10/20/26 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Pitchers - Part Two
This Phillies off-season I continue the series “Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes” with profiles presented in groupings by defensive positions for the players who were still part of the minor league player development program at season’s end. The notes will reflect statistics, my thoughts on each player and input from them and others as I have it. They are presented in order by position and then alphabet in groupings of five players per article. Starting with pitchers here is part two highlighting the following :
Gabriel Barbosa
Keegan Batka
Andrew Bechtold
Brandon Beckel
Wilmer Blanco
RH Gabriel Barbosa - 24 years old (25 on 1/22/27) - acquired in the minor league Rule 5 draft 12/11/24 from the Yankees
2026 Stats : played at three levels - Jersey Shore - 9 appearances - 2.35 ERA in 15.1 IP, Reading - 7 appearances (four starts) - 21.1 IP - 7.59 ERA and Lehigh Valley - 2 appearances - 5.1 IP - 6.75 ERA - overall made 18 appearances - 42 IP - 5.57 ERA - 45 K’s, 12 BB. Placed on Full Season IL 7/27
2026 Notes : Gabriel is battling stage three colon cancer, the Brazilian born young man has a go fund me page to help with the costs - https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-gabriel-barbosa-fight-colon-cancer
2027 Outlook : Hopefully he wins the cancer battle completely and can return to baseball thereafter.
RH Keegan Batka - 24 years old (25 on 5/1/27) - signed as an un-drafted free agent 7/22/25 - Davenport University, MI
2026 Stats : played at three levels in his first full pro season. Made ten appearances at Clearwater - 12.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 18 K’s, 6 BB. Promoted to Jersey Shore 5/13 - made 24 appearances - 37.1 IP, 3.62 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 47 K’s and 18 BB. Promoted to Reading on 9/11 - one appearance in regular season and one in the playoffs - 3 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 6 K’s and 1 BB. Assigned to the Arizona Fall League after the minor league season - overall 2026 regular season stats - 35 appearances - 51.2 IP, 3.14 ERA, .175 BAA, 1.10 WHIP, 69 K’s, 25 BB.
2026 Notes : delivers from a three quarter arm slot - he’s got some pop - has a four seamer in the 93-96 mph range supported by a sinker, sweeper and change-up. The sweeper is his most used secondary pitch - gets quite a few swings and misses - good form, strong mechanics, smart pitcher with decent stuff. The sweeper is his best weapon which coupled with gaining more velocity and movement on his fastball could put him in position to pitch in the show at some point.
2027 Outlook : seems likely to bump up to Reading out of spring camp, if he continues his current success path could become a viable middle relief option for the upper levels and big leagues.
RH Andrew Bechtold - 30 years old (31 on 4/18/27) - signed as a minor league free agent 1/31/25 from Blue Jays
2026 Stats : appeared in 26 overall games - five on rehab assignment with Clearwater (one appearance) and Jersey Shore (four appearances) - in 16 appearances with Lehigh Valley posted a 7.23 ERA in 18.2 IP with 13 K’s and 12 BB. Spent the majority of the year on the IL - initially placed on 60 day IL 4/9, activated 5/29, returned to IL 6/16 and placed on the full season IL 8/20.
2026 Notes : beginning with Spring Training Andrew battled shoulder discomfort all season. He was given a major league spring training invitation however did not appear in any spring games. When healthy he’s got a four seam fastball in the 95-99 mph range with a cutter and slider as secondaries. Was the 2017 5th round draft choice of the Twins as an infielder from Chipola Junior College in Florida - went to Garnett Valley High School in Glen Mills, PA and lives in Chadds Ford. He converted to pitching full time in 2023 with the Twins pitching at the AAA level - was at AA and AAA with the Blue Jays in 2024.
2027 Outlook : free agent.
RH Brandon Beckel - 24 years old (25 on 10/20/26) - drafted in 12th round of the 2023 draft from Texas Tech
2026 Stats : made 28 appearances (seven starts) for Jersey Shore posting a 4.69 ERA in 71 IP with 86 K’s and 21 BB, 1.31 WHIP. Made a cameo appearance with Lehigh Valley in August earning a W in one inning pitched (1 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s).
2026 Notes : has a sharp darting slider that he keeps down in the zone, a pitch that’s seems heavy and is a ground ball maker. Decent fastball - 92-94 mph that has been up to 95. Mostly used in a multi inning role - it’s how he was used in college as well - he’s intriguing - especially the slider and his ability to generally throw strikes.
2027 Outlook : is Rule 5 eligible for first time this off-season. It’s likely he bumps up to Reading out of spring camp.
RH Wilmer Blanco - 22 years old (23 on 2/21/27) - signed as an international free agent 12/14/21 - Maracay, Venezuela
2026 Stats : after missing the entire 2025 season due to injury rehab he was activated on 5/9 this year with Jersey Shore where he made one appearance (3 IP, 4 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K’s) before being transferred to the FCL Phillies on 5/15 (5 appearances - 14 IP, 6.43 ERA, 16 K’s, 4 BB) then to Clearwater on 5/29. He pitched in 22 games with the Threshers totaling 33 IP posting a 4.91 ERA with 26 K’s and 17 walks.
2026 Notes : features a fastball (93-97 mph), slider, sinker, change-up, cutter and curve - has a big frame at 6’2” - power arm who in his first year back was used as a one to two inning reliever after previously being a starter both in the DSL (2022-2023) and FCL (2024). Needs to reel in the command and control but as a reliever could become a weapon.
Pitching Development Director Travis Hergert Coaching Notes : “Wilmer has size, a high slot release with carry on the fastball. He made strides with the hard slider. Goals are to take a step forward in velocity and development of a stronger change up to help with contact quality.”
2027 Outlook : is Rule 5 eligible for first time this off-season - needs to have a good ST camp to bump up a notch to Jersey Shore.
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