The Phillies hold the first pick in this year's amateur draft, an envious position. The two top candidates to be drafted include Jason Groome, a left-handed pitcher out of New Jersey, and A.J. Puk, who is a left-handed pitcher out of the University of Florida. The Phillies have been doing their due diligence, and it appears they are all in, even sending top executives to see the potential draftees.
Legendary baseball writer Peter Gammons of reports that
You don't think the Phils are dead serious about no. 1 pick? Pat Gillick was at Florida's weekend scrimmage to see AJ Puk.
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) February 8, 2016
The Phillies could learn from the Jesse Biddle situation and may favor Puk.
The primary difference between Puk and Groome is their age. Puk is heading into his junior year at the University of Florida. Groome is heading into his senior year of high school. The Phillies drafted Aaron Nola in 2013 because he was a safer pick; being older and further along in development, there is less time to be derailed by injury. Plus, the Phillies may wish to contend sooner than later and Puk will require less development time.
Watch Puk pitch a game last season against Virginia, courtesy of the NCAA. Hear a great scouting report around the 27:00 mark:
