Who’ll be top pick? Phillies won’t say

Only once since Major League Baseball implemented the amateur draft in 1965 had the Philadelphia Phillies chosen a player with the No. 1 overall pick. Until Thursday. The Phillies’ MLB-worst 99 losses last season set up the organization for a prime chance to add high-quality talent to the minor league system, a key ingredient to creating sustained success at the bigleague level, which is why the franchise has committed to rebuilding. Philadelphia took outfielder Pat Burrell at No. 1 overall in 1998. His 18.8 career WAR (Wins Above Replacement) ranks 21st among the 51 players taken first in the draft.

They would be fortunate to, at the very least, replicate obtaining an eventually serviceable major leaguer when they select the top pick Thursday. The Phillies also pick at No. 42. Rounds 3 through 10 of the draft are Friday with rounds 11 through 40 coming Saturday.

There is no Bryce Harper-caliber player for the Phillies to take at No. 1. Instead, the Phillies will take advantage of possessing the second-largest pool allotment in the draft — $13,405,200 for bonuses — and attempt to put together an all-around solid draft. The No. 1 overall draft slot is worth $9,015,000, but the Phillies can agree to an underslot deal with any player.

It’s a tactic that would allow the Phillies to save money that can be used on other picks in other rounds, potentially allowing them to get top talent in the second round and beyond.

“The way that the draft system is set up, it does allow for more creativity in the draft for teams that have more pool space,” general manager Matt Klentak said. “That’s the reality of the system, and we’re not going to shy away from that.”

Less than 24 hours before the start of the draft, it remained unclear who the Phillies planned to take at No. 1. But there is a small group of players they have focused on: Florida left-hander A.J. Puk, high school outfielder Mickey Moniak and Mercer outfielder Kyle Lewis. Louisville outfielder Corey Ray and Tennessee third baseman Nick Senzel can’t be ruled out, either.

Scouting director Johnny Almaraz is not tempted to select a fast-track player with the first pick.

“I think there’s a big difference between somebody who plays in the major leagues, gets there, and somebody who impacts your club for 10 years,” Almaraz said. “My job is to take the best talent, the best available player, that will impact the organization for years.”

Klentak doesn’t think his scouting staff or front office has felt any additional pressure owning the first pick. Rather, he’s looking at the situation as an opportunity.

“We’re going to take the best player available and ultimately the best draft class that we can,” Klentak said. “It’s not going to come as any great surprise, I’ve talked about the importance of balance, really in everything that we do. So I would expect that our draft class will have some degree of balance to it. But as far as the first pick, specifically, it will be the best player, the player we think has the best chance to have a great major league career.”

The Phillies’ decision might come down to which player in the group they’ve targeted is willing to sign the farthest under the assigned slot value. Based on the players they’ve been seriously evaluating, that could make Moniak the choice.

The excess funds would give the organization a big boost in drafting a player who could fall because of signability questions with their second pick to give a solid 1-2 combination.

It doesn’t help that there isn’t a safe pick in the draft as in 2014, when the Phillies chose Aaron Nola, who was projected to be a big-league starter.