After recently extending a certain Louisiana State University starting pitcher to begin the offseason, Baseball America believes another one could be coming the Philadelphia Phillies way next July.
Baseball America, a top baseball publication with an increased focus on young and developing players, recently released its post-draft lottery first-round mock draft (subscription required). In 2023, 20 of their 30 first-round selections were accurate in the sense that they were selected at some point in the first round. In a mock draft so early on in the offseason, it’s tough to say who will be going where, as there is still a ton of baseball to be played, but BA has done an incredible job of hitting on first-round talent in the past.
With the Philadelphia Phillies slated to have the 27th pick, BA mocked them with selecting Thatcher Hurd, a 21-year-old, right-handed pitcher from the 2023 National Champion LSU Tigers.
Hurd, who was the winning pitcher in the Championship clinching game against Florida, is entering his third collegiate season in 2024 and his second with LSU. He first burst onto the scene in high school, ranking as the number two player in the whole state of California according to Perfect Game high school rankings, only behind Boston Red Sox No. 1 prospect Marcelo Mayer.
