Philadelphia Phillies select West Virginia OF commit Griffin Burkholder in 2024 MLB Draft

Griffin Burkholder has heard his name called at the 2024 MLB Draft in Fort Worth, TX. He was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies with the No. 63 overall pick in the second round. An outfielder from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Burkholder is a high school outfielder who now can get his professional career started if he chooses so.

Baseball American named Burkholder a second-team All-American for his senior year performances. Just three outfielders were named to the first-team and Burkholder seemingly slotted in right behind them. He was able to hit .453 with around half of his hits being extra-base hits.

Try Fubo for FREE today and don’t miss any of the action!

However, there were some injuries dealt with during Burkholder’s senior season at Freedom High School in Virginia. Burkholder does not expect them to be an issue long-term.

Now, there is a decision to be made by the outfielder. Burkholder has been committed to West Virginia for quite some time. He announced his decision in November 2020, spanning three and a half years before getting drafted. Playing for the Mountaineers has been in the plans for quite some time.

Will being drafted change anything? Burkholder will have some things to discuss but for now, he can celebrate the special moment of being drafted into the MLB.

What MLB scouts are saying about Griffin Burkholder

MLB.com provided a scouting report on Burholder ahead of the draft, ranking him the No. 54 overall prospect in the process. On an 80-grade scale, Burkholder was a 50 overall but his highest trait was run at 70. Something they believe needs to stay in his game for defensive purposes.

Offensively, the report highlights the power capability Burkholder could have in the future. Staying on time with his swing is critical because making contact usually equates to some hard-hit balls.

“Burkholder already looks like he belongs with a strong and athletic frame that is ‘what they look like.’ And he has some tools to match. The right-handed hitter was one of the best performers at last summer’s East Coast Pro Showcase and has the chance to have real impact at the plate,” the scouting report said.

“He has plus raw power and can get to it in games at times, though he doesn’t always square the ball up, relying on strength at times more than finding the barrel. When he is on time, he can drive the ball.”