Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Phillies Predicted to Land Long-Term Zack Wheeler Replacement After Retirement Comments

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jon Conahan | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 5:15 PM ET

The Philadelphia Phillies hold the 26th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. For the Phillies, this is another opportunity for them to add even more young talent.

While Philadelphia will continue to be the team it wants to be in the future due to the ownership's spending habits, it's also important that they have an impressive farm system. The Phillies have one of the better farm systems in baseball, and it should continue to improve.

Recently, looking at potential options for the Phillies, The Athletic predicted that they’d select a high school player in the form of Matthew Fisher. Fisher, a right-handed pitcher who can also play up the middle, impressed during the Spring.

“The Phillies have gone the high school route in the first round every year under scouting director Brian Barber, always up-the-middle position players or hard-throwing pitchers. Fisher checks a lot of boxes for a high school pitcher in general and for what the Phillies like, as he’s a two-sport guy with big stuff and a delivery that works.

“They did go way off the board last year with their first-rounder, centerfielder Dante Nori, who is currently struggling in Low A. I’ve gotten the consistent sense in the last month that high school lefty Jack Bauer, who has hit 102 mph this spring, is no longer likely to go in the first round as his control and his slider have both backed up, but if anyone does take Bauer in the first anyway it would be the Phillies. I could see them on shortstop/pitcher Josh Hammond as well,” Keith Law wrote.

According to Perfect Game, he's the 77th overall player in the country, so taking him 26th overall might be a bit of a reach. However, it's important not to get too caught up in rankings, as they don't always mean everything.

With Zack Wheeler saying he plans to retire after 2027, the Phillies could have their guy in Fisher.

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

More must-reads: