FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ top-rated baseball signee will turn pro.
Right-handed pitcher Cole Phillips signed with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, four days after the Braves selected him with the 57th overall pick in the second round of the MLB Draft. Phillips signed for more than $1.49 million, according to MLB.com senior writer Jim Callis, which was 14.5% over slot value suggested by MLB.
Phillips was once considered a potential first-round pick. He underwent Tommy John surgery this spring during his senior season at Boerne (Texas) High School.
“He was on course to be the best Texas pitching prospect since Grayson Rodriguez, who is now with the Royals and is the best pitching prospect in baseball,” Callis said on MLB Network’s coverage of the draft this week. “He was hitting (100 mph) in the spring. Guys were really excited about him. He had a power slider…and then he blew out the elbow.
“We’ve talked about this a lot: Tommy John surgery, you feel a lot better about it than, say, a shoulder injury. Guys come back. I mean, shoot, you go through the rehab and you come back stronger. He might be pushing 101 or 102.”
Phillips is expected to be the only Arkansas high school signee to go pro this year. Las Vegas outfielder Mason Neville was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 18th round, but announced he would play for the Razorbacks.