High school coaches high on Adam Haseley, think he can play all outfield positions

Tim Kelly

June 21 2017

By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor

When you consider that the Philadelphia Phillies have followed up a 6-22 month of May with a 5-14 start to June, the team's fanbase is desperate to get excited about any part of the organization. Two former high school coaches of Adam Haseley, the Virginia outfielder that the Phillies selected with the No. 8 overall pick in last week's MLB Draft, say they landed one last Monday.

Darrell Don, who was Haseley's first high school head coach at Orlando First Academy, says it was evident at an early age how much talent that the new Phillie had.

"He played in my program from sixth grade on and his talent level was significantly better than most of the players his age and even some of the older players," Don said. "He sort of blossomed as a rising ninth grader, as he was a member of the USA Baseball 14U team that summer that I managed."

Don, who has known Haseley since he was nine years old, says that Haseley knows how to balance being in the spotlight and remaining humble, something that is certainly key for a first round pick. He spoke glowingly of Haseley's work ethic and his exceptional character.

Scott Grove, who was Haseley's head coach his senior year of high school, went a step further.

"He is the total package as a human being," Grove said of his former player. "He is by far the most quality person that I have coached in 20 years of being a coach in high school baseball."

When he wasn't pitching in high school and college, Haseley manned center field. Whether he stays there long-term or not remains to be seen.

The Phillies control Odubel Herrera through 2023, have someone capable of playing all three outfield positions in Aaron Altherr, have Roman Quinn at Triple-A and spent the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft on center fielder Mickey Moniak. Perhaps Haseley will end up being the team's long-term center fielder, but it's clear with the amount of young outfielding talent that the team has in their organization, they will need all of their outfielders to be flexible.

Don believes that wherever the Phillies place Haseley in the field, he will thrive.

"Adam is a tremendously gifted defender and has enough speed to remain in centerfield, but with his athleticism he could play either corner," Don said of Haseley's fielding ability. "In 2013, he played left field for the 18U national team and was their best defender."

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A common question asked in scouting reports of Haseley was whether he will have enough power to be a successful corner outfielder. After hitting just seven combined home runs in his first two college seasons, the 21-year-old had a power breakout in his junior year, hitting 14 home runs in 223 at-bats, while driving in 56 RBIs and posting a .659 slugging percentage.

For his part, Haseley told Jim Jackson on the team's pregame show yesterday evening that as he began to make more consistent contact in college, the power came with. He also suggested that he's comfortable playing all three outfield positions. As Jackson opined during the interview, Haseley is extremely well-spoken for someone his age.

Of course, in today's world, where athletes are coached to make it to play Division I sports beginning when they are in elementary school, judging someone's character based off of their ability to give impressive answers to interviews isn't always smart. But speaking to two of his former high school coaches, both of whom have roles with the USA baseball program, is a pretty good way to gauge a person's character and ability to transition into being a professional. And both Don and Grove couldn't say enough positive things about the Phillies' first-round draft pick, as a player and a person.