The Philadelphia Phillies are lined up to pick 26th overall in the MLB draft this weekend. And, pick no. 26 comes with its own pros and cons. At one end of the spectrum, picking in the bottom fifth of the first round shows how well the Phillies have performed. On the other end, though, it has its cons, and a Phillies’ executive has shed light on it.

It’s, in fact, the third consecutive time that the Phillies will be picking 26th or lower. It’s just a reflection of their recent success in the majors. In the past three seasons, they have made it to the World Series, NLCS, and NL Division Series, respectively. Knowing this paradox thoroughly, Brian Barber, the Phillies’ assistant GM, who looks after the amateur quadrant, has made a major revelation.

During the pre-draft video conference, Barber pointed out, “The reality is there is a drop-off in the total grouping of players that go 1-10 and 11-20 versus 21-30. We’ve been able to find what we believe are valuable picks in those times. You never know when a guy falls that you think might go otherwise. So you have to be prepared for anybody.”

In a nutshell, picking between 21-30 also means that most of the top prospects have been grabbed already. The ones who are left would comparatively require more time and effort to make it to the big leagues.

Barber has been with the Phillies since 2019. He knows how this works better than most. “We want to be picking 30 every year because we won the World Series the year before,” he remarked, before emphasizing that it’s the organization’s job to find the most fitting player. “We saw the best players that were on the board happened to be on the high school side of things. You have the associated risk that goes with a player that’s further away from the big leagues.”

So, what does it look like for the Phillies ahead of the draft this year?

Phillies’ potential targets in first round of the MLB draft

To be lined up to pick 26th overall in the MLB draft, it’s not a very sweet spot. Like all the other teams, the Phillies would also want the prospect to contribute sooner rather than later. There are four names they could consider in the first round.

First up, we have Caden Bodline from Coastal Carolina. Bodline has been impressive at the plate and is also a good catcher. He has a gold glove potential and was awarded as the 2025 recipient of the ‘Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year.’

Next up, we have Devin Taylor from Indiana. He is projected to be the next Nick Castellanos. Although Taylor, at 21, as an outfielder might not contribute enough, as a hitter, he’s next in line to be one of the best in the league.

Andrew Fischer from Tennessee is another Phillies’ target, a bat-first prospect. He also plays strong defense at first base. Lastly, Xavier Neyens from Washington (HS) is also a target. He has an elite arm, and the team can surely give him a shot. However, at this point, the Phillies should rather target college players than school stars.

Let’s see if the Phillies go for a college-ready prospect or, once again, a long-term project. The first-round pick will tell a lot about how the team is planning for the next few seasons.

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