In 2024 mock draft, Phillies are linked to an LSU pitching star.

Baseball America predicts that the Philadelphia Phillies, who will choose at No. 27 in the first round of the 2024 ML B Draft would target several experienced college pitchers.

Following t,he MLB Draft Lottery, where the entire order was decided, the website released their first mock draft. Regardless of the result, the Phillies were scheduled to choose No. 27 because they were not playing in the lottery.

Thatcher Hurd, an LSU product, seems like a fitting addition to the Phillies, a team that already has some elite pitching prospects in Andrew Painter, Mick Abel, and Griff McGarry:

Hurd was one of the most highly-regarded athletes from the 2021 draft class to make it to college, therefore he had high hopes for his time in college. In 2022, he pitched 34 innings for UCLA and had a 1.06 ERA, living up to the promise. After transferring to Louisiana State in 2023, he somewhat regressed as he had command issues for the majority of the first half of the season. Hurd had a solid finish and still possesses booming, pure stuff with a mid-1990s heater and excellent feel while spinning two breaking balls. If he had a successful season, he might easily make it to the first round.

Thatcher came in late because he was the winning pitcher in the College World Series Championship Game of 2023, which saw LSU win over Florida and secure its eighth NCAA title. In six innings, Thatcher gave up two runs on two hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts.

He has three victories in four outings at the NCAA Tournament, a 3.71 ERA, and 17 innings pitched with 25 strikeouts. He had an 8-3 record for the season, three saves, and 63.1 innings pitched with 84 strikeouts.

Paul Skenes, who went first overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates in last year’s draft, was one of the best college pitchers to come out of LSU. In fact, Dylan Crews, an outfielder selected by Washington, was drafted by LSU with the second overall choiceLast year, Philadelphia selected Aidan Miller, a shortstop from Florida’s J.W. Mitchell High School, with the No. 28 overall pick.