When tasked with leading a team’s scouting department and draft room, it’s only natural for an executive to feel some sort of emotional attachment to the players he selects. Those prospects are representative of all the dedication put in by the scouts, and there’s a sense of pride when they move on to perform in the major leagues.
Phillies assistant general manager and head of amateur scouting Brian Barber felt that first-hand earlier this season when 2020 first-round pick Mick Abel, the very first player he selected after being hired the organization, made his big-league debut on May 18.