The Philadelphia Phillies were able to sign their 2024 first-round pick Dante Nori on Tuesday. The outfielder was selected No. 27 overall in the MLB Draft out of Northville High School in Michigan.
This is the fifth consecutive year that the Phillies used their first-round pick on a high school player. The previous players were Mick Abel, Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford, and Aidan Miller. Nori looks to be the next Phillies’ prospect with high expectations for the future of the club.
Phillies Signed Nori to $2.5 Million Deal
The $2.5 million deal is below the slot value of $3,228,300. The Phillies used the money to sign their second-round pick Griffin Burkholder to a deal valued above his slot.
Nori, 19, was committed to play at Mississippi State. He decided to sign with the top team in the NL East instead. The No. 48 draft prospect joins a Phillies’ organization that’s looking for long-term outfield help.
How Did Nori Become the Newest Phillie?
“Dante is a guy that we identified as a potential high pick going back to last summer,” Phillies’ assistant general manager of amateur scouting Brian Barber said last week, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. “We got to know him very well as a person. We got to know him very well as a player. We saw him play in 20-30 different games last summer. He’s a very good baseball player with good tools and an advanced bat. We just liked the total package. He’s sort of everything you’re looking for in a player.”
The left-hander helped lead his team to a state championship while batting .477 with a 1.323 OPS and 20 stolen bases this past season. Nori is a player with above average speed and defensive ability while also being able to put the ball in play. He may not have the power right now, but that’s something that can develop over time.
“In my mind, I’m back at the bottom of the totem pole,” Nori said, per Zolecki. “You were just at the top, but now you’re at the very bottom. You’ve got to work your way up.”
You never know how a player will turn out, especially when the player is 19 years old. Nori will have a lot of work to put in and a long way to go before wearing the red pinstripes with the big league club. The next chapter of his baseball career has officially begun.
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