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The Phillies continued locking in last week's draft picks on Friday as the team came to terms with their second round pick Andrew Knapp and officially announced the signing of their third round selection Cord Sandberg. Knapp, taken 53rd overall, is a switch-hitting 21-year-old. The University of California product led the Golden Bears in batting average this year with a .350 mark while mashing eight homers with 41 RBI. Knapp's deal is said to be for $1.03 million. Reports last week stating that Sandberg has signed almost immediately for the amount of $775,000 seemed to be fully on point as the amount proved accurate with details released by the Phils. High school prep catcher Jake Sweaney, who was selected in the 4th round with the 121st pick out of Garces Memorial High School in California, signed for a reported $400,000. Other signees include 25th rounder Cody Forsythe, a lefty pitcher out of Southern Illinois.  In his senior season this year, the 22-year-old spo...

Phillies 5th round draft choice from 2011, Mitch Walding , is off to a solid start to the regular season this year with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws.  Walding, a 3rd baseman, has gone 9-for-28 (.321 avg) with two doubles and six RBI through eight games thus far against South Atlantic League competition. The lefty batting Lodi, CA native made his pro debut last season with the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters, posting a .233 batting average along with 10 doubles, three triples, a homer and 31 RBI in 69 games. After playing in the Florida Instructional League last year as well, the six-foot-three 190-pounder came into spring training this year, ready to make an impact and made his full season team debut last week. I spoke with the 20-year-old Walding recently about his his draft experience, his time as a pro thus far and plenty more.  Read ahead to check out the full interview. - In 2011, you were a 5th round draft pick.  I just wanted to get you...

This week, I spoke with Class A Lakewood BlueClaws manager Mickey Morandini who shared some thoughts on his team's roster and more. Thoughts on the BlueClaws lineup and where he sees his players fitting in... "With Tyler Greene , he's going to be our utility infielder. So, he'll spell (Mitch) Walding on occasion, he'll spell (Angelo) Mora on occasion, he'll spell "Quinny", when he needs a break. (Willie) Carmona will primarily be our DH, but he'll spell (Art) Charles at first, he will also play some third. In the outfield, it's just gonna be a who's hot type of thing. You know, (Carlos) Tocci's gonna play every day. (Brian) Pointer's probably going to play almost every day. And then with (Yan) Olmo and Zach Taylor , we'll just kind of go with the hot hand, maybe righty-lefty (match up), something like that. (Chace) Numata's gonna catch more games than (Chad) Carman, but they're both going to get a lot ...

The Class A Lakewood BlueClaws' opening day roster is loaded with young talent.  Highly regarded prospects like Carlos Tocci , Shane Watson , Roman Quinn and Mitch Walding are all set to make their full season Class A debuts as the season gets rolling on Thursday evening at FirstEnergy Park.  And while those names are among the ones that will draw the largest amount of attention in the early going and, possibly, through much of the season, it could very well be the returning players, one that didn't have noteworthy debuts with Lakewood last year, that could be the difference makers in the standings. A trio of offensive players entering their second seasons with Lakewood are back to rectify any shortcoming they displayed during their previous stints with the team.  Corner infielder Willie Carmona , middle infielder Tyler Greene and outfielder Brian Pointer feel that any necessary adjustments have been made and improvements will show in their results this sea...

Mickey Morandini is a former Phillies All-Star that currently guides the Phils' stars of the future. Recently, the manager of the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws took some time to chat about his team as well as a few other Phillies prospects. Subjects include the rotation of shortstops in Lakewood this year, BlueClaws' lefty starter Ethan Stewart , Williamsport's Roman Quinn , Reading's Cody Asche and plenty more. Check out the media player below to hear that full interview with Mickey. _____________________________________________________ You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE . Also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE .

Drafted in the 11th round last year out of West Boca Raton Community High School, shortstop Tyler Greene wasted no time signing with the Phillies, to begin his pro career. The righty hitting 19-year-old has been praised by those within the system for his athleticism and his quick bat. In his first pro season in 2011, Greene posted a .276 batting average with 6 doubles, 4 RBI and 5 steals in 17 games for the Gulf Coast League Phillies. Through 10 games this season with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, Greene is sporting a .206 average with 4 doubles, a homer and 4 RBI. Recently, I spoke with Tyler about being drafted last year, about his manager Mickey Morandini, about the other Tyler Greene's and more. Check out the media player below to listen to the full interview. ______________________________________________________________ You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE . Also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE .