On
12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the upcoming draft.
Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending with the pick for
1.1
https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/ -
#80 Trace
Phillips
RHP,
Middle Tennessee State
20/years
old 6' 3" 185
Scouting grades:
Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 |
Overall: 45
Phillips
set a Tennessee high school record by homering in eight straight games in 2023,
then went deep 13 times as a Middle Tennessee State freshman last spring. He
had less success as a pitcher for the Blue Raiders, logging a 7.13 ERA with 27
strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings. But he performed so well on the mound during fall
practice that he has become one of the top sophomore sleepers in the 2025
Draft.
After
sitting at 90-92 mph with his fastball and lacking consistency with his
secondary pitches as a freshman, Phillips touched 97, flashed a solid low-80s
slider and showed a fading upper-70s changeup of similar quality. Scouts would
like to see him go with more four-seamers at the top of the zone because his
heater gets pounded when he tries to work down with sink. He also has a slow
mid-70s curveball that he can use to give batters a different look.
Phillips
is very much a work in progress who may not reach his pitching potential until
he gives up hitting. But he's athletic, features plenty of arm speed and has a
sound delivery, ingredients that should enable him to provide consistent
strikes and perhaps reach triple digits with a four-seamer. He'll need to take
steps forward this spring but could become the first Middle Tennessee State
pitcher to go in the top three rounds since Dewon Brazelton went No. 3 overall
in 2001.
1-22-25 –
Just Baseball: 2025 MLB Draft – Top 80 College Prospects
https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-college-prospects/?s=03
74. Trace Phillips – RHP
HT/WT: 6’3/185 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Middle Tennessee
State | Age: 20.11
Phillips is a two-way player at Middle Tennessee State, and
while his freshmen campaign had its rough patches, he impressed plenty of
scouts with his fall performance on the bump and projects there in pro ball.
Phillips’ fastball and slider saw velocity upticks this fall
and he did this while maintaining an effortless delivery. His fastball shape is
a bit dead-zone and he lacks sufficient extension, but Phillips has seen his
velocity jump more into the mid-90s and he’s touched 97 MPH this fall.
The slider has jumped more into the mid-80s with good bite
and two-plane break, though it’s his change-up that projects the best.
Featuring solid velocity separation from the fastball in the low-80s, Phillips’
cambio hits the brakes hard and tumbles heavily away from lefties.
There’s good pitchability in his game, too. He’s eligible as
a sophomore and has put himself in line for a nice payday in the early rounds
of Day 2, though he’ll need to miss more bats in the spring to jump into
another tier amongst the arms in this class.
https://goblueraiders.com/sports/baseball/roster/trace-phillips/13669
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Awards
All-Conference
USA Second Team (2024)
All-Conference
USA Freshman Team (2024)
Tennessee
Sports Writers Association Pitcher of the Week (May 14, 2024)
2024
(Freshman)
Appeared
in 54 games, starting 52, mostly at first base
Made 13
appearances on the mound, starting nine times
Batted
.303 with 61 Hits and 47 RBIs
Hit 13
home runs, which was good for second on the team (Briggs Rutter)
Had a
multi-home run game vs. Southern Indiana on March 12
Went
3-for-5 with three runs scored on April 26th vs. WKU
Tallied
four RBIs on a 2-for-3 day vs. Austin Peay on April 23
Threw for
seven innings, while striking out nine batters in route to his fifth win on the
mound vs. Jacksonville State May 12
Notched
41.2 IP which was the fourth most on the team
Had a
.981 Fielding Percentage while tallying 324 putouts on the year
Grace
Christian Academy
2023
graduate of Grace Christian Academy (Franklin, Tenn.)
Was a
five-year starter for GCA’s baseball program
Was named
TSSAA Mr. Baseball, District MVP and TBCA Player of the Year
Led GCA
to a TSSAA state championship in 2022
Set a
state record with home runs in eight consecutive games as a senior
Also
lettered in football
Played
travel baseball for SWA Storm and was a Rawlings All-American
https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/profiles/TN/Trace-Phillips-7351892640
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2/04/23
Positional
Profile: SS/RHP
Body:
6-3, 188-pounds. Lean, wiry frame w/ long limbs and good athleticism. Great
projection and room to add mass/strength.
Hits:
RHH. Tall and even set up in the stance, higher hand set. Good bat speed.
Direct with the front side, stays inside the ball well, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 93
max exit velocity, averaged 87.1 MPH. 316' max distance.
Arm: RH.
INF-85 mph.Quick and short arm action, present arm strength.
Defense:
Smooth and fluid with the glove, moves with ease laterally. Excellent glove
presentation.
Run: 7.20
runner in the 60.
9/14/22
The
two-way prospect has been committed to Memphis since fall of 2021, and just
like his GCA counterpart opened up his recruitment following the summer
coaching changes. 6-foot-3, 182-lb long, lanky frame w/ room to add mass and
projection. At the plate, tall back-loaded stance w/ bat tip load and small
stride. Generates above average bat speed (T 71) w/ line drive power and more
to project (T89.9; Avg: 83.7). In game, got a knack for picking up hits and
spraying the ball around the yard. Defensively, has the glove to stick at SS,
but can be moved around the infield. The glove is his best tool as he has soft
hands, crisp transfers and sound footwork. Throws from various arm slots w/
good rhythm and above average arm strength (82 INF Velo). Not a crazy runner
(7.34 sixty), but covers ground well defensively utilizing his long strides to
make all the plays. On the mound, he's got a good ceiling as he's consistently
been 81-85 w/ feel for two secondary offerings. The FB has some life to it and
plays up from 85, which is a velocity he's been stuck on for the past two
looks. Mixes CB at 71-73 and gets good action on his CH to neutralize LHH.
Phillips has two way upside w/ a great glove and a frame to work with. He lacks
some strength and physicality to round out his game, but he's still just
scratching the surface of his potential on both sides of the ball.
7/25/22
Memphis
commit, 6-foot-3, 182-lb lanky, lean frame w/ room to add strength. Smooth
defender at shortstop, consistent footwork and soft hands w/ good transfers and
above average arm strength. Consistent line drive hitter, spraying to all
fields w/ flashes of gap p
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