Phillies sign top pick Spangler ... after he has a few cheesesteaks!

PHILADELPHIA -- Tyler Spangler said all the right things on Friday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

He said he is thrilled to sign with the Phillies. He said he has enjoyed Philly. He said he has had a few cheesesteaks, including one from Angelo’s. But, most importantly, he said he is healthy and ready to play baseball.

“Ready to go, man,” Spangler said. “It’s been a little bit since I've played the game, so I'm just super excited.”

The Phillies announced on Friday that they signed Spangler, 18, who was the 36th overall pick in the 2026 Draft. Spangler will receive a $3.25 million bonus, which is over slot value of $2,758,800.

Spangler hit .376 with 13 doubles, seven triples, 16 home runs and 73 RBIs in 86 games over three seasons with De La Salle High School in Northern California. But he did not play as a senior because of an undisclosed back injury.

“You know, it was just a little problem with my back,” Spangler said. “It wasn't bad. I feel great right now, so just ready to get going again, ready for work to start.”

Spangler’s back issue might not be as noteworthy, except the Phillies’ 2023 first-round pick Aidan Miller hasn’t played since late last year because of a back injury, which required a medical procedure in June. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told The Athletic in March that, “Even when [Miller] was drafted, he had some issues with his back.”

Spangler’s agent Scott Boras said there is no reason to be concerned about Spangler. Spine specialist Dr. Robert Watkins took a look at Spangler earlier this year. He gave him the OK.

“He didn't get to play his senior year because he conservatively managed a very minor back issue,” Boras said.

“What you do is you make sure you get the best medical advice in the area. It's not a serious issue, but you know what? Let's treat this conservatively. And the key thing is to get core strength. Young players get core strength and leg strength underneath them, so that nothing like this occurs any further. It was really a decision medically on the basis of them to say, ‘Let's resolve this. It's a minor issue now. We could probably play with it, but let's resolve it.’”

Spangler has been compared to Corey Seager because both are bigger shortstops and hit left-handed.

“I love the way he plays,” Spangler said about Seager. “I always watched Barry Bonds, too. Just, you know, the way he swings it. I feel like I’ve modeled myself after those two guys.”

The Phillies also announced they have signed 19 of their other selections from this year’s Draft:

Position, Player, Round, Overall, School
OF Caden Bogenpohl, 2nd, No. 64, Missouri State University
RHP Ruger Riojas, 3rd, No. 100, University of Texas
RHP Deven Sheerin, 4th, No. 128, Louisiana State University
RHP Jaxon Jelkin, 4th C, No. 135, University of Kentucky
OF Will Gasparino, 5th, No. 161, University of California, Los Angeles
C Macon Winslow, 6th, No. 190, University of North Carolina
RHP Bo Rhudy, 7th, No. 219, University of Tennessee
LHP Wyatt Danilowicz, 8th, No. 249, University of Louisville (KY)
LHP Cooper Consiglio, 9th, No. 279, North Carolina State University
INF Reece Moroney, 10th, No. 309, University of Rhode Island
RHP Drew Titsworth, 11th, No. 339, Clemson University (SC)
RHP Christian Coppola, 12th, No. 369, Saint Joseph’s University (PA)
OF Brayden Bakes, 13th, No. 399, Illinois State University
LHP Patrick Clemmey, 14th, No. 429, Avon Old Farms School (CT)
INF Owen Clyne, 15th, No. 459, George Mason University (VA)
C Matt Quintanar, 16th, No. 489, Texas Tech University
RHP Adam Troy, 17th, No. 519, University of Southern California
OF Lane Haworth, 18th, No. 549, University of Texas at San Antonio
RHP Justin Lee, 20th, No. 609, University of California, Los Angeles

Additionally, the Phillies have signed right-handed pitchers Elias Holbert (Virginia Commonwealth University), Kobe Minchey (Tarleton State University, TX) and Brendan Sweeney (Mississippi State University), left-handed pitcher Cal Higgins (University of Texas), catcher Tyler Minnick (Middle Tennessee State University), infielders Evan Bouldin (University of Delaware) and Cade Climie (University of Houston) and outfielder Jack Hopko (University of Rhode Island) as non-drafted free agents.