Phils take high school SS Spangler with first-round Draft pick
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PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies selected high school shortstop Tyler Spangler with the 36th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday.
MLB Pipeline rated Spangler as the 53rd-best prospect in the Draft. His ranking probably would have been higher, except a back issue sidelined him for his senior season at De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif. Whatever the issue is, the Phillies felt comfortable enough in selecting Spangler, who has drawn comparisons to Cal Ripken Jr., because of his size and all-around tools, and Corey Seager, because both are left-handed-hitting shortstops.
Spangler is listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds.
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MLB Pipeline wrote that Spangler “is more polish than flash with a simple, solid approach at the plate, finding the barrel consistently. While he can be susceptible at times for breaking stuff down, he has excellent zone awareness and shows a willingness to use the middle of the field or go the other way. He can get to his pull side power at times and more thump should come as he fills out his frame and if he starts committing to getting the ball in the air more.”
Spangler has committed to Stanford. The Phillies dropped from pick No. 26 to No. 36 because they exceeded the second surcharge threshold of the Competitive Balance Tax.