By: Tim Kelly, Managing Editor
The Philadelphia Phillies are just under 15 days away from making the No. 1 pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, and according to ESPN's Jayson Stark, the team is 'struggling' to decide who they will select with the pick.
Sources say the Phillies have set up a private pre-draft workout Thursday with Delvin Perez, 17-yr-old shortstop from Puerto Rico. They have many names still in play for the first overall pick. One source says they're "struggling" with this huge decision.
Baseball America has Perez ranked as the fifth best prospect in this draft, so it's entirely possible the Phillies are just doing their due-diligence by working him out. It's also worth noting that he is a shortstop and Phillies top prospect J.P. Crawford is as well, though Perez is years away from playing in the majors and if the Phillies were to end up with two talented shortstops, they could move one to another position.
The other interesting thing about the Phillies working with Perez is that ESPN's Keith Law recently reported that the Phillies were 'out on' pitchers Jason Groome and Riley Pint because they are high schoolers. Law noted at that time that the Phillies didn't appear interested in taking a high school pitcher with the first pick, but if they are still interested working out Perez, that would seem to signal that high-school aged position players are still under consideration.
As for the idea of the Phillies 'struggling' with this pick, it isn't necessarily a bad thing that the organization isn't in complete agreement with what to do with the most important pick they have had this millennium. The good news for the Phillies is while they have smart baseball minds like Matt Klentak, Andy MacPhail and Johnny Almaraz currently leading this draft, they also appear to be using the assistance of Pat Gillick and Charlie Manuel, both of whom remain with the organization in advisory roles. So whichever decision the Phillies ultimately come to will be well researched by a slew of good baseball minds.
The MLB Draft will begin on June 9.