Phillies assistant general manager Marti Wolever likes to call himself a high-ceiling guy when it comes to the amateur draft. Judging by his record over the last few years, Wolever surely is that, considering the last four first-round picks were high school kids and the team has drafted just two college players in the first round since 2000.
During the first round of the 2012 amateur draft, the Phillies added two more high school pitchers to the fold when they selected righthander Shane Watson with the 40th overall pick and righty pitcher Mitch Gueller with the 54th pick.
Wolever says the picks are fiery competitors, that Watson reminds him a bit of former Phillie Brett Myers and Gueller has a resemblance to Roger Clemens.
Watson is very aggressive and he wears it on his sleeve and he doesnt back down, Wolever said. Gueller is a little more composed, but they are both extremely competitive and very athletic.
From Lakewood high school in California, Watson is 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds and has signed to play baseball at USC. However, it seems as if Watson is itching to get going on his professional baseball career.
If a kid my age got offered 1.2 million to go play baseball, I think hed pass up college for sure, Watson said Monday night. I mean, you tell me, would you take 1.2 million or go study in school?
Because the bonus money is slotted for draft picks, Watson seems agreeable to what he will be offered by the Phillies and doesnt sound as if hes going to be a tough kid to sign. In the meantime, Watson has three pitches and has developed a fourth. Wolever says Watson has a curveball similar to the one Myers had in high school and the kid says he is developing a cutter that is quickly becoming as good as his curve.
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Still, its the curveball that got the Phillies scouts excited.
My curveball is like my Visa express card, I can use it whenever I want, Watson said.
Clearly Watson is not lacking in confidence and with a curve, a fastball that gets to the mid-90s with a cutter and perhaps some newfound wealth... why wouldnt he be? Still, Watson says he has remained fairly grounded after being put in his place by his older brother, Scott, who has spent the past few years playing in the Independent pro league for Calgary. Seven years older than Watson, the big brother, beat my butt. His parents divorced when he was 12 and because of that he threw himself into baseball, he said.
Fighting with my brother, my parents arguing and getting divorced and all that I used baseball to be my sanctuary, he said.
Meanwhile, Gueller is built similarly to Watson at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds. He too has a mid-90s fastball, but doesnt throw the curve like Watson. However, Gueller was an all-state quarterback from West High in Chehalis, Wash., and is signed to play quarterback for Washington State in the fall.
Wolever seemed confident that the Phillies will be able to sign both players and then send them to play in the Gulf Coast League later this summer.
Weve done a lot of homework on these guys and we feel very good that well come to terms, Wolever said.
Interestingly, Gueller is also a hitting prospect with speed to steal bases and power from the right side of the plate. According to the scouting reports, however, Gueller is further advanced as a pitcher than a hitter.
Hes a big guy and looks like Roger Clemens, Wolever said. Weve seen him throw up to 94 mph in the spring and he has a chance to have two or three above-average pitches. Hes very athletic and very competitive also.
The Phillies have 40 rounds to complete in the draft and hope to add some hitting depth to the system when they get back to it on Tuesday. In fact, Wolever said on Sunday that offensive depth was what the Phils were most targeting in this draft.
Regardless, Wolever was pleased with how things shaped up with the first-round selections on Monday night.
They are ahead, maturity-wise, Wolever said, noting that the two pitchers selected were more mentally developed than some of the college players they scouted. They dont act like 18-year-olds in a lot of ways. They are both competitive, composed athletes. I think they have a pretty good feel for what they want to do.
E-mail John Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com