Brett Phillips

A 6-foot-1, 185-pound outfielder, Phillips has a good profile as a lefthanded hitter who throws righthanded and has plus speed. His fast-twitch athleticism helped him become an all-county football player as a senior--the only year he played varsity. He's also raw on the baseball diamond but has plenty of tools, including perhaps the state's best throwing arm. Some scouts give him 70 grades on the 20-80 scale for his arm and his speed, though that's more often on his jailbreak swings. He should be an above-average center fielder with experience. Scouts' biggest questions center on his bat. Phillips uses the whole field, but scouts have to project to give him even average power. He uses more of a contact-oriented swing at this point, though he will show power in batting practice. Phillips had draft helium in May, and scouts were trying to judge his signability. He has committed to a resurgent North Carolina State program, which spirited a similar player, Trae Turner, out of Florida last spring. He may have to go in the first three rounds to keep him away from college.