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Phillies GM Preston Mattingly Reveals MLB Draft Plans
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Phillies GM Preston Mattingly Reveals MLB Draft Plans

Originally posted on Athlon Sports  |  By Matthew Sullivan  |  Last updated Jun 18, 2025 12:20 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies have made a lot of key additions in the MLB Draft in recent years. From Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, and Mick Abel to Andrew Painter and Aiden Miller, there have been a lot of impactful selections in recent years.

Ahead of the 2025 MLB draft, Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly spoke with MLB Network at the 2025 MLB Scouting Combine about his process during the draft and what he likes to target. 

In the interview shared by MLB Network on Twitter/X, Mattingly revealed the kinds of players the team will target in the draft and what he's looking for in those players.

"I think we've been really confident with all types of players," Mattingly said. "Brian Barber and our scouting staff do a tremendous job. And we're looking for high-upside, we're looking for guys that can impact that Major League field."

Mattingly doesn't want to just target high-upside players, but also players with "plus tools." His mindset has helped the Phillies land plenty of intriguing prospects. In recent drafts, the Phillies are looking to once again land a top player in the 2025 MLB Draft.

The 2025 MLB draft falls on July 13th and 14th, right around the All-Star break. In years past, the Phillies have made the most of the draft, selecting players like Miller and Painter, with other players like Justin Crawford and Keaton Anthony working their way up in the Minor Leagues.

Philadelphia has been drafting well lately, and the mindset and belief that Mattingly brings are what's allowed for them to be so good in the draft. Lots of teams would shy away from high-upside players if their floor was very low. But, with Mattingly having the confidence in the organization to develop these players properly, the team can take these players with a positive outlook.

Crawford, who has elite speed but questionable hitting, might not have worked out in every organization. At the end of the day, the 2025 MLB Draft will be another chance for Mattingly and the Phillies front office to make additions to the organization that can bolster the team for years to come.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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