The Phillies hold the 26th pick in tonight’s 2025 MLB Draft

The Phillies are picking 26th in Sunday’s MLB Draft. The position sucks, obviously but at the very least, it’s a winning ball clubs slot.

Obviously, the Phillies aren’t a rebuilding team. They have aspirations to complete deep into October, so draft late comes with the territory. Historically, the 26th pick isn’t a goldmine. Alan Trammell is the only Hall of Famer ever taken there. Dave Henderson and Dan Plesac are the only others with more than 15 career WAR.

Most years, it’s a gamble.

Brian Barber doesn’t mind the odds. This will be his sixth draft as the Phillies’ assistant GM, and he’s stuck to one blueprint by drafting high-upside high school talent.

Since 2020, Brian Barber used every first-rounder on a high school player: Mick Abel, Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford, Aidan Miller, and Dante Nori.

That strategy has paid off. Painter is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball and could debut later this summer. Crawford continues to climb and might crack the Phillies’ roster this year.

Aidan Miller is tracking as a future impact bat. Mick Abel just threw six shutout innings in Triple-A and has a 2.00 ERA for Lehigh Valley. Dante Nori is still early in his development, but the tools are there.

Barber leans high school for a reason. The upside is higher. The Phillies aren’t chasing safe picks or back-end utility guys. They’re hunting stars.

Sunday’s class lines up well with that strategy. The strength of the 2025 draft is in high school position players, especially in the middle infield which happens to be Brian Barber’s sweet spot.

MLB.com has the Phillies taking Stevenson, C, North Carolina (No. 33) or Sean Gamble, 2B/OF, IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (No. 27) with the 26th overall pick.

The front office has already narrowed its board to five or six names they expect to be there at 26. The goal is to take the best athlete available and develop them or use them in a trade to upgrade the big-league roster.

The Phillies have three picks on Day 1. They hold the 26, 63, and 100 picks, with a bonus pool of $7.85 million. That’s not top-tier money, but it’s enough to swing big on talent.

This year’s draft could also double as a deadline preview for the Phillies

Players like Abel, Miller, or Crawford could be part of a blockbuster. The Phillies are built to win now. No one outside of Painter is safe if the right deal presents itself.

Barber’s system has stocked the farm with real talent. He’s likely to add another high-upside name Sunday night. Whether that player ends up in red pinstripes or as trade capital, the Phillies are in a strong position.

Join The Chase