Phillies begin Day 3 with catcher
The Phillies went back to work for the third and final day of the baseball draft, choosing two catchers among their first three picks.
The Phillies went back to work for the third and final day of the baseball draft, choosing two catchers among their first three picks.
The Phillies selected Southeast Missouri State catcher Jim Klocke in Round 31 and the West Chester University's Bob Stumpo in Round 33.
They also selected Texas catcher Cameron Rupp in Round 3.
Klocke is among the most accomplished players in school history. He is first in school history with 190 RBI, second in runs scored with 205, seventh in home runs with 32, ninth in batting average at .362. He was first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference selection for the last three seasons and made the all-freshman team. He also is an academic All-American.
Stumpo committed just two errors behind the plate and threw out 16 of 46 would-be base-stealers, breaking the school's record in that category. Stumpo threw out 46 base-stealers during his four-year career. He hit .305 with eight homers and 52 RBI as a senior.
In Round 32, the Phillies selected Delaware catcher Carlos Alonso, who was second-team all-Colonial Athletic Association as a senior. Alonso spent his first 2 years at Santa Barbara City College.
At one point, this past season he was leading Division I in batting average at .466. He finished with a .389 average, 20 doubles, and 62 runs scored. His 160 total bases were also the most in the CAA this year, while his 16 home runs were tied for second. He capped off a school-record 32-game hitting streak in March and recorded the fourth cycle in program history April 16 vs. Towson.
The Phillies selected first baseman Pat Murray, from Lewis-Clark State in Idaho in Round 34, and then went for three consecutive pitchers - righthander Eric Pettis, from the University of California-Irvine; 6-5 lefthander Neal Davis, from the University of Virginia; and righthander Marshall Schuler, from the Colorado School of Mines.
In Rounds 38 to 41, the Phillies added three outfielders in the four slots - Central Arizona's Keenyn Walker, Santa Fe College's Justin Cummings and Sheldon, Iowa, High's Taylor Zuetenhorst.
The Phillies stayed local in Round 45 with Villanova lefthander Mike Francisco, who is a Malvern Prep graduate.
The Phillies closed the draft with pitchers in six of their final seven selections and also added their fourth catcher of the draft.
Their final pick in Rounnd 50 was third baseman Damek Tomscha from Souix City (Iowa) North High.
Phillies director of scouting Marti Wolever offered a few more thoughts on notable picks from Day 2:
* Gauntlett Eldemire, centerfielder, Ohio University: "He's very athletic, the kind of kid that we like, he said. "He has tremendous top side and had an outstanding year with the bat. We like his chance to be an everyday guy in the left field."
* Stephen Malcolm, righthander, San Joaquin Delta College: "A live body short stop who we think can stay in the middle of the infield."
* John Hinson, third baseman, Clemson: "We think he can play several different positions in the infield," Wolever said. "We like his topside."
* Michael Nesseth, righthander, Nebraska: "He had Tommy John surgery in April. He probably would have been a second-round pick. He already had his surgery and we are hoping to rehab him. Hopefully we can get him back to where he was before the surgery."
* Brenton Allen, rightfielder, Gahr High, Cerritas, Calif.: "He's got plus raw power but we think we he has a chance to be a pretty good hitter."
PHILLIES' DAY 3 SELECTIONS
31, 951, Jim Klocke, C, Southeast Missouri State, 6-0, 195
32, 981, Carlos Alonso, 3B, Delaware, 5-11, 205
33, 1011, Bob Stumpo, C, West Chester University, 6-4, 220
34, 1041, Pat Murray, 1B, Lewis-Clark State, Lewiston, Idaho, 6-1, 230
35, 1071, Eric Pettis, RHP, University of California-Irvine, 6-2, 200
36, 1101, Neal Davis, LHP, University of Virginia, 6-5, 220
37, 1131, Marshall Schuler, RHP, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo., 6-0, 170
38, 1161, Keenyn Walker, RF, Central Arizona, 6-2, 187
39, 1191, Justin Cummings, OF, Santa Fe College, Gainesville, Fla., 6-2, 175
40, 1221, Jeffrey Harvill, LHP, Evangel Christian Academy, Shreveport, La., 6-0, 180
41, 1251, Taylor Zuetenhorst, RF, Sheldon (Iowa) High, 6-4, 200
42, 1281, Timothy Chadd, 1B, Bishop Carroll High, Wichita, Kansas, 5-10, 211
43, 1311, James Hodgskin, LHP, Bishop Moore High, Orlando, Fla., 6-2, 200
44, 1341, Jesse Meaux, RHP, University of California-Santa Barbera, 6-4, 210
45, 1371, Mike Francisco, LHP, Villanova, 6-5, 230
46, 1401, Tyler Ross, C, Barron G. Collier High, Naples, Fla., 6-1, 203
47, 1431, Ethan Stewart, LHP, New Mexico Junior College, 6-5, 210
48, 1461, Kyle Ottoson, LHP, South Mountain CC, Phoenix, 6-3, 150
49, 1491, Kyle Hallock, LHP, Kent State, 6-2, 185
50, 1521, Damek Tomscha, 3B, Souix City (Iowa) North High, 6-2, 200