Philadelphia Phillies select Iowa LHP Cade Obermueller in 2025 MLB Draft

The Philadelphia Phillies have selected Iowa left-handed pitcher Cade Obermueller with the 63rd pick in the second round of the 2025 MLB Draft. The Iowa City native spent the past three seasons with the Hawkeyes, but had his best year yet in 2025 as the team’s ace.

Obermueller started 15 games this past season and pitched a team-high 83.1 innings with a 5-3 record. He finished the year with an ERA of 3.02 and recorded 117 strikeouts to only 32 walks as he was named a first team All-Big Ten selection.

Overall in his career as a Hawkeye, Obermueller finished with an 11-7 record and a 3.60 ERA. He recorded 226 strikeouts to only 92 walks across the past three years.

Obermueller played high school baseball at City High, where he was No. 1 ranked LHP from the state of Iowa. It’s safe to say he’s done his home state proud and will look to continue representing well as he moves to the next chapter of his career.

Obermueller’s father, Wes, also was a pitcher at Iowa and later in the MLB making stops with the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Florida Marlins. That in mind, it has to be even more special for the father and son to share this moment with each other on draft day.

What MLB Draft analysts are saying about Cade Obermueller

MLB.com provided some additional analysis on Obermueller’s game in its recent scout of the pitcher’s draft profile. The write up noted his average and top speeds on his fastball, giving him a shot to be a starter someday.

“Obermueller works from a low arm slot that produces outstanding metrics on his fastball and slider,” it read. “He sits at 91-94 mph and can reach 98 with his heater, showing the ability to create carry, run or sink from an unusually flat approach angle. He imparts huge horizontal break, as well as good depth, on a low-80s slider that eats up lefties and righties.

Obermueller has yet to show much feel for a sinking mid-80s changeup that he barely uses, though he’ll flash a solid one on occasion. The biggest question about his ability to remain a starter is his lack of physicality at 6 feet and 170 pounds, though he’s helping his cause by cutting his walk rate nearly in half from his sophomore to junior year. He’ll get a chance to prove himself in the rotation in pro ball, though if he immediately headed to the bullpen he could surface in the Majors by the end of 2026.