Phillies Draft NC State Pitcher Cooper Consiglio in the 9th Round

NC State right-handed pitcher Cooper Consiglio is headed to the MLB.

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Consiglio with the 279th overall pick in the 9th round of the 2026 MLB Draft yesterday.

While his final statistics may not jump off the page, the Phillies clearly saw the traits that made Consiglio one of the intriguing arms remaining in the 9th round.

Looking Beyond the ERA

Consiglio finished his junior season with a 3-5 record and a 6.90 ERA, but those numbers don’t tell the entire story.

His season was heavily impacted by a handful of rough outings, including his final appearance when he allowed eight earned runs while recording just one out.

Earlier in the season, he also endured starts in which he surrendered 11, 10, and seven earned runs.

Those blow-up outings dramatically inflated his season ERA.

Outside of those performances, however, Consiglio often looked like a quality weekend starter capable of missing bats and giving NC State a chance to win.

Flashes of Dominance

Despite the inflated ERA, Consiglio showed why professional scouts remained interested.

2026 Statistics

3-5 record
6.90 ERA
71 strikeouts
60.0 innings pitched
4 quality starts

His ability to generate swings and misses stood out throughout the season, averaging more than a strikeout per inning.

Year-to-Year Improvement

While 2026 wasn’t the breakout campaign Consiglio hoped for, it represented progress from the previous season.

Career ERA by Season

2024 (Freshman): 4.97

2025 (Sophomore): 10.59

2026 (Junior): 6.90

The improvement from his sophomore season, combined with his strikeout ability and projectable stuff, was enough for the Phillies to invest a top-10-round selection.

Betting on the Talent

Professional organizations often look beyond traditional statistics when evaluating pitchers.

Velocity, pitch movement, strikeout ability, athleticism, and long-term projection frequently carry as much weight as ERA.

The Phillies clearly believe Consiglio possesses the raw tools to develop further within their player development system.