Phillies sign top 11 picks in 2021 MLB Draft



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The Phillies announced on Saturday that they had signed their top 11 draft picks, including first round Andrew Painter.

Painter, a 6-7 right-handed pitcher, was the 13th overall pick in the draft. He received a signing bonus of $ 3.9 million. He had been hired at the University of Florida.

Painter, 18, immediately became one of the Phillies’ top prospects, joining Mick Abel, the club’s first choice a year ago. Abel is a 6-5 right-hander. The Phillies are hoping the duo will someday turn into a dominant 1-2 punch in the majors.

Abel, 19, is currently launching at Low A Clearwater.

The Phillies made 20 draft picks earlier this week. Fourteen of them were pitchers.

Wheeler ready to go

One of the scenarios for the Phillies’ second half of the season begins again Sunday afternoon when Zack Wheeler takes the mound against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park.

With 44% of the season remaining, Wheeler is a candidate for the National League’s Cy Young Award. The Phillies haven’t had a Cy Young winner since Roy Halladay in 2010.

It was not clear on Saturday night who Wheeler would pitch against in the series finale against Miami. The Marlins put scheduled starter Pablo Lopez on the injured list with right rotator cuff strain on Saturday.

Wheeler enters Sunday’s start tied with the majors’ lead in pitched innings (119 2/3). He is third in strikeouts at 145 and fourth in the NL in ERA at 2.26.

Two-time NL Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets is the favorite to win the award again. He leads the majors with a 1.08 ERA. But deGrom pitched far fewer innings (92) than Wheeler and Saturday was stopped with a forearm tightness. He will not make his scheduled departure for the Mets on Monday.

Kevin Gausman of San Francisco, Brandon Woodruff of Milwaukee, Trevor Rogers of Miami and Walker Buehler of the Dodgers are also in contention for the NL Cy Young with more than two months to play.

Wheeler signed a five-year, $ 118 million contract with the Phillies ahead of the 2020 season. He has a 2.50 ERA in 29 starts with the club.



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