Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50 

Phillips hit triple digits with his fastball this spring and was pushing to become the first Texas high school pitcher taken in the first round since Grayson Rodriguez (now the top pitching prospect in the Minors) in 2018. His chances may have ended when he had Tommy John surgery in April, but he did get seen and crosschecked enough to still go in the top two rounds.  

Phillips' entire game took a leap forward during his senior season, starting with a fastball that went from topping out at 95 mph last summer to parking in the mid-90s and regularly reaching the upper 90s with running action. His 82-85 mph breaking ball combined curveball depth with slider velocity and showed flashes of becoming a plus offering. He didn't have much need for a changeup but displayed a mid-80s cambio pitch with some fade. 

In addition, Phillips added strength to his 6-foot-3 frame and did a better job of repeating his delivery and providing strikes. He has drawn some comparisons to fellow Texas flamethrower Nathan Eovaldi, who blew out his elbow as a high school junior in 2007 before launching a successful career. If he winds up attending college at Arkansas, he'll be Draft-eligible as a sophomore in 2024. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Phillips was high on the Mariners’ radar ahead of the 2022 Draft, but the Tommy John surgery he underwent in April impacted his status and led him to being taken by the Braves in the second round for $1.5 million. He wound up in Seattle’s system as the upside return in the 2023 trade that sent Jarred Kelenic to Atlanta, but then he underwent a second TJ leading up to Spring Training in ‘24 that will further prevent him from making his pro debut. 

Part of what may have led to his injuries is also what made him so enticing, which is the fastball with elite velocity that sits in the mid-90s, flirts with triple digits and features strong running action. His best secondary pitch is a power breaking ball that he gets up to 85 mph, a pitch that has curveball depth with slider velocity. With that type of combination, he doesn’t often use the changeup that he has in his back pocket that possesses good fade.

The most notable comparison Phillips has drawn is to Nathan Eovaldi, who was also high on Draft boards back in 2008 as a Texas high schooler before sustaining an elbow injury. The focus for Phillips in 2024 will again be to get healthy after another brutally unfortunate setback.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Phillips was rushing up Draft boards in the spring of 2022 as reports flowed in of the Texas prep right-hander hitting triple digits with his fastball. He seemed like he had a shot at being a first-round pick until the train was derailed temporarily by Tommy John surgery in April. He had been scouted regularly prior to the injury and the Braves felt comfortable enough to take him as their third straight high school arm in the 2022 Draft, signing him for $1.5 million as their second-round pick. He never threw an official pitch for the Braves, who sent him and fellow right-hander Jackson Kowar to the Mariners in the December trade that sent Jarred Kelenic, Evan White and Marco Gonzales to Atlanta.

The hope is that Phillips will get back to the improved stuff he showed before the elbow injury. His fastball can sit in the mid-90s, reach the upper 90s and touch 100 mph with good running action. His breaking ball, a power curve with depth thrown up to 85 mph, could be a plus pitch. Like many prep hurlers with that kind of fastball-breaking ball combination, he didn’t use his changeup much, but he has shown feel for a mid-80s offering with fade.

Compared by some to big leaguer Nathan Eovaldi, a Texas high schooler who blew out his elbow as a junior, Phillips’ improved strength has led to a repeatable delivery and more strikes. He’ll get his first true professional test in his new organization in 2024.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50

Phillips hit triple digits with his fastball this spring and was pushing to become the first Texas high school pitcher taken in the first round since Grayson Rodriguez (now the top pitching prospect in the Minors) in 2018. His chances ended when he had Tommy John surgery in April, but he did get seen and crosschecked enough to still go in the top two rounds, and the Braves selected him in Round 2, signing for $1.5 million.

Phillips' entire game took a leap forward during his senior season, starting with a fastball that went from topping out at 95 mph last summer to parking in the mid-90s and regularly reaching the upper 90s with running action. His 82-85 mph breaking ball combined curveball depth with slider velocity and showed flashes of becoming a plus offering. He didn't have much need for a changeup but displayed a mid-80s combo pitch with some fade.

In addition, Phillips added strength to his 6-foot-3 frame and did a better job of repeating his delivery and providing strikes. He has drawn some comparisons to fellow Texas flamethrower Nathan Eovaldi, who blew out his elbow as a high school junior in 2007 before launching a successful career.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/20/2024	ACL Mariners placed RHP Cole Phillips on the 60-day injured list.
	12/04/2023	RHP Cole Phillips assigned to ACL Mariners.
	12/03/2023	Atlanta Braves traded RHP Cole Phillips and RHP Jackson Kowar to Seattle Mariners for LHP Marco Gonzales, OF Jarred Kelenic and 1B Evan White.
	10/09/2022	FCL Braves activated RHP Cole Phillips from the 60-day injured list.
	10/09/2022	FCL Braves activated RHP Cole Phillips from the 60-day injured list.
	08/10/2022	RHP Cole Phillips assigned to FCL Braves.
	07/21/2022	Atlanta Braves signed RHP Cole Phillips.
	09/29/2021	Future Stars Series - Blue activated RHP Cole Phillips.
	09/23/2021	RHP Cole Phillips and assigned to American.
	07/13/2021	PG National 3 - Gray activated RHP Cole Phillips.