Phillies 2006 top pick, Kyle Drabek, joins Reading

Reading, PA – The Philadelphia Phillies have promoted RHP Kyle Drabek from Clearwater to Reading. He’ll make his first start for the R-Phils on Wednesday, June 3 or Thursday, June 4 vs. the Akron Aeros at 7:05 PM. Readingphillies.com will have the definite date as soon as it is know.

Drabek was 4-1 in 10 games (nine starts) with a 2.48 ERA for the Threshers. In 61.2 innings he allowed 49 H, 19 R, 17 ER, 19 BB and had 74 SO. 

The 21-year old threw a complete-game, nine-inning shutout in his last start in the Florida State League on Friday, May 29 (5 H, BB, 7 SO). 

In 2008 Drabek made eight starts during the regular season, four for the Gulf Coast Phillies and four for Williamsport (NYP), and combined to go 1-3 with a 2.23 ERA. After the regular season he pitched in the Hawaiian Winter Baseball League. He went 1-2 in five games, two starts (20.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 19 SO), for the Honolulu Sharks.

Drabek did not pitch from 6/16/07 through 7/29/08 while he rehabbed from “Tommy John” surgery. 

The Phillies selected Drabek out of The Woodlands High School (TX) in the first round (18th overall) of the 2006 first year player draft. He entered the season ranked as the 5th best prospect in the Phillies Minor League System by Baseball America. He is the son of Doug Drabek who pitched 13 seasons in the Majors and was the 1990 Cy Young Award winner with the Pirates in 1990 and an All-Star with the Astros in 1994. 

LHP Gustavo Chacin was sent from Reading to Lehigh Valley (AAA). 

This story was posted on June 1, 2009