RHP Connor Phillips, McLennan CC [TX]
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DoB: 5/4/2001.
2020 Stats: 3-1, 3.16 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 27/15 K/BB in 25.2 IP.
Connor Phillips was a well-known draft prospect coming out of Magnolia West High School just outside of Houston, where he played across town from Magnolia High School stars Jordan Groshans and Adam Kloffenstein, who combined to receive $5.9 million from the Blue Jays in the 2018 draft. The Jays then grabbed Phillips in the 35th round a year later, but he wasn't signable at that point and instead of heading to Louisiana State, he switched up to McLennan Community College in Waco so he could be draft-eligible again this year. The move paid off, as his stuff has continued to progress and he cleanly fits into the top tier of junior college pitching prospects this year.
Phillips fits closer to most high school arms than college arms because he's still mostly about projection. The difference between this year and last year, though, is that he's begun to take the steps forward evaluators were hoping to see. The 6'2" righty has room to add more good weight and uses a loose delivery to bring fastballs in the low to mid 90's, which play up due to the nice armside run he gets on them. Because his delivery works so well and he's able to efficiently channel power from his core, he can hold that velocity deep into games. He throws a slider and a curveball as well, which he has been sharpening up, and both have the chance to be plus pitches. As with most young pitchers, the changeup is a bit behind and requires some projection.
Though his delivery is so free and easy, he sometimes struggles to repeat his arm slot and release point, leading to inconsistent command. That's the main thing that causes some more pessimistic scouts to project him as a reliever, but it's important to remember he only turned 19 in May, making him the same age as some of the oldest players in the high school class. The combination of youth and positive trajectory should intrigue a lot of teams, possibly starting as early as the second round, and he should be off the board by the fourth if he's signable. He's set to return to McLennan rather than move on to a Division I program unless something changes soon, so I'd imagine that he is.
Pitching in high school
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