Phillies Linked To Bulldogs OF in Mock Draft
Mississippi State has produced some quality baseball players of late, including Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who just helped them win their first World Series in November. Could the Philadelphia Phillies dip back into the talent pool in Starkville, Miss., when they go on the clock at No. 27 overall in July’s MLB Draft? That’s the question MLB.com posed recently. With the final order of the first round set at the Winter Meetings, the Phillies know their positions. Theoretically, they know their needs, too.
Recently, Baseball America linked the Phillies to a polished LSU pitching product in Thatcher Hurd. MLB.com likes the idea of getting the Phillies a college player, but in this case the site selected a hitter — outfielder Dakota Jordan: Jordan may have more bat speed than anyone in the Draft, and he’s a quality athlete who was recruited to play wide receiver by the Bulldogs.
Jordan is entering his second season with the Bulldogs, coming off a 2023 in which he was selected the SEC Freshman of the Week on April 17 and to the SEC All-Freshman team after he batted .307, second-best on the team. He hit 10 home runs, with 40 RBI, 29 runs and 25 walks.
Perfect Game selected him a Second-Team Freshman All-American. He was previously at Jackson Academy in Canton, Miss. Philadelphia selected No. 28 overall last year and picked shortstop Aidan Miller out of J.W. Mitchell High School in Florida. Miller batted .303 in 20 games with the Phillies’ Florida Complex League team and Class-A Clearwater.
