The Phillies struck a $850K deal with right-hander Josh Gessner, according to MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez (via Twitter). It seems the move was already known about overseas, as Cleve Dheensaw of the Times Colonist reported the decision a few days back.
This move comes days after the Phils added bonus pool money in a swap with the Orioles. With little time left in this year’s international signing window, that swap only paid dividends because the Philadelphia club had a clear idea how it’d use the funds.
Gessner had been committed to attend Tulane University. There aren’t many details available about the Aussie hurler, though he obviously drew MLB scouts and impressed enough to take down a significant bonus.
Lol
Gessner was lit up like a roman candle Saturday before 4,000 fans on Fireworks Night at Royal Athletic Park as he gave up a 7-0 lead to the Corvallis Knights in just two innings. But he is only 18 and directly out of high school. One night does not a career make.
And kershaw has been lit up before too, one night doesnt ruin a career
Always happy to see more Aussies come over.
I love our scouting department’s investments in Australia and New Zealand. Curtis Mead, Kyle Glogoski, Rixon Wingove, etc all look pretty good.
Aussie baseball has come a log way since I was scouting down there in the late 80s. I only saw one interesting player, an undersized catcher who, as it turned out, was Canadian.
What was the catchers name?
It was 30 years ago. The memory fades…