Phillies Select Colton Eastman, RHP and Matt Vierling, OF

Fourth Round
Colton Eastman. RHP - 6’3”, 200 lbs
Cal State Fullerton
Man, do the Phillies ever love their Cal State Fullerton control artist Starters. Colton is a Three pitch starter whose Fastball is probably his worth pitch. His Fastball sits 89-92, but before he lost a season to injury 2 years ago he had gotten it up to 94, so there is hope that perhaps he can get back to that velocity and end up 50-55 grade on the Fastball, which is playable with location and good secondaries. He has a potentially plus Change-up that is a bit inconsistent and a Curveball that he just started throwing that has above-average potential. He could be a quick mover, but probably tops out as a 4th Starter or long man out of the pen. He has good, but not great control/command, so it’s really just going to be about him getting experience and refining consistency of his pitches. He’s already at 103 IP a year removed from missing time for elbow inflammation, so he likely only gets 10-15 more innings this summer, so we won’t get to see much of him yet.

Fifth Round
Matt Vierling, OF - 6’4”, 195 lbs
Notre Dame
Vierling is an Above Average runner capable of playing Center, but likely destined for Right Field, where his plus arm should play fine. The bat has average potential as does the power, but plays a little fringe average. Floor might be a Cam Perkins type backup Outfielder who struggles to find a role given average tools, but if the hit tool and power come together, there’s a potential starting Right Fielder there. He struggled in the Cape Cod League last summer, otherwise he likely would have gone ~2 rounds higher.