Going undrafted isn’t necessarily the kiss of death in becoming a respected prospect. This season the Phillies saw the rise of Otto Kemp, who went undrafted, to the major league level and he continues to play well back at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. His IronPigs teammate, Paul McIntosh was initially drafted in 2018 but decided not to sign and hoped for a better result in the 2020 Draft when he was ready to exit the University of West Virginia. That season, COVID limited the draft to five rounds and McIntosh was on the outside looking in. Another undrafted prospect is Sam Highfill, who is currently pitching for High-A Jersey Shore after opening the season at Clearwater.

Thursday night, Highfill gave the BlueClaws six no-hit innings, issuing just one walk and hitting one batter while striking out five. Earlier in the season, Highfill threw eight innings of one-run ball against Tampa. The outing was the longest by a Clearwater pitcher since 2017.

The 24-year-old righty pitched at North Carolina State where he developed a reputation for poise, pitchability, and sequencing rather than overpowering velocity. After going undrafted, Highfill signed with the Phillies as a free agent in July of 2024.

Highfill has logged 100 innings across 2025 between Clearwater and Jersey Shore, compiling a 5-8 record with a 4.50 ERA. He’s made 22 starts in 24 appearances, striking out 91 batters while walking 33. His WHIP sits at 1.34, and he’s allowed 109 hits and 53 earned runs. His strikeout rate of 8.1 per nine innings is respectable, though not dominant, and his walk rate of 2.7 per nine reflects solid command. He’s given up just over one home run per nine innings and has shown some vulnerability to contact early in counts. His FIP is around 4.60, which aligns closely with his ERA and indicates that his results are largely in line with his underlying performance. The strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.7 is a positive marker of his ability to compete in the zone.

Highfill’s pitch arsenal includes a four-seam fastball that sits in the 89–92 mph range. While not overpowering, he locates it well and uses it to establish counts. His best secondary pitch is a low 80s slider, which he commands effectively against right-handed hitters. He also throws a changeup in the upper 70s that features good fade and deception, making it a useful weapon against lefties. Occasionally, he’ll mix in a mid-70s curveball, though it’s more of a show-me pitch used to change eye levels rather than a consistent out pitch. His success hinges on sequencing and location rather than raw stuff, and he’s shown the ability to adjust his pitch mix based on hitter profiles.

From a developmental standpoint, Highfill’s strengths lie in his maturity, command, and ability to pitch with intent. He competes well and shows a strong understanding of how to navigate lineups. However, to move up the ladder, he’ll need to sharpen his secondary pitches and ideally add a tick of velocity. His current profile suggests a ceiling as a depth starter or long reliever, with potential to reach Double-A in 2026. If he can improve his swing-and-miss offerings, particularly the slider and changeup, he could become a reliable organizational arm with spot-start upside.