Overview
- The Phillies announced Friday that they signed their No. 36 overall pick, Tyler Spangler, to a $3.25 million bonus that exceeds the slot value and convinced him to skip his Stanford commitment.
- Spangler missed his senior high-school season because of a back issue but has been declared medically cleared after the Phillies' review and a check by spine specialist Dr. Robert Watkins.
- Scouts view Spangler as a high-upside, left-handed hitting shortstop with a 6-foot-3 frame and strong prep stats, and he has drawn comparisons to Corey Seager for size and swing profile.
- Philadelphia evaluated Spangler at the MLB Draft Combine and in a subsequent high-school workout and said it conducted an extensive medical and scouting review before drafting him.
- The signing shows the Phillies are willing to pay over slot for prep talent and sets up Spangler to begin his professional development in the Phillies system while the club manages any long-term durability risk.