10/28/26 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Pitchers - Part Nine
Written by Steve Potter
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. Here is part nine - pitchers, highlighting the following :
Cole Gilley
Connor Gillispie
Deiry Gonzalez
Jonathan Gonzalez
Orlando Gonzalez
RH Cole Gilley - 25 years old (26 on 7/22/27) - drafted in 10th round of the 2025 draft - University of Indiana, IN
2026 Stats : went 7-1 in 22 appearances (7 starts) for Clearwater recording 66.1 IP with a 4.48 ERA, 56 K’s and 28 walks. Also started a playoff game going six innings - 2 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 3 K’s.
2026 Notes : features a four seam fastball (91-94 mph), slider(sweeper), cutter and change up. The sweeper has big break and is his best pitch. He attended Columbus East HS in Indiana - had Tommy John surgery in 2021 and missed his 2022 collegiate season. Began the 2026 season as a bulk reliever and worked in that role till July - his last seven appearances of the season were all starts including a playoff game which was his longest outing of the year - six innings. Steady, reliable performer who generally keeps his team in games.
2027 Outlook : will compete to bump up a notch to Jersey Shore in Spring Camp.
RH Connor Gillispie - 28 years old (29 on 11/10/26) - signed as minor league free agent 2/18/26 - was the 2019 9th round draft pick of the Orioles - VCU
2026 Stats : appeared in four games (two starts) posting a 3.63 ERA in 17.1 IP with 18 K’s and 7 walks. Went on the IL 5/2/26 with elbow discomfort - had season ending TJ surgery.
2026 Notes : Has pitched for five different organizations - Phillies, Orioles, Marlins, Guardians and Twins. He’s a four pitch pitcher featuring a sweeper, four seamer (low nineties), cutter, changeup and curve. Had a really good spring training camp even though he was hampered by elbow soreness - that carried into the regular season and eventually resulted in TJ surgery. He spent the balance of the summer working with the rehab team at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater.
2027 Outlook : was scheduled to be a free agent but has signed back with the Phillies instead.
RH Deiry Gonzalez - 18 years old (19 on 4/8/27) - signed as international free agent 1/15/25 - Dominican Republic
2026 Stats : made 12 appearances (4 starts) for the FCL Phillies recording 40.2 IP with 45 K’s and 16 BB - 6.42 ERA.
2026 Notes : completed his first season stateside after a stellar 2025 season in the DSL when he was a league all-star. Replicated the amount of innings he threw in ‘25. Features a low nineties fast ball (90-93), slider, sinker, curve and change up. Has a frame that can take on added muscle and weight as he progresses into more innings. Generally has good control and command - that wavered a bit this past season against stiffer competition - needs to further refine location to be effective.
2027 Outlook : likely will return for another season of FCL play.
LH Jonathan Gonzalez - 24 years old (25 on 8/9/27) - drafted in 14th round of the 2025 draft - Stetson University, FL
2026 Stats : did not pitch in a game - spent the year rehabbing at the complex in Clearwater.
2026 Notes : has not pitched since being drafted - incurred a sports hernia this spring and later elbow discomfort as well. Had progressed to a throwing program by end of summer. He is from Miami, Florida and attended Columbus HS - his brother Anthony was also on his Stetson college roster as a catcher. His older brother Chris was a previous captain at Stetson - Jonathan chose to go to Stetson over Rice and Miami. I have yet to see him pitch - Baseball America said this about him “An undersized lefthander, Gonzalez has above-average command and relies heavily on his fastball-changeup combination. He has an advanced feel for his changeup that generates a 48% whiff rate and routinely flashes plus. It’s an effective offering against both left and righthanded hitters and is his bread-and-butter pitch.”
2027 Outlook : hopefully is fully healthy and able to compete in spring camp
RH Orlando Gonzalez - 23 years old (24 on 11/22/26) - signed as international free agent - 7/29/23 - Tepatiltan, Mexico
2026 Stats : began the season on the IL - made nine appearances (11 IP) with the FCL Phillies posting a 4.09 ERA - transferred to the Clearwater Threshers 7/30 - 10 appearances - 3.57 ERA in 10 games (17.2 IP) with 27 K’s & 8 walks. Overall - 19 games - 3-1, 28.2 IP, 3.77 ERA, 40 K’s, 19 BB.
2026 Notes : had elbow discomfort early in the year and didn’t appear in a game from 4/10 till 6/23. Features a four seam and sinking fastball in the 92-95 mph range - touches 96-97, slider, sinker and changeup. Has a good plan on the mound that when he executes produces outs. He’s now pitching for Hermosillo in the Mexican Winter League which he has done each of the last three off-seasons.
2027 Outlook : should make a push in ST for a Jersey Shore roster spot.
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