2012 MLB Draft Reaction: Mitch Gueller Is Philadelphia Phillies' Third-Best Prospect, According To ESPN's Keith Law

Philadelphia Phillies draft pick Mitch Gueller, a right-handed pitcher named the 54th overall selection in the 2012 MLB Draft, instantly becomes the organization's third-ranked prospect, as rated by ESPN analyst Keith Law.

During Law's assessment of the 2012 MLB Draft, he rated where each top pick falls in an organization's rankings. Gueller takes the third spot in Philadelphia's minor league rankings, according to Law, behind only Trevor May and Jessie Biddle.

A full scouting report for Gueller follows, courtesy of MLB.com's Draft Tracker:

The Pacific Northwest typically produces some good Draft talent, and Gueller had some serious helium as the Draft approached, with his name popping up as early as the end of the first round. A very good athlete who hit and pitched in high school, it's clear his future is on the mound, with a fastball that consistently sits in the 92-93 mph range to go along with a breaking ball that will show glimpses of being above average. He has some feel for a changeup but doesn't use it very much. His athleticism helps him on the mound and should allow him to refine his command and make his secondary offerings more consistent.

For more on the MLB Draft and the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly. Stay tuned to the indispensable Baseball Nation for even more updates and analysis from the 2012 MLB Draft.

2012 MLB Draft Reaction: ESPN's Keith Law Says Philadelphia Phillies Drafted For 'Upside'

The Philadelphia Phillies made their 2012 MLB Draft selections with an eye on upside, writes ESPN analyst Keith Law in his NL draft reaction.

Summary: The Phillies went after -- wait for it -- upside. Shane Watson (1) has one of the better curveballs in the class and sits in the low 90s, although there's some stiffness to him that reminded me a little of Joe Blanton. Mitch Gueller (1) was a two-way player in high school, a good athlete who would sit 91-93 and has a chance for three average or better pitches. Dylan Cozens (2) is quite a story, a football/baseball guy who was kicked off one high school team after a physical altercation with his coach; he's an athletic left-handed hitter who probably wouldn't have made my own top 200. Alec Rash (3) is up to 95 with a good body and delivery, and a very fresh arm as an Iowa kid without many innings behind him. Zach Green (4) isn't a shortstop long term, but if you buy the bat, you might see a third baseman with some pop. Kevin Brady (10) would have gone higher had he not missed May with a hamstring strain; before that he was 90-94 with some downhill plane and a big, durable body.

For more on the MLB Draft and the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly. Stay tuned to the indispensable Baseball Nation for even more updates and analysis from the 2012 MLB Draft.

2012 MLB Draft Results, Day 3: Philadelphia Phillies Stockpile Pitchers On Final Day Of Draft

The 2012 MLB Draft wrapped up on Wednesday after teams selected players in Rounds 16-40. The Philadelphia Phillies selected very few position players on the final day of the draft. The complete list of Phillies draft picks from Rounds 16-40 can be seen below.

Nicholas Hanson, 16th round (518 overall), RHP, Golden West College, CA
David Hill, 17th round (548 overall), RHP, El Modena HS, CA
Tony Blanford, 18th round (578 overall), RHP, Boulder Creek HS, AZ
Tim Carver, 19th round (608 overall), SS, Arkansas
Matthew Sisto, 20th round (638 overall), RHP, Hawaii
Andrew Anderson, 21st round (668 overall), RHP, Galena HS, NV
Jeb Stefan, 22nd round (698 overall), RHP, Louisiana Tech
Geoff Broussard, 23rd round (728 overall), RHP, Cal Poly Pomona
Chad Carman, 24th round (758 overall), C, Oklahoma City University
Brennan Henry, 25th round (788 overall), LHP, Northeastern Junior College, CO
Evan Van Hoosier, 26th round (818 overall), 2B, Green Valley High School, NV
Fernando Fernandez-Beltran, 27th round (848 overall), LHP, Edouard Montpetit HS, Canada
Joseph Mantiply, 28th round (878 overall), LHP, Virginia Tech
Brad Wieck, 29th round (908 overall), LHP, Phillips College, TX
Jordan Kipper, 30th round (938 overall), RHP, Central Arizona College
Chris Nichols, 31st round (968 overall), RHP, University of Sioux Falls
Scott Firth, 32nd round (998 overall), RHP, Clemson
Kyle Cody, 33rd round (1028 overall), RHP, McDonell Central Catholic HS, WI
Darrell Miller, 34th round (1058 overall), C, Servite HS, CA
Steven Wilson, 35th round (1088 overall), RHP, Dakota Ridge HS,CO
Charles Galiano, 36th round (1118 overall), C, Commack HS, NY
Daniel Starwalt, 37th round (1148), RHP, Granite Hills HS, CA
Geordy Smith, 38th round (1178), 1B, Highlands Ranch HS, CO
Austin Norris, 39th round (1208), RHP, Trenton HS, MO
Eric Hanhold, 40th round (1238), RHP, East Lake HS, FL

For more on the MLB Draft and the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly. Stay tuned to the indispensable Baseball Nation for even more updates and analysis from the 2012 MLB Draft.

Phillies Draft Picks 2012: Philadelphia Selects 15 Players In Rounds 2-15 On Day 2

Day 2 of the 2012 MLB Draft wrapped up Tuesday with Rounds 2-15. The Philadelphia Phillies selected two more high schoolers in Round 2: outfielder Dylan Cozen from Arizona and right-handed pitcher Alec Rash out of Iowa. In Round 3 they targeted Zachary Green, a shortstop out of California.

Here are the rest of the Phillies' selections on Tuesday:

Round 4, No. 158: Christopher Serritella, 1B, Southern Illinois

Round 5, No. 188: Andrew Pullin, OF, Centralia HS, WA

Round 6, No. 218: Cameron Perkins, 3B, Purdue

Round 7, No. 248: Hoby Milner, LHP, Texas

Round 8, No. 278: Josh Ludy, C, Baylor

Round 9, No. 308: Jordon Guth, RHP, Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Round 10, No. 338: Kevin Brady, RHP, Clemson

Round 11, No. 368: William Carmona, 3B, Stony Brook

Round 12, No. 398: Zachary Taylor, OF, Armstrong Atlantic St.

Round 13, No. 428: Steven Golden, CF, St. Francis HS, CA

Round 14, No. 458: Richard Bielski, RHP, Servite HS, CA

Round 15, No. 488: Zach Cooper, RHP, Central Michigan

The 2012 MLB Draft will conclude on Wednesday with Round 16-40.

For more on the MLB Draft and the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly. Stay tuned to the indispensable Baseball Nation for even more updates and analysis from the 2012 MLB Draft.

2012 MLB Draft: ESPN Analyzes Phillies Top Picks

2012 MLB Draft: Philadelphia Phillies Selections Rounds 4-8

The Philadelphia Phillies are continuing to stock talent during Day 2 of the 2012 MLB Draft. Rounds 2-8 are complete and we'll run down who the Phils picked up in those rounds.

We covered rounds 2 and 3 earlier. In Round 2, the Phillies took outfielder Dylan Cozens and RHP Alec Rash. In Round 3, Philadelphia picked up shortstop Zachary Green.

Here's the players Philadelphia selected in Rounds 4-8:

Round 4, No. 158: Christopher Serritella, 1B, Southern Illinois

Round 5, No. 188: Andrew Pullin, OF, Centralia HS, WA

Round 6, No. 218 Cameron Perkins, 3B, Purdue

Round 7, No. 248, Hoby Milner, LHP, Texas

Round 8, No. 278 Josh Ludy, C Baylor

The draft will continue through Round 15 on Tuesday and we'll wrap up Day 2 later tonight. You can follow along with the Draft live on MLB.com.

For more on the MLB Draft and the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly. Stay tuned to the indispensable Baseball Nation for even more updates and analysis from the 2012 MLB Draft.

2012 MLB Draft Results: Philadelphia Phillies Select Zachary Green In Round 3

The Philadelphia Phillies selected high school shortstop Zachary Green (Jesuit HS, CA) with the 125th pick in the 2012 MLB Draft on Tuesday.

A full scouting report for Green, a 6'3, 185-pound righty, follows courtesy of PerfectGame.org.

Zach Green is a 2012 SS/3B with a 6-3 190 lb. frame from Rocklin, CA who attends Jesuit HS. Tall angular build, very square shoulders, plenty of strength potential. 6.92 runner, easy gliding actions, soft hands with a smooth exchange, release and arm stroke a bit long, arm strength may be more suited to third base. Simple swing mechanics, early leg lift stride, quick hands to the ball, short swing with bat speed, can extend better to develop power, lots of potential with added strength, has the hands to hit. Good student, verbal commitment to Oregon State.

For more on the MLB Draft and the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly. Stay tuned to the indispensable Baseball Nation for even more updates and analysis from the 2012 MLB Draft.

2012 MLB Draft: Philadelphia Phillies Select Dylan Cozens, Alec Rash In Round 2

The Philadelphia Phillies selected outfielder Dylan Cozens and right-handed pitcher Alec Rash, respectively, with the 77th and 95th picks in the second round of the 2012 MLB Draft on Tuesday.

Cozens played at Chaparral High School in Arizona last season, while Rash pitched for Adel Disoto Minburn High School in Iowa.

Rash's scouting report follows, courtest of MLB.com's Draft Tracker.

Alec Rash, 6'5", 185 lbs, RHP, R/R

Baseball in Iowa starts later than in most places, so it's not uncommon for a prospect from there to rise up as their season gets into high gear. That's exactly what happened with Rash. The big right-hander was drawing a lot of attention as Draft day drew near. Tall and thin, there's room for growth and Rash already can crank his fastball up into the mid-90s with plenty of movement. His power slider has the chance to be an outstanding breaking ball in the future as well. A three-sport standout, Rash is very athletic, but still very raw, more of a project who will have to work on his mechanics and improve his command. While it might take him a while, the raw stuff is bound to intrigue many, especially teams that have a track record in developing young pitching.

For more on the MLB Draft and the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly. Stay tuned to the indispensable Baseball Nation for even more updates and analysis from the 2012 MLB Draft.

2012 MLB Draft Order: Phillies Select Twice In Round 2

Day 1 of the 2012 MLB Draft concluded Monday, as the first-round selections were made by almost all the 30 organizations. The Draft continues Tuesday when round 2-40 will take place beginning at noon ET.

In round one, the Phillies took a pair of right-handed pitchers and will be picking No. 77 and 95 in the second round. Below is a a look at the round-two draft order. For a complete rundown of the MLB Draft Order, click here.

To catch the selections make sure to MLB.com, which will broadcast rounds 2-16 starting at noon ET.

61. Houston Astros

62. Oakland Athletics (J. Willingham - MIN)

63. Minnesota Twins

64. Seattle Mariners

65. Baltimore Orioles

66. Kansas City Royals

67. Chicago Cubs

68. San Diego Padres

69. Pittsburgh Pirates

70. San Diego Padres (H. Bell - MIA)

71. New York Mets (J. Reyes - MIA)

72. Minnesota Twins (M. Cuddyer - COL)

73. Colorado Rockies

74. Oakland Athletics

75. New York Mets

76. Chicago White Sox

77. Philadelphia Phillies (R. Madson - CIN)

78. Cincinnati Reds

79. Cleveland Indians

80. Washington Nationals

81. Toronto Blue Jays

82. Los Angeles Dodgers

83. Texas Rangers (C.J. Wilson - LAA)

84. San Francisco Giants

85. Atlanta Braves

86. St. Louis Cardinals

87. Boston Red Sox

88. Tampa Bay Rays

89. New York Yankees (S. Stafford - unsigned)

90. Arizona Diamondbacks

91. Detroit Tigers

92. Milwaukee Brewers

93. Texas Rangers

94. New York Yankees

95. Philadelphia Phillies

For more on the MLB Draft and the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly. Stay tuned to the indispensable Baseball Nation for even more updates and analysis from the 2012 MLB Draft.

2012 MLB Draft: John Sickels On Phillies Top Picks

2012 MLB Draft: Philadelphia Phillies Select RHP Mitch Gueller With 57th Overall Pick In Compensation Round

The Philadelphia Phillies selected right-handed pitcher Mitch Gueller out of W.F. West High School in Kansas with the 57th overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft. Gueller is currently signed on the play with the Washington State Cougars in college. He was considered a potential compensatory round pickup before the draft. ESPN's Keith Law broke down Gueller's game for ESPN Insider.

Gueller began the year as a two-way prospect but gained steam on the mound as his velocity ticked up this spring. He's projectable and the athleticism that helps him play the outfield shows in his delivery, which he repeats well. Gueller sits 91-93 mph but has touched 95, and he stays on top well, creating some downward plane and sink and allowing him to attack the lower third of the strike zone. He also offers a curveball in the low-to-mid 70s with depth, although it's inconsistent and he lacks command of the pitch. His changeup has some sink at 82-85 mph, but he doesn't trust it just yet, and it's a pitch he tends to bury in his arsenal.

For more on the MLB Draft and the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly. Stay tuned to the indispensable Baseball Nation for even more updates and analysis from the 2012 MLB Draft.

2012 MLB Draft: Philadelphia Phillies Select RHP Shane Watson With 40th Overall Pick In Compensation Round

The Philadelphia Phillies selected right-handed pitcher Shane Watson out of Lakewood High School in California with the 40th overall pick of the 2012 MLB Draft. Sports Illustrated's Dave Perkins called Watson a "bit of a project", but the youngin' has plenty to like in terms of measurables.

Hailing from a high school program which has produced many draft choices and big leaguers, Watson is a tall and projectable righty with a sensational arm. His 91-93 mph fastball peaks at 94 and he dabbles with a 79 change. Watson adds a jelly-leg-inducing 78-79 curve. A bit of a project, Watson will need to significantly improve his command, particularly with the fastball.

For more on the MLB Draft and the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly. Stay tuned to the indispensable Baseball Nation for even more updates and analysis from the 2012 MLB Draft

2012 MLB Mock Draft: Phillies Considering RHP Mitch Gueller In 'Sandwich' Round?

The Philadelphia Phillies don't have any first round picks in today's 2012 MLB Draft. While ESPN's Keith Law does not mock the so-called "sandwich" round of the MLB Draft (used for compensatory picks), he does say in his final mock draft that the Phillies are interested in right-handed pitcher Mitch Gueller (WF West (Wash.) HS) with one of their compensatory picks.

Here's what Law says about Gueller (6-3, 205):

Gueller began the year as a two-way prospect but gained steam on the mound as his velocity ticked up this spring. He's projectable and the athleticism that helps him play the outfield shows in his delivery, which he repeats well. Gueller sits 91-93 mph but has touched 95, and he stays on top well, creating some downward plane and sink and allowing him to attack the lower third of the strike zone. He also offers a curveball in the low-to-mid 70s with depth, although it's inconsistent and he lacks command of the pitch. His changeup has some sink at 82-85 mph, but he doesn't trust it just yet, and it's a pitch he tends to bury in his arsenal.

He's poised and shows mettle in tight situations and does not lose stuff from the stretch. He also has a quick, effective move to first base. At the plate Gueller lets the ball get deep and thrusts his hands through the zone, producing searing line drives and deep fly balls. He stays closed and uses the middle of the field well. His stuff on the mound is likely to carry him, however, and his ceiling is likely as a No. 3 starter. (via ESPN Insider $)

The Yankees have also been a team associated with Gueller. They have the 30th pick of the first round, which is ten spots before the Phillies first pick in the sandwich round.

The MLB Draft begins tonight at 7 p.m. on MLB Network and streamed on MLB.com.

For more on the MLB Draft and the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly.

MLB Draft 2012: TV Schedule, Start Time, Live Streaming And More

The Philadelphia Phillies have to wait until the 40th pick to make their first selection in Monday night's 2012 MLB Draft.

The Phillies, like every other team, will be looking to unearth a prospect who will one day become an MLB superstar. The coverage of the draft begins at 6 p.m. ET with a pre-draft show and continues at 7 p.m. ET with round one and compensatory picks. Rounds two through 15 take place Tuesday night.

The Phillies will draft later in the night because of their place in the 2012 MLB Draft order.

The 2012 MLB Draft schedule for Monday follows:

Time/Date: Monday, June 4 at 6:00pm ET

TV Schedule: MLB Network

Live Stream: You can check out the live feed on MLB.com here.

Draft Tracker: Also check out MLB's Draft Tracker here.

For more on the MLB Draft and the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly.

2012 MLB Draft Order: Phillies Will Draft 40th In First Round

The first round of the 2012 MLB Draft is scheduled to get going Monday night in Secaucus, NJ.

While the baseball draft doesn't get the same attention nationally as the NFL or even the NBA drafts, it has been gaining steam since it's debut on the MLB Network.

Philadelphia Phillies fans will have to be patient, with the Phils not having a selection until the 40th overall selection. The pick is in fact a compensatory one.

Ruben Amaro Jr. has a big decision to make, with the Phillies major league club aging and often injured. Whoever Amaro takes Monday night could go a long way in helping to replenish the team in a few years.

The Houston Astros will kick things off with the first overall pick.

Here's the complete order of the first round:

1. Houston Astros
   
2. Minnesota Twins
   
3. Seattle Mariners
   
4. Baltimore Orioles
   
5. Kansas City Royals
6. Chicago Cubs
7. San Diego Padres
   
8. Pittsburgh Pirates
   
9. Miami Marlins
10. Colorado Rockies
11. Oakland Athletics
12. New York Mets
13. Chicago White Sox
    
14. Cincinnati Reds
15. Cleveland Indians
16. Washington Nationals
17. Toronto Blue Jays
18. Los Angeles Dodgers
19. St. Louis Cardinals
20. San Francisco Giants
21. Atlanta Braves
22. Toronto Blue Jays
23. St. Louis Cardinals
24. Boston Red Sox
25. Tampa Bay Rays
26. Arizona Diamondbacks
27. Milwaukee Brewers
28. Milwaukee Brewers
29. Texas Rangers
30. New York Yankees
31. Boston Red Sox

For the entire order of the first round, please click here.

For more on the MLB Draft and the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly.