Phillies Select High-School Outfielder Dante Nori with 27th Selection in MLB Amateur Draft
Photo via Canadian Baseball Network
For the fifth year in a row, the Phillies nabbed a high schooler in the first round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft. This time around, the Phils went with a Justin Crawford-esque pick, selecting speedy outfielder Dante Nori with the 27th overall selection. Nori, who will turn 20 in October, played for Northville Public High School in Michigan before committing to Mississippi State to play college ball.
Though Nori may not have the biggest bat in the draft, he has a range of tools for the Phillies’ staff to tinker with. His 6.15-second sixty-yard dash ranks in the top 0.02% of his class, and when this is paired with his above-average glove in the outfield, he has the potential to be one of the best defensive players in the game.
The biggest question mark surrounding Nori can be found at the plate. He has shown some signs of being a power hitter during batting practice, but in game, he tends to spray line drives to all sides of the field. Nori was a finalist in the Perfect Game All-American Classic Home Run Derby, where he impressed scouts with outstanding barrel control and a quick, fluid swing. He has also shown the ability to hit well with two strikes without completely overhauling his approach.
On top of his elite-level speed, Nori is aggressive on the basepaths and uses it to compensate for his minimal in-game power.
Nori was ranked as the #48 prospect by MLB Pipeline, so there is definitely some risk associated with taking him 27th overall, but many scouts think that he has a good frame with the potential to increase his power and overall offensive productivity.
The 2024 draft pool allots $3,228,300 to the Phillies’ first-round pick, with their full bonus pool containing $7,381,800 for this year’s draftees.
The Phillies’ final pick of the night will be number 63, coming at the very end of the second round.
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