While the focus rightfully belongs on the big league club as they forge ahead gathering playoff wins I thought some may be interested in a bit of minor league news. We were at the complex this morning before the Phillies game.
Hawkeye :
The Phillies use the Hawkeye Innovations system at all of their affiliates with the exception of the two baseball complexes. It is also the system used with the MLB statcast platform. The Hawkeye system is now being installed at both the Clearwater and Dominican complexes, specifically on Roberts Field in Clearwater as well on the seven mounds in front of the Montgomery Training Center.
The system tracks multiple playing activities including bat path, running speed, exit velo, hit distance and pitch movement. It will replace the Trackman system currently in use at both complexes. The installation includes hard wired connections to multiple cameras with data collection boxes and control panels at the central command. It’s akin to upgrading to high definition and will advance the data and video collection enhancing downstream analysis and coaching tools used by the player development staff.
High Performance Camp :
Fall Instructs Camp was cut short at the Complex as Hurricane Ian was approaching - all of the players, coaches and staff were sent home before the storm made landfall. This week many of the players who were in Instructs returned to the complex for a predominantly strength and conditioning camp entitled “High Performance”. There are also players here that while also doing the high performance work are getting individualized and group baseball skills instruction. The group has been expanded to include players who weren’t in the previous Fall Instructs Camp. Today we saw a bit of baseball action with infield drills for middle infielders working on navigating the second base bag, outfielders as a group primarily in lecture and drills on footwork and specific instructions on corner infield position play.
Rehab Work continues :
Today we also saw a few pitchers on the mounds throwing bullpen sessions. James McArthur, Tommy McCollum, Eduar Segovia & Spencer Van Scoyoc threw bullpen sessions in the seven mounds area. Others threw ninety foot flat ground tosses including Chase Antle.
RH Tyler Phillips threw a live BP of approximately twenty pitches to catcher Caleb Ricketts facing Yairo Munoz, Donny Sands & Rafael Marchan. Tyler is returning from Tommy John surgery he underwent last year. The stuff was decent today - still a ways to go but it’s definitely encouraging to see his progression to live BP status.
Tyler Phillips live BP - Rafael Marchan hitting - Caleb Ricketts catching
Stay Ready Group :
Scott Kingery joined Yairo Munoz, Donny Sands & Rafael Marchan for BP on Roberts Field. They are all here in “stay ready” mode as long as the Phillies continue to play - just in case they are needed as injury replacements. Pitchers Vinny Nittoli & Michael Plassmeyer are also here I believe however I didn’t see them today.
Arizona Fall League :
The Phillies contingent continues to do very well playing for the first place Surprise Saguaros ( 7-1 ). Today first baseman Carlos De La Cruz went 2 for 3 with a run scored and RBI raising his average to .444. RHP Francisco Morales posted his first save pitching a scoreless inning striking out two batters and walking one. He’s now pitched 4 1/3 scoreless frames overall.
In last night’s game Johan Rojas went 1 for 4 with a run scored and RBI and swiped his third stolen base, he’s now hitting .421. LHP Taylor Lehman & RHP Brett Schulze each threw perfect innings with two K’s apiece. RHP Cristian Hernandez threw a scoreless frame allowing one hit.
Potential Clearwater Facility Upgrades :
Here’s a link to an article in the the Tampa Bay Times discussing potential site upgrades to the Phillies training complex - https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2022/10/11/revamp-philadelphia-phillies-clearwater-training-complex-could-hit-300m/
One dub down in ATL and two to move on - let’s go Phillies - all In !
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️