For the second draft in a row the Phillies go with a small conference college corner bat with their second pick. Last year it was Ethan Wilson in the second round, this time it is Florida Atlantic outfielder Gabriel Rincones.
Rincones is a big dude who currently plays right field, but it looks like his position is hitter, and he might end up at first base long term. He mashed the ball this year, hitting .364/.451/.658 this year with a 14.6% BB% and 17.7% K%. He had some of the highest exit velocities in the country. A bunch of the usual caveats here about level of competition and lack of success vs breaking balls. There is a chance he is a middle of the order masher (he is lefty hitting, righty throwing), but he is going to need to be a masher to make it work because of the defensive liabilities.
The Phillies under Barber love big dudes who hit the ball hard, and while Rincones seems to have a feel for approach and contact, it is another bet on a hitting dev staff that has not had a lot of success converting this type of player. It is a big swing, and there is a real chance for impact, it just isn’t a good org track record.