Phillies Select SS Bryson Stott with No. 14 Overall Pick in MLB Draft

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

With the No. 14 overall pick in the first round of Monday evening's 2019 MLB Draft, the Philadelphia Phillies selected 21-year-old shortstop Bryson Stott out of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Stott (6'3, 200) slashed .340/.433/.515 over three seasons and 171 games with the Rebels, slugging 97 RBI and 234 hits — including 61 doubles, seven triples and 15 home runs — along with 109 walks and just 81 strikeouts.

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Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, a volunteer pitching coach at UNLV, recently described Scott as "more confident than cocky." “It’s just refreshing. I think people like that," Maddux said. "Nobody likes arrogant players. I think it will help probably just the fact that you don’t have to worry about coaching it out of him."

"I think one of the worries you have as a coach is you never want to coach personality out of a player unless you have to, and you’re definitely not going to have to with Bryson.”

Stott bats left and throws right; he has been described as an "All-Star caliber shortstop with above-average tools across the board," with a floor of Stephen Drew and ceiling of Corey Seager. NBC Sports Philadelphia's Corey Seidman writes that Stott "has a chance to stick at the position because of his strong defense."

The 14th overall pick is the Phillies' lowest first-round selection since 2013, when they took shortstop J.P. Crawford 16th overall out of Lakewood High School.


Previous Phillies First Round Picks, Since 2013

MLB


Stott has been described as a "dynamic middle infielder who can play exceptional defense, hit for average and hit for power," by Johnny Almaraz, Phillies Director of Amateur Scouting, who adds that the 21-year-old is a "leader" with "tremendous intangibles."

The Phillies have now selected a college player in the first round in three consecutive drafts, joining third baseman Alec Bohm (3rd overall) last year, and outfielder Adam Haseley (8th overall) in 2017. Prior, the organization selected a high schooler in the first round in seven of eight years, with the lone exception being the club's current ace and starting pitcher for Monday's series opener against Manny Machado and the San Diego Padres — Aaron Nola (2014). 

Over the last two decades, the 14th overall pick has produced "only four players — all high schoolers — who made an impact in the majors," NBC Sports Philadelphia notes: Jose Fernandez, Aaron Hicks, Jason Heyward and Billy Butler.

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