Phillies sign top three draft picks

THE PHILLIES have signed their top three draft picks less than a week after the draft, a reflection of the shortened time window put in place in the new collective bargaining agreement.

The deadline for signings has been moved from mid-August to July 13.

The Phillies have agreed to deals with high school righthanders Shane Watson and Mitch Gueller, both taken in the compensation round after Round 1, and Arizona high school outfielder Dylan Cozens, one of their second-round picks.

Watson, from Lakewood, Calif., was the 40th overall pick. He went 4-3 with a 1.19 ERA in 11 games last season. He struck out 79 in 53 innings.

A Southern Cal signee, Watson has a plus fastball and curve, according to scouts.

Based on his draft position, he will receive a bonus of $1,291,300, according to Baseball America.

Gueller, from Rochester, Wash., received a signing bonus of $940,000 and said he has been assigned to the Phillies' Gulf Coast League team in Clearwater, Fla., according to the Kitsap Sun.

"It's been my dream since I was a kid," Gueller told the Washington newspaper. "I always wanted to be a baseball player."

Gueller, a Washington State signee, was 6-0 with a 0.80 ERA at W.F. West High School in Chehalis this season, with 70 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings. He said his fastball regularly hits 92 mph and he has been clocked at 96.

Cozens, from Scottsdale, Ariz., set a school record with 19 homers, tops in the state. He had football and basketball scholarships from Arizona, but said when he was drafted that he planned to sign. "I'm ready to get the show on the road," he said last week.