After selecting Matthew Fisher in the 7th round, the Phillies were going to need save the rest of the money in order to make that signing possible. That was true for the first player they took in Miami RHP Brian Walters. However in the 9th round they selected a local kid in SS Matthew Ferrera from Toms River HS East. They then returned to college seniors in the 10th round in RHP Cole Gilley from Indiana.
Brian Walters is a sinker/slider reliever who has put up solid numbers last year after briefly coming back from injury in 2024. His fastball will sit mid 90s and will touch up to 98 according to baseball America. There has been a run of players improving after being drafted from Miami so maybe there is a bit more to unlock. He is the brother of Guardians prospect Andrew Walters.
On the stream they had very little information about Matthew Ferrara, and he didn’t make BA’s list, but he was 179 on Kiley McDaniel’s list at ESPN. He is apparently the top SS out of NJ this year, and has some projectability and ability to stay on the infield dirt. He has a commitment to Pitt so not sure about signability, but you have to assume the Phillies know the numbers on everyone they picked.
Cole Gilley is prototypical of a late Day 3 pick in the old version of the draft. He is not that physical, on the older side (turns 24 in two weeks) and lacks big time stuff. He will definitely be under slot in the 10th round, but that doesn’t mean he is a bad arm. He looks to have a starter’s pitch mix with a low 90s fastball, a cutter and sweeper breaking ball tandem, and then a changeup. He threw strikes this year and both started and relieved. He seems at minimum a good org depth guy who is going pitch needed bulk innings. If things improve, maybe he is a fringe roster guy. The broadcast called him a team leader, which certainly won’t hurt in the role he will be in.