On Friday, Jamari Baylor drove to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, took batting practice and met the leadership of the Phillies franchise. The team had invited him there, and when the workout was over, the scouting director walked up to Baylor and began a conversation. They made chit-chat and talked about Baylor's right arm, which had been injured several months ago.

All of that, the invitation, the friendly conversation, was a sign, Baylor thought, that Philadelphia would draft him if it got the chance.

"I had a gut feeling. I knew they liked me a lot because of that invite."

When the third round of the Major League Baseball draft arrived Tuesday afternoon, the Phillies jumped, taking the Benedictine shortstop with the 91st overall pick.

Before the week is over, Baylor will drive to Philadelphia, sign with the team and undergo a physical. While he declined to reveal how much money the Phillies promised him, he said it's a fair offer and that he expects to sign quickly. ... After his visit to Philadelphia, he'll head to Clearwater, Fla. to begin rookie ball. The Phillies haven't told him what position they envision him playing yet. Before the draft, some teams told him they saw him as a shortstop, others second base or third base, and one team even said it would like to move him to the outfield.

Baylor hit .412 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs as a senior, and Benedictine won the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I state title. He previously played at Glen Allen and Deep Run but transferred to Benedictine in 2018 and reclassified. He had signed with Louisburg College in North Carolina but expressed an interest in playing professionally.

Bill McNeal wrote:I don’t work far from Ephrata and I work with a guy named Fassnacht, wonder if they’re related.

azrider wrote:
I could see reading having faschnacht day in the very foreseeable future.

ReadingPhilly wrote:

Bill McNeal wrote:I don’t work far from Ephrata and I work with a guy named Fassnacht, wonder if they’re related.

I too work with a fassnacht.

WhiteyFan wrote:Glad we're drafting so many SS's. I assume the Indians will want one back in return for Lindor.

Titlehungry wrote:Feel like maybe that reliever from Tennessee could fast track here

azrider wrote:

Titlehungry wrote:Feel like maybe that reliever from Tennessee could fast track here

last 10 outings 7ip 9k/12bb

BigEd76 wrote:Rd 11 = Marcus Lee Sang, CF, Northern HS (MD)
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@marcus_leesang

St. John's commit