Delving into possibilities as Phillies eye 39th pick in draft

Here's a look at Major League Baseball's annual draft - a potential 50-round odyssey where grown men working for the 30 teams try to project how 17-year-olds are going to turn out. The craps tables in Vegas have better odds.

Name dropping

Three positions the Phillies are looking at this draft are lefthanded pitching, middle infield and catcher. With the Phillies' first pick at No. 39, here's a look at the players Baseball America has rated between 30-50 at those positions:

Lefthanded pitchers

* Matt Purke, Texas Christian (BA overall rank: 32) - A first-rounder in 2009, his stock has tumbled amid shoulder soreness this year.

* Henry Owens, Edison H.S., Huntington Beach, Calif. (BA rank: 33) - The lone high school pitcher of this bunch, Owens is 6-6 with a fastball in the low-90s.

* Andrew Chafin, Kent State (BA rank: 38) - Has recovered from 2009 Tommy John surgery quite nicely with a 7-1 record and 97 strikeouts in 80-plus innings heading into the NCAA Tourney.

* Josh Osich, Oregon State (BA rank: 41) - Another member of the Tommy John club, Osich no-hit 24th-ranked UCLA in April.

* Sean Gilmartin, Florida State (BA rank: 48) - Rebounded from a bad sophomore season with a stellar year in 2011. Entered NCAA Tournament play 11-1 with a 1.52 ERA.

Catcher

* Andrew Susac, Oregon State (BA rank: 30) - The highest-rated collegiate catcher on Baseball America's board. Missed about a month of the season with a broken hand, but is OK now.

Middle infielder

* Trevor Story, Irving (Texas) H.S. (BA rank: 40) - Is a 6-1, 180-pound shortstop headed (for now) to LSU.

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Recent 39s

Here's a look at recent players selected 39th overall, where the Phillies will pick tonight, and where they are today:

* 2010 Boston: Anthony Ranaudo, RHP, LSU - Was recently promoted to Salem, the Bosox single A affiliate in the Carolina League.

* 2009 Milwaukee: Kentrail Davis, OF, Tennessee - Entered the weekend hitting .251 for Brevard, a Brewers single A affiliate in the Florida State League.

* 2008 St. Louis: Lance Lynn, RHP, Mississippi - Made his major league debut on Thursday.

* 2007 LA Dodgers: James Adkins, LHP, Tennessee - Is a reliever for Double A Carolina, a Reds affiliate.

* 2006 Cleveland: David Huff, LHP, UCLA - Was a 19th-round pick of the Phillies in 2005 ... Is back in Triple A Columbus after going 2-11 with a 6.21 ERA for the Indians last year. Was 11-8 for the Tribe in 2009.

* 2005 Minnesota: Hank Sanchez, 1B, California H.S. - Never reached higher than single A.

* 2004 Minnesota: Jay Rainville, RHP, Rhode Island H.S. - Highest level reached was Double A.

* 2003 Milwaukee: Tony Gwynn Jr., OF, San Diego State - Will not be living up to his father's enormous Hall of Fame shadow. Mostly comes off the bench for the Dodgers, his third club since reaching the majors in 2006.

*2002 Oakland: Mark Teahan, 3B, St. Mary's - Is in his seventh season as a major leaguer, currently with the White Sox.

* 2001 Chicago White Sox: Wyatt Allen, RHP, Tennessee - Never got out of the minors and had his career ended by elbow problems.

* 2000 Texas: Chad Hawkins, RHP, Baylor - Never made it out of A-ball.

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Five hot prospects

* Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA: Being called a future ace . . . Has good size (6-4, 220) and a fastball that ranges from 92-99 mph . . . Was a Yankees first-round pick in 2008.

* Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice: He has had ankle and shoulder injuries in the past, but hasn't missed a game this season . . . Was hitting .327 entering the NCAA Tournament and is a very good fielder . . . Last name is pronounced ren-DON.

* Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia: Two-time ACC pitcher of the year . . . Arizona reportedly is very interested with the No. 3 pick . . . Not sure this means anything, but Hultzen's father is a neonatal doctor and his mom is a psychiatrist.

* Bubba Starling, OF, Gardner-Edgerton (Kansas) HS: He also has the option to attend Nebraska and compete for the starting quarterback job. The Cornhuskers are starting Big Ten play this year . . . Will have until Aug. 15 to decide between baseball and college . . . Being advised by Scott Boras.

* Dylan Bundy, RHP, Owasso (Okla.) HS: Was 11-0 this year with 158 strikeouts and five walks . . . a Texas-signee, Baseball America has him rated as their overall top pitcher, including collegiate hurlers . . . brother, Bobby, is in the Orioles' system at single A Frederick.

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Party with Marti

A look at players drafted by the Phillies within the first 100 picks since Marti Wolever took over as Director of Scouting (in October, 2001):

2002

Rd. 1: Cole Hamels, LHP, 17th overall

Rd. 2. Zack Sevovia, RHP, 58th

Rd. 3. Kiel Fisher, 3B, 89th

2003

Rd 3. Tim Moss, 2B, 85th

2004

Rd. 1. Greg Golson, OF, 21st

Rd. 2. Jason Jaramillo, C, 62nd

Rd. 3. J.A. Happ, LHP, 92nd

2005

Rd. 2. Mike Costanzo, 3B, 65th

Rd. 3. Matt Maloney, LHP, 97th

2006

Rd. 1. Kyle Drabek, RHP, 18th

Rd. 1s. Adrian Cardenas, SS, 37th

Rd. 2. Andrew Carpenter, RHP, 65th

Rd. 3. Jason Donald, SS, 97th

2007

Rd. 1. Joe Savery, LHP/DH, 19th

Rd. 1s. Travis d'Arnaud, C, 37th

Rd. 2. Travis Mattair, SS, 83rd

2008

Rd. 1. Anthony Hewitt, SS/OF, 24th

Rd. 1s. Zach Collier, OF, 34th

Rd. 2. Anthony Gose, OF, 51st

Rd. 2. Jason Knapp, RHP, 71st

2009

Rd. 2. Kelly Dugan, OF, 75th

2010

Rd. 1. Jesse Biddle, LHP, 27th

Rd. 2. Percival Garner, RHP, 77th

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Hey! Where'd you go?

A look at some key Phillies, the round in which they were drafted and the year:

Roy Halladay, 1st, 1995

*Chase Utley, 1st, 2000

*Cole Hamels, 1st, 2002

*Jimmy Rollins, 2nd, 1996

Cliff Lee, 4th, 2000

*Ryan Howard, 5th, 2001

Shane Victorino, 6th, 1999

*Ryan Madson, 9th, 1998

Placido Polanco, 19th, 1994

*Domonic Brown, 20th, 2006

Roy Oswalt, 23rd, 1996

Raul Ibanez, 36th, 1992

Note: Players drafted by the Phillies noted with an asterisk . . . Carlos Ruiz was signed as an undrafted free agent in 1998 . . . Charlie Manuel's pro career began in 1963, two years before the draft began . . . Players drafted multiple times are shown with the year and round of the final time they were selected.