The Phillies are back on the clock, and they’ve once again opted for a position player. This time, they’ve selected Caden Bogenpohl, an outfielder out of Missouri State.
Missouri State has a track record of producing accomplished big-league hitters batting champions like Bill Mueller, home-run leaders such as Ryan Howard and Luke Voit, and Rookie of the Year winners like Drake Baldwin. This year, the Bears boast one of the most physically imposing and powerful bats available in the 2026 Draft.
Bogenpohl set a new school freshman home-run record in 2024 with 20, surpassing Howard’s previous mark, and he also matched another Missouri State single-season record by drawing 55 walks last spring. Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 245 pounds, Bogenpohl possesses plus-plus raw power from the left side, with the ability to drive balls out to any part of the field. Still, he managed only six homers across 55 games during his junior season. He consistently produces some of the highest exit velocities in the college class peaking at 119 mph but also posts some of the highest groundball rates, at 53 percent. His approach is disciplined, and he avoids chasing when pitchers work around him, yet he tends to open up early in his swing and struggles to punish pitches on the outer half. His large build contributes to a longer swing path, which leads to elevated swing-and-miss rates within the zone and trouble handling off-speed and breaking stuff.
For his size, Bogenpohl moves with surprising athleticism and shows decent speed once he builds momentum. He’s played capable center field at the collegiate level, though he’s more likely to end up at a corner outfield spot in professional ball. While he previously displayed well-above-average arm strength, his throws now grade more as average to solid.
The Phillies will be back on the board in the third round with the 100th overall pick.
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