Phillies accused 2013 draft picks of NCAA rules violations

Philadelphia appears to have taken issue with that choice.

The team accused Wetzler, a left-hander pitcher for the Oregon State Beavers, of violating the NCAA’s “no agent” rule, according to Baseball America’s Aaron Fitt.

However, many major league prospects -- and teams themselves -- “ignore the rule,” opting to have their advisers, or agents, negotiate with teams rather than doing it themselves. In other words, Wetzler didn’t do anything out of the norm, but he did chose not to sign with Philadelphia, which could have prompted the accusation.

For now, Wetzler will have to wait until NCAA officials review his case and decide whether or not he’ll be eligible to pitch for the Beavers this season.

It’s not out of the ordinary for a team to be disappointed that a player makes the decision not to sign with them after being drafted. However, the Phillies decision accusation is decidedly unconventional. Philadelphia also accused their sixth-round pick, Jason Monda, of violating the rule, but he was cleared by the NCAA to resume his college career at Washington State on Thursday, just before the college season began.

Wetzler didn’t, meaning he won’t be eligible to pitch for Oregon State until a verdict is issued, and if the NCAA sides with the Phillies, the young lefty won’t be able to pitch for the team at all this season.

In his article, Fitt notes that the Phillies’ accusations don’t necessarily mean that Wetzler violated any rules, but the protracted process is resulting in some rather unwelcoming repercussions.