The string of upside and risk continues for the Phillies with RHP Andrew Schultz out of the University of Tennesse.
It isn’t often that high upside is used with relief only profiles in the draft, but Schultz has front line closer raw stuff. His fastball sits in the mid to hi 90s, he will touch 100-101 and it has explosive “rising” action thanks to high spin rates. His slider will flash plus, but it sounds like it will need to be tightened up to be an impact pitch. The problem here is the control. Schultz walked 16 in 22 innings this season and has 36 in 46.2 college innings (as well as 25 in 20.1 innings in the Cape Code League). The delivery sounds like is has always been a problem, no matter what it has looked like, but he is athletic and it would make sense for the Phillies to also try and rework it as well.
Overall, Schultz feels like the college junior version of Ken Giles, who was almost entirely an arm strength with a bad delivery guy who the Phillies had to build up. If they can’t harness Schultz’s control he probably doesn’t make it past AA, but if they can get him to fringe average he could be a very good reliever. If he ever figures out his delivery and takes off, he could be an impact closer type. He won’t be the fastest moving college relief prospect, but if it clicks he could arrive very quickly.