The Philadelphia Phillies put an emphasis on pitching in the 2021 MLB Draft. After selecting Andrew Painter 13th and Micah Ottenbreit in the 4th round, the Phillies took four straight pitches from the 5th round through the 8th. Those four selections include Griff McGarry, Jose Pena, Christian McGowan, and Jason Ruffcorn. 

McGarry is an RHP from Virginia and was the third Cavalier selected in the MLB Draft. Griff is known for his streaky pitching and was previously drafted in the 31st round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers.

Jose Pena is an 18-year-old from Winter Haven, Florida, and is committed to Florida International University. According to Perfect Game, Pena is the 6th best pitcher in Florida and has recently played for the San Francisco Giants scout team. 

With their 7th round pick, the Phillies went with JuCo righty Christian McGowan. McGowan is 6’3 with a killer fastball that is expected to reach 99 MPH. Currently, Christian is committed to Texas Tech, and it is unknown which route he will take between college and the pros.

The final pitcher of the night was Jason Ruffcorn, a bullpen pitcher for the Oklahoma Sooners for three seasons.  A bullpen arm is exactly what Philadelphia needs. Jason notched a career-high 11 saves in 2019. He received a second All-Big 12 Second Team honor in 2021 along with an All-Big 12 Academic selection. His father Scott, played for the Phillies in 1997.

Mandatory Credit: Edward Reali/The Daily