies will have their choice of what player they hope continues their recent trend of successful 1st round picks.
Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) is the Managing Editor of Philliedelphia.com, focusing on news and features.
