With the 10th overall pick in Monday's first round of the 2015 MLB Draft, the Phillies selected shortstop Cornelius Randolph out of Griffin High School in Georgia.
Here is more on the newest Phillie.
Randolph stands 6'1" and weighs 190 pounds, solid size for a high school level player.
His bat was the most notable part of his game. There may not be a more pure hitter in the draft. That said, he's not a huge power supply, so don't expect a ton of production.
Randolph has solid plate vision and ability to know the zone. He'll be a smart hitter for sure.
That said, where he ends up in the field is still a mystery. He could move to second base as a logical replacement for Chase Utley. He could become a corner infielder, but again his growth in size and in the field will truly determine that.
He's not a strong baserunner and needs improvement defensively. There's even a chance he could end up as an outfielder. Director of scouting Johnny Almaraz has said the Phillies will use Randolph in left field.
Bottom line: the Phillies may have reached a bit on this and selected another project. He worked his way through the ranks during this past season, but unlike the Phillies previous first round picks in J.P. Crawford and Aaron Nola, his path to the majors is not very defined or expedited, and will at least feature a ton of growing pains on the basepaths and in the field.
That said, he was quite possibly the best high-school player in the draft, which is why the Phillies coveted him and couldn't pass him up.
He'll make the majors because of his bat, but he'll need a lot of work to become a well-rounded player.
Kevin Durso is a contributing writer and editorial assistant for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
