Previewing the 2026 MLB Draft: Two Targets, Two Reaches, and One Sleeper for the Phillies

With the 2026 MLB Amateur Draft just one day away, it’s time for Phillies fans to start shifting their focus, albeit briefly, from the present to the future. On July 7, Baseball America released its updated farm system rankings for all 30 teams, and the Phillies fell to an abysmal 29th place, trailing only the Houston Astros. Now more than ever, the pressure is on Brian Barber, the Phillies’ Director of Amateur Scouting, to introduce some promising new faces to the organization.

Interestingly, the Phillies seem to have a consistent strategy when it comes to their drafting. Since Barber entered his current role, five of his six first-round draft picks have been players coming out of high school, with 2025 draftee Gage Wood being the only exception. Last year, 14 of the Phillies’ 20 picks were pitchers, addressing a clear organizational need.

This season, the Phillies’ lack of mature pitching depth has been even more apparent, especially after Andrew Painter was optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley after posting a 7.06 ERA in 14 games.

At this point, the biggest question is no longer whom the Phillies will select with their first pick. Because they exceeded the second surcharge threshold of $264 million for the Competitive Balance Tax, the Phillies’ first pick gets pushed back ten spots, landing them with the 36th overall pick in the draft. Of course, the Phils won’t be nabbing any big names in the first round, so what fans should really look at is the underlying pattern behind the Phils’ 21 total selections. If Barber sticks to his current plan, one which some may argue is ineffective given whether the Phillies stand among other farm systems, then the Phillies will prioritize pitching while potentially inking a high-school prep bat in the early rounds. If Barber and his team see the updated farm system rankings as an indicator to change things up, then fans may be blindsided come Sunday night.

Since we have no way of knowing what’s going through the heads of the Phillies’ executives, it surely cannot hurt to make some predictions of our own. Think of this year’s draft like a crooked game of 20 questions where we don’t get any of the answers.

Targets

Cade Townsend, RHP, University of Mississippi

Townsend, MLB Pipeline’s 35th-ranked prospect, has actually been matched with the Phillies for a few mock drafts, and it makes total sense as to why. His 3.94 ERA from his sophomore season does not jump off the charts, but a few rocky outings from the end of his season greatly skewed his stat line. After his ninth start, in which he held The University of Tennessee to only one hit in six innings, his season ERA was at an impressive 1.73.

With a nice mix of pitches, including a fastball, slider, curveball, cutter, and changeup, Townsend regularly keeps hitters off-balance, racking up 131 strikeouts in 98 collegiate innings. His powerful fastball sits between 94 and 97 mph and features some impressive spin rates.

Landon Thome, 2B/3B, Nazareth Academy (Illinois)

Maybe I’m being biased because he’s the son of former Phillie and Hall-of-Fame first baseman Jim Thome, but Landon Thome seems more than prepared to follow in the big footsteps left by his father.

Thome played some shortstop in high school, but after spending an offseason with Padres’ infielder Jake Cronenworth, he is looking to transition toward second base for his professional career. Depending on where you look, Thome is all over the prospect rankings and draft predictions. MLB Pipeline has him at 34, while ESPN has him at 68. When Sports Illustrated completed its mock draft, they had Thome being selected 37th overall by the Colorado Rockies.

Regardless, Thome would be a great target for the Phillies’ draft team. He presents as one of the most well-rounded bats in the high school draft, showcasing strong bat-to-ball skills, a swing geared to elevate the ball, improved pitch recognition, and even some inklings of power. At only 177 lbs, it’s expected that his power will become even more apparent once his body fills out. In an impressive senior season, Thome notched 49 stolen bases to go along with his 1.676 OPS.

Reaches

Cole Carlon, LHP, Arizona State University

The Phillies need pitching, and they need it fast. If Cole Carlon, the number 26 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, falls to the Phillies, he could absolutely be the solution. Carlon, a 21-year-old southpaw, worked out of the Arizona State bullpen for his first two collegiate seasons before joining the starting rotation as a junior. His numbers cumulatively may not impress on paper, but don’t let that fool you. This past season, Carlon struck out 133 batters in 83.2 innings of work, posting a 3.87 ERA in his first season as a starter.

Carlon’s fastball has touched 98 mph, and his slider is one of the best in college baseball. It has a tight break, but with Carlon’s athleticism, he is easily able to adjust the speed and break of his slider. He also features a 12-6 curveball that complements his tight slider exceptionally well.

Cole Prosek, 3B/C, Magnolia Heights School (Mississippi)

Teams love high-school bats with a high upside, so it is difficult to imagine Prosek lasting 36 picks in the draft. And if he does, the Phillies would be fools not to capitalize on the opportunity. As the 2025-26 Gatorade Player of the Year in Mississippi, Prosek boasted absurd numbers, including a .595 batting average, 18 home runs, and 79 RBI. He has spent most of his high-school career in the infield, and if he stays there, his mid-range speed indicates more upside at third base than shortstop. Prosek did, however, get some innings behind the dish, and scouts see catching professionally as a legitimate possibility for the 19-year-old slugger.

Sleeper

Caden Bogenpohl, OF, Missouri State University

Standing at 6′ 6″ and 245 lbs, Caden Bogenpohl is a force to be reckoned with at Missouri State. In 2024, he broke Ryan Howard‘s freshman home run record, recording 20 home runs in 56 games as a freshman. In three years of collegiate baseball, Bogenpohl has an impressive slash line of .288/.441/.536 with a .977 OPS, as well as 122 RBI in 165 games.

Since the start of the season, Bogenpohl has slowly fallen in the draft projections thanks to a slower season at the plate in his junior year. He had only six home runs this past season, but he still maintained a batting average of .274. Bogenpohl also has an unusual hitting profile, with power to all fields despite struggling on pitches to the outside part of the plate. He has excellent plate discipline (had a walk rate of just over 20% in three collegiate seasons), but his long swing has produced some alarmingly high ground-ball rates.

If the Phillies’ staff can cut down on Bogenpohl’s in-zone swings and misses by developing a major-league-ready swing path, the Phils could find themselves with a middle-of-the-order power threat in just a few short years.

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