Phillies

Phillies Draft Three Pitchers in First Three Rounds

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Jul 14th, 2025 · 10:25 AM EDT

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The Phillies went pitcher, pitcher, pitcher in the first three draft rounds. Here’s the press release with more information on these guys:

The Phillies have selected Gage Wood, a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher from the University of Arkansas in the first round (No. 26 overall) of the 2025 MLB Draft, Brian Barber, Assistant General Manager, Amateur Scouting, announced tonight.

Wood made 10 starts for the Razorbacks in his junior season and went 4-1 with a 3.82 ERA (16 ER, 37.2 IP) and 69 strikeouts to seven walks (9.86 SO/BB ratio) while limiting opposing batters to a .194 batting average. Over three collegiate seasons at Arkansas (2022-25), he pitched in 55 games (13 starts) and posted a 4.33 ERA (52 ER, 108.0 IP) with 167 strikeouts to 38 walks.

“We are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to select Gage Wood in this year’s draft,” said Barber. “Gage has tremendous stuff and has had great success, which can be seen with his 46.0 percent strikeout rate and 4.7 percent walk rate. He is the perfect pitcher to bring into the Phillies organization, and we believe that Phillies fans will love him.”

The 6-foot, 205-pound Wood tossed the third no-hitter in College World Series history and the 11^th solo no-hitter in Arkansas program history on June 16 against Murray State and only lost the perfect game with a hit-by-pitch in the eighth inning. It marked the longest perfect game bid in the College World Series since 1999. He also struck out 19 batters in that outing, which set the tournament record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game.

In the second round, the Phillies selected left-handed pitcher Cade Obermueller with the No. 63 overall pick from the University of Iowa.

The 6-foot, 170-pound Obermueller went 5-3 with a 3.02 ERA (28 ER, 83.1 IP), 117 strikeouts and 32 walks in 15 starts for the Hawkeyes in 2025, earning First-Team All-Big Ten honors. The 21-year-old was previously selected by the Texas Rangers in the 19^th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Obermueller’s father, Wes, pitched in 80 major league games for the Kansas City Royals (2002), Milwaukee Brewers (2003-05) and Florida Marlins (2007).

“Cade is a left-hander that we have had our eyes on for a few years now,” Barber said. “He has a high-velocity fastball with a great slider that has allowed him to strike out hitters at a high rate. Both his control and command improved this year, and he proved that he can be an effective starter.”

The Phillies selected right-handed pitcher Cody Bowker from Vanderbilt University in the third round (No. 100 overall).

Bowker made 16 starts for the Commodores last season and went 3-5 with a 4.38 ERA (35 ER, 72.0 IP) with 99 strikeouts to 28 walks. His 99 strikeouts were the ninth-most among all pitchers in the Southeastern Conference.

“Cody is a very unique pitcher with deceptive qualities, a low release point and quality stuff,” Barber said. “We are excited to add another quality right-handed starter to the Phillies organization.”

The 6-foot-1, 212-pound righty also pitched for two seasons at Georgetown University (2023-24) and across his college career, he combined for a 9-7 record with a 3.50 ERA (63 ER, 162.0 IP) and 205 strikeouts to 73 walks in 43 games (28 starts). Bowker, 21, attended Thornton Academy (ME) and was named Maine Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022 after going 7-0 with a 0.47 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 59.0 innings.

The Phillies are scheduled to make their next selection tomorrow in the fourth round (No. 131 overall) and the fifth round (No. 161). They will have the 26^th pick in each of the final 15 rounds (6-20) of the draft.

Two SEC guys and a Iowa Hawkeye. You can never have enough pitchers in the farm system, and if they show a semblance of anything in the minors, guess what? There’s a spot for you in the Phillies’ bullpen. Let’s give these guys a warm Lehigh Valley and Reading welcome.