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New York Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
High-upside high schoolers: Why the Phillies lean into drafting, developing prep prospects
Mick Abel's scouting experience started normally. A Pro Day at his training facility in Oregon with scouts and crosscheckers from all 30 teams in attendance. In-home visits with scouts. Then came the pandemic in March 2020: 'I don't think anybody really knew what to do,' Abel said. His final high school season was over before it started. Conversations with scouts transitioned to Zoom, ramping up in the weeks before the Phillies took him 15th overall. He was the first of 19 high school pitchers selected in the 2020 draft — and one of only three who has debuted in the majors. Advertisement 'A testament to our body of work in the summer and fall,' Phillies assistant scouting director Connor Betbeze said. 'We felt comfortable with the kid – staying in contact (and) had a plan, everything ready to go.' That body of work — countless hours scouting tournaments and high school games, dissecting information from baseball information platforms such as Synergy and TrackMan — plays a key role in the Phillies' comfort level drafting players from a risky cohort: high schoolers. Philadelphia has selected high schoolers with its first-round pick 12 times since 2010 and in five consecutive drafts, beginning in 2020. From 2010-23, the Phillies drafted and signed 43 high school position players. Of those players, seven reached the majors (six with the Phillies). For the most part, the Phillies have had success with recent high school first-rounders. Outside of that group, however, there have been some struggles, which is common among the preps cohort. With a longer developmental timeline comes greater risk. Injuries can spiral or take away playing time that younger players need to improve their game. There is more uncertainty about how high school players' tools will develop. The lack of a linear path to success can be challenging for players who have never failed. The risks are inherent; the rewards could be great. And the Phillies trust their scouts to find the player that 'if he goes to college, in four years, he's going to become a guy that becomes a top-five pick, a top-10 pick,' general manager Preston Mattingly said. The Phillies' embrace of high schoolers comes in an era where top-drafted college players, from Cam Smith to Paul Skenes to Jacob Wilson, have rapidly ascended to the big leagues and become stars. Their development took place in pitching labs, on college fields, and in postseason competition, making the jump to the big leagues easier. Many teams incorporate analytical models into their draft process, and the models tend to favor college players because there is more information available. Advertisement Since Brian Barber, the director of amateur scouting, took over the Phillies' drafts five years ago, they've given, at most, $750,000 to only two collegiate players. Both — Casey Martin (third round, 2020) and Ethan Wilson (second round, 2021) — have since been released by the club. So, with risk abounding and ready-made players available, why continue to covet high schoolers? The Phillies have recently picked later in the first round: 26th (2025), 27th (2023-24), 17th (2022), 13th (2021) and 15th (2020). Many top college players are off the board by then. The organization feels picking late is conducive to selecting high school players with high upside, Mattingly said. To the Phillies, high upside means: 'Find the guys that can get there the fastest and stay there the longest,' Luke Murton, director of player development, said. 'A player that has the potential to impact a major-league roster, so once he gets there, not only is he a player on the team, but he's a productive, impactful player on the team,' Barber said. 'Somebody that's athletic, somebody that is toolsy, somebody that has skills, instincts,' Phillies crosschecker Bryce Harman said. 'They have aptitude, they have work ethic and (they're) a guy that loves the game.' Finding and developing high-upside players stems from great trust between the scouting and developmental teams. The groups, like many other teams' units, get together during spring training. Player development tells scouts about what has worked for players in the Phillies' system, what hasn't, issues they weren't anticipating. Scouts can use that information, Betbeze said, thinking, 'Hey, this player is kind of like this player that we drafted two years ago. This really worked for him. I think we could probably do the same thing.' Take the Phillies' approach to perhaps the draft's riskiest demographic: high school pitchers, and righties in particular. Many teams shy away from right-handed high schoolers; The first high school righty of the 2024 draft was not taken until pick 36. Advertisement Yet the Phillies have used two recent first-round picks on righties: Abel (15th in 2000) and Andrew Painter (13th, 2021). Why? 'I mean, those guys have a humongous upside,' Mattingly said. 'But it's a risky demographic. But if you do your homework and you're truly scouting the players, you realize that these players have a chance to pitch in the middle or the top of a rotation. So that's what you're hunting for, because to acquire that player in free agency costs anywhere between $20 million to $40 million.' Painter exemplifies the potential challenges, missing more than a year after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024. So does Abel, who lost command and stumbled to a 6.46 ERA in Triple-A in 2024. But both have somewhat recovered: Painter is on his way back, making 11 starts at Triple A this season, while Abel earned a big league call-up and made six starts before being returned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley for a reset last week. What makes finding high-upside high school players possible, Barber said, is diligence from his staff of 30. The Phillies will begin scouting 2026 draft prospects in earnest next week, two days after this year's draft. They spend summer, fall and spring on the trail. The growth of wood-bat tournaments like Perfect Game, East Coast Pro and Prep Baseball Report has also helped. Popular baseball information platforms, like Synergy Sports and Trackman, have partnered with these events, so scouting departments have more information to sift through. Drafting high school players, generally, is less risky than it was even five years ago, though, of course, predicting prospects' future remains an imprecise science. Scouting departments adding more crosscheckers and special assignment scouts has also helped, Barber said. 'Andy Painter, we saw every single time he ever took the mound in high school, and you just weren't able to do that 20-30 years ago because of smaller staff,' Barber said. 'So we thought we had a better (feel) for that when we did the same thing with Justin (Crawford) the following year. We had at least 10 different people see him. We saw him play probably 30 times out of 30 games he played that year.' The sheer amount of film and at-bats they analyzed helped the Phillies select Abel, who missed his senior year due to the COVID shutdown, and No. 2 prospect shortstop Aidan Miller, who fell in the draft after breaking the hamate bone in his left hand during his senior year. Phillies scouts first saw Miller play in the summer of 2021, then again in the summer and fall of 2022. They accumulated probably 30 games and 100 at-bats in 2022, Barber said, so most of their work was done by the time Miller lost his senior season. Advertisement Miller recovered shortly before the draft, hosting a workout for scouts. Barber said he and his team were encouraged that the hand was healed and 'it hadn't zapped any of the power impact from an offensive standpoint.' The Phillies drafted Miller 27th overall in 2023. The decision aligned with the Phillies' entire approach: high risk, high reward. And it hasn't been a straight path to stardom for Miller. He endured an early season slump, telling The Athletic in May that he embraced a lesson learned in past struggles: Don't mess with too much. It's those types of lessons that high school players often learn in the Phillies' system, whereas college players have often already experienced them. Among the hardest to grasp for high school players: There is no straight path to success. There are phases, No. 3 prospect outfielder Justin Crawford said, where it feels like the results aren't coming. His quad injury in June was one of those moments. 'Having to miss time (is) very annoying and very frustrating,' he said. 'But (I'm) kind of having to sit back and say, 'OK, well that's what's happening right now. Just gotta kind of control what I can control, making sure I get healthy, making sure I do all my baseball activity.' From a developmental standpoint, Murton said, it's about helping high school prospects understand that building every day is important, not worrying about where they are at the beginning of the season. Results matter, Murton said, but with development comes different questions: What are we working on? What are we trying to get better at? What are our goals? 'Sometimes we lose sight of that,' Murton said. 'We want it all right now, whereas, you tell players stories of Mick Abel like, 'Hey, look what happened to him this year.' And you help guys understand what timelines actually look like and focus on the day to day.' Advertisement Abel was given the option to join the development list and reset at the club's complex in Clearwater, Fla., amid his worst days in 2024. He said no, remaining in Triple A and pitching through his struggles: 'It was really ugly in the moment. I needed those ugly times in order to get where I am today,' he said. Some clubs might not have had the same patience. But there's a collective understanding, from the Phillies' front office to coaches to players, Triple-A Lehigh Valley manager Anthony Contreras said: Players' clock is their clock. ''Hey, if it takes you four years to get to the big leagues, that's OK,'' he said. 'Even though it might take somebody else three or five or six — everybody's learning curve is different.' But, for some, there have been struggles to surpass the learning curve. Catcher/first baseman Kehden Hettiger (11th round, 2023) received the fourth-highest bonus that year and is not a rated prospect. Outfielder Jordan Viars (third round, 2021) is also not a prospect. Dante Nori, the 2024 first-rounder who signed for a similar bonus to second-rounder Griffin Burkholder, has had some success at the plate but is searching for power with Low-A Clearwater. Injuries have recently hampered some of the Phillies' top non-first rounders, including: • Outfielder TJayy Walton (fourth round, 2023), who has endured wrist and oblique injuries, along with a concussion, during parts of three seasons. • Shortstop Devin Saltiban (third round, 2023) was placed on the injured list after a testicular injury from getting hit by a pitch this season. • Burkholder (second round, 2024) has dealt with hamstring injuries. 'For high school players, their ability to play and get at-bats is one of the most crucial things, and (for) pitchers to get innings,' Murton said. 'At the end of the day, you need guys to be on the field, to learn and develop and get better. … But, really, I mean, we have a very good major-league team. So we have a little bit more time than some of these other teams.' Advertisement There is time, which the Phillies see as beneficial for development — and also for helping minor leaguers understand their philosophy and how they operate. High schoolers, most of whom have never lived away from home before, effectively grow up in the Phillies' system. There are nutrition classes, English classes, media training classes, among others. Players learn how to take care of themselves off the field and work with teammates over a six-month season. Since signing in 2020, Abel said he's felt like the Phillies organization is bought-in and process-driven: 'It's been a fairly consistent message the entire time.' The messaging, he said, includes relentlessly attacking hitters, knowing the attack plan, being a good teammate. The Phillies have the groundwork in place for their high school prospects. Now comes the hard part: getting them to the big leagues. 'Sometimes it might take a longer burn if you want a high school guy, but as an organization, I think we're at the point where we're OK with that,' Harman, the crosschecker, said. 'We can be patient. We have stars at the big-league level, and we're willing to take on that because we're confident in them reaching their ceiling and helping the club at the end of the day.' (Top photo of Mick Abel: Cheryl Pursell via Lehigh Valley IronPigs)
Fox Sports
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Mexico Beats USA in Gold Cup Final: What Stood Out and What's Next?
Mexico beat the U.S. men's national team 2-1 to win back-to-back Gold Cup titles for its 10th overall crown. El Tri had not defeated the Americans in a competitive match in six years, the last victory coming in the 2019 final of this tournament. The Americans set the tone early when Chris Richards headed home a pinpoint free-kick by Sebastian Berhalter in the fourth minute. But after that, Mexico dominated. Backed by a deafening crowd of more than 70,000 fans at Houston's NRG Stadium, El Tri dictated the pace for the majority of the match. For most of the first half, anytime the U.S. showed a glimpse of momentum or created something, Mexico quickly won the ball back. In the 27th minute, star forward Raúl Jiménez beat former Fulham teammate Tim Ream to the ball and blasted a shot past goalkeeper Matt Freese to equalize. It was a goal that felt like a long time coming. Later in the 77th minute, Edson Alvarez scored what became the game-winning goal off a header from a free kick, making it the fifth time Mexico had found the back of the net following a set piece in this Gold Cup. Here are takeaways from the match: Set Pieces Make A Difference The USMNT has made set pieces a point of emphasis under manager Mauricio Pochettino. And in the fourth minute, Berhalter delivered a dime of a free-kick to Richards, whose header hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing over the goal line to give the U.S. a fast 1-0 lead. It was very similar to the winning goal Richards scored off a Berhalter free kick in the USMNT's second group stage match against Saudi Arabia a few weeks ago. And it's the kind of scenario the squad has been working on consistently throughout this tournament. As FOX Sports learned, the USMNT has been using a technology called TrackMan to assist in their set piece preparation , and the team has been working on these plays for at least 15-20 minutes before every Gold Cup game. Mexico, however, has also been spending extra time on set pieces. And late in the second half, Alvarez scored a header off a free-kick to deliver the final 2-1 scoreline. Mexico also dominated the match when it came to corner kicks, taking 12 while the U.S. had zero - although Mexico didn't score off one. No Moral Victories, But … The U.S. men's team got this summer off to a near-disastrous start. The squad lost consecutive friendlies – the first a 2-1 defeat to Türkiye, the second a 4-0 throttling by Switzerland – just days before the Gold Cup kicked off. Those results were preceded by surprising news that star players like Christian Pulisic, Antonee "Jedi" Robinson, Yunus Musah and other mainstays wouldn't be part of the 26-player roster for various reasons. While that reality caused drama inside and outside the program, the players who were called up by Pochettino seized their opportunity and many raised their profiles and likely put themselves in contention for a roster spot at next summer's World Cup on home soil. The U.S. won its Gold Cup group, benefited from the heroics of Freese in a quarterfinal penalty shootout victory over Costa Rica, and showed its fight in a semifinal win over Guatemala before advancing to the final against rival Mexico. Ultimately, a younger and less experienced version of the USMNT fell victim to tired legs against a more quality opponent in Mexico. This was the last competitive match the Americans will play before the World Cup. Surely Pochettino has learned a lot about the player pool he has. Now, can some form of this group mixed with players who weren't there find a way to compete and win games next summer? That is the question. What's Next: Pulisic and Stars Back In September? The U.S. will host Korea Republic and Japan in a pair of friendlies on Sept. 6 in Harrison N.J., and on Sept. 9 in Columbus, Ohio, respectively. Both opponents have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. This will be a compelling next camp for the USMNT for several reasons, one being the intrigue surrounding which players Pochettino will invite. Will Pulisic, Robinson and Musah be back with the squad? What about Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Gio Reyna, who were unable to participate at the Gold Cup while their club teams simultaneously competed at the FIFA Club World Cup? After the performances they put on this past month, it seems like a no-brainer that guys like Diego Luna and Malik Tillman, who have developed a chemistry, as well as Berhalter and Freese will be there. Same goes for Richards, Ream and Tyler Adams, who have risen to the challenge of leading the group. Who else makes up that team will provide insight as to what Pochettino is thinking in terms of his roster for the World Cup. As a reminder, because the U.S. is co-hosting the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, it doesn't have to go through qualifying for the tournament. The matchups in September should serve the USMNT, as both opponents will preview different styles the squad might face next summer. Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman . recommended Get more from Gold Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Fox Sports
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
The U.S. Is Thinking Outside the Box To Find An Edge In Set Pieces — And It's Working
ARLINGTON, Texas — Sebastian Berhalter stood over the free kick about 40 yards away from Saudi Arabia's goal. He raised his hand, then delivered pinpoint service into the box where Chris Richards was able to get on the end of it and score what ultimately became the winning goal for the U.S. men's national team in its second Gold Cup match at Q2 Stadium in Austin on Thursday. The victory meant that the Americans would advance to the quarterfinals, though they will conclude group stage play on Sunday vs. Haiti here at AT&T Stadium (7 p.m. ET on FOX). Richards nearly had a goal earlier in that match, but his header off Jack McGlynn's corner went right into the goalkeeper's chest. These two scoring opportunities — one that was successful and one that wasn't — are not coincidence. Since Mauricio Pochettino took over as the USMNT's manager last fall, there's been more emphasis placed on set pieces, both offensively and defensively. "Offensively, I feel like we've always had the ability to be good at them, but we've never been good at them," Tyler Adams told reporters. "So I think now it's important just putting the balls in the right areas, making sure guys are making the right runs. Obviously, Chris with a great finish, but I think it could be a huge trend for us." That's what this team has been hoping would be the case for a while. In fact, former U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter (Sebastian's father) had hired Gianni Vio, an Italian set piece specialist, and saw the benefit in last summer's Copa América opener when Christian Pulisic scored off a corner kick that Vio designed. But outside of a few goals here and there, the U.S. hasn't been proficient enough. Pochettino, however, has placed a greater significance on this aspect of the game. Yes, working on set pieces consistently is important, but he's also introduced the team to a technology called TrackMan , which provides real-time data on ball flight, speed, launch angles, distance and more. It has been predominantly used for golf and baseball, but according to the company's website, it has expanded to soccer, American football and even hammer throw and shot put. "It shows if you put the ball in a certain area, the percentage of scoring or getting a head on it or first contact is going to go up," Adams said. "I think putting the ball into consistent delivery has been important, but we have threats. Even Chris, I think he's finally coming into his own. I'm like, 'Dude, go and win the ball, like, you're huge.' And he's continuing to find that balance and be a threat for us." As Adams alluded to, this kind of innovation is all well and good, but you have to have players who can execute for it to matter. "The key is to have a player like Chris who is so good at attacking the box and then a player with great delivery like we have in Sebastian or Jack McGlynn, who have a really good touch on the ball," Pochettino said. "Of course, sometimes [scoring goals] happens and sometimes it doesn't happen, sometimes we have more or less luck. "But it's not only us who are working in this way to try to improve on set pieces in offensive and defensive situations. I think today, all the clubs and national teams are really focused and have specialists. And yes, we are in this way trying to help the players to achieve our goals on the pitch." Sebastian Berhalter has actually been using TrackMan with his MLS club, the Vancouver Whitecaps, for a while. During the season, he works with assistant coaches Jan Michaelsen and Michael D'Agostino a few times a week so he can keep improving his delivery. It's paying off. "I think my whole career it's something that I wanted to be good at, and slowly it's gotten better," Berhalter said. "I think these last couple years in Vancouver they've emphasized it. I sat down with our assistant coach and he told me that, you know, 'This year you can be the best in the league at set pieces.'" He's now developed a reputation for it, and given how open things are when it comes to Pochettino's player pool, this particular skill set could help Berhalter's case for a World Cup roster spot next year. "Set pieces are really about repetition," Paxten Aaronson said. "Everybody has the technique, but how many times can you take it? [Berhalter] serves really, really good ones in directions where defenses don't want to put their head. So he does a great job." The USMNT has been spending 15-20 minutes on set pieces before every Gold Cup game, "really making sure everyone knows what we're doing," Berhalter said. "Even the day before in training, [Pochettino] said, 'Take your time, be calm, you know you can deliver a good ball.' So it's something he's given me confidence in." As for capitalizing on more of these opportunities going forward, guys like Richards know they can anticipate quality service from Berhalter. "As soon as I saw it there, I thought, 'This has to be me,'" Richards said. He hedged correctly, and the USMNT won its second straight game. Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of "Strong Like a Woman," published in spring 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman . recommended Get more from Gold Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
What's On
20-06-2025
- Sport
- What's On
The Summer Scramble is Dubai's coolest indoor golf tournament - What's On
If you thought golf was on hold for the summer, think again. Golf Digest Middle East has teamed up with Five Iron Golf Dubai to launch the Summer Scramble — a weekly indoor golf tournament designed to keep your game sharp and your social calendar buzzing. Running every Thursday night throughout July, the Summer Scramble is all about good vibes, friendly competition, and an A/C-blessed escape from the brutal summer heat. Whether you're a scratch golfer or just know how to hold a club, this is your chance to swing in style — without needing to slap on any sunscreen. Hosted at the vibrant Five Iron Golf in The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi, the tournament pairs players into two-person scramble teams and throws them onto a different virtual championship course each week. Expect three hours of sim time, access to state-of-the-art TrackMan simulators, and an unbeatable combo of bites and bevs: a sharing platter and a bucket of six hops per player (21+ only). As for prizes? Weekly winners score brag-worthy goodies, and the top team across the series will walk away with the coveted Summer Scramble Grand Prize. The details: Location: Five Iron Golf, The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Times: Every Thursday in July, 7pm–10pm Cost: Dhs375 per person | Dhs350 (EGF Members) | Dhs325 (Under 21s) – includes sim time, food, drinks & prizes Spots are limited, so get your team together and hit it where the A/C blows and click here to register > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LONE PALM GOLF CLUB CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF STATE-OF-THE-ART GOLF FACILITY WITH RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
LAKELAND, Fla., May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, May 21, Florida Southern College celebrated the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art golf clubhouse at Lone Palm Golf Club in Lakeland, Fla, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring remarks from student-athletes, alumni, community leaders, and distinguished guests. The 4,000-square-foot facility marks a major milestone in the continued tradition of excellence for Florida Southern's men's and women's golf programs. Designed to serve as a hub for performance, training, and recognition, the clubhouse features a Championship Lobby showcasing all 33 titles earned collectively by the men's and women's teams. The space also includes dedicated offices for coaches, two TrackMan hitting simulators, a cutting-edge PuttView studio, a fitness and rehabilitation area, a versatile meeting room, and a modern student-athlete lounge. "We're incredibly excited to open this stunning new clubhouse," said Drew Howard, Director of Athletics and Dean of Wellness at Florida Southern College. "Florida Southern golf has a proud tradition of competitive excellence and a longstanding partnership with Lone Palm Golf Club. This new space not only honors that legacy—it secures it for the future." The building also honors two influential figures in the program's history: the pro-style locker rooms have been named in recognition of Robbie Davis, women's golf head coach and Doug Gordin, former men's golf head coach—each known for their leadership, mentorship, and lasting contributions to Florida Southern's national success. "Thanks to the generous support of our alumni and donors, we've built something that will elevate our programs and help us attract the very best student-athletes to Florida Southern College," Howard added. The opening of the new clubhouse sets the stage for future achievements, providing student-athletes with the resources, technology, and environment needed to continue competing at the highest level. About Florida Southern College Founded in 1883, Florida Southern College is the oldest private college in the state. The College maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 70+ undergraduate programs and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, nursing, and physical therapy. Florida Southern has a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, is an award-winning national leader in engaged learning, and boasts 30 NCAA Division II National Championships. In the U.S. News & World Report's 2025 "Best Colleges" guide, Florida Southern ranks #11 among "Best Regional Universities in the South," #9 in "Most Innovative Schools," and #20 in "Best Value Schools." The College is also highlighted in The Princeton Review's 2025 Best 390 Colleges guide and the "Fiske Guide to Colleges 2025." The 2024-2025 Colleges of Distinction guidebook praises Florida Southern's AACSB-accredited Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise alongside the College's School of Education and its Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Home to the world's largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, FSC has appeared on The Princeton Review's top 20 "Most Beautiful Campus" national listing for 13 consecutive years, now ranking #5. Connect with Florida Southern College. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Florida Southern College Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
