10/31/26 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Pitchers - Part Twelve
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 pitchers - part twelve, highlighting the following :
Estibenzon Jimenez
Brian Keller
Titan Kennedy-Hayes
Chuck King
Casey Lawrence
RH Estibenzon Jimenez - 24 years old (25 on 1/25/27) - signed as international free agent 11/27/19 - San Felipe, Venezuela
2026 Stats : began the year on the IL - made seven rehab appearances (two in FCL, three with Clearwater and two with Jersey Shore) totaling 13.2 IP with a 1.32 ERA, 15 K’s and 7 walks. Transferred to Reading on 6/6 - he excelled making 28 regular season appearances - 31.2 IP, 2.84 ERA, 36 K’s, 13 BB, 7 saves in 7 chances. Overall regular season numbers - 35 appearances - 2.38 ERA, 45.1 IP, 51 K’s, 20 BB. Made three post season appearances - 3.2 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 5 K’s, 0 BB, 2 saves in 2 chances. Was a key cog in Reading’s Eastern League championship run. Selected to pitch in the Arizona Fall League - thus has made five appearances - six innings.
2026 Notes : nicknamed “Jimmy” he converted full-time to the bullpen after incurring some shoulder discomfort earlier that placed him on the IL to begin the season. He missed April game action working with the rehab team in Clearwater instead, went on rehab assignment with the FCL and Jersey Shore in May and returned to Reading in June. He put up very good numbers for Reading as a back end reliever and earned a spot in the Arizona Fall League. He’s a warrior on the mound who plays to win and is a strike thrower - gotta like that - features a very good changeup, a four seam fastball that ranges from 92 to 97 mph along with a slider, curve, change up and this season a sweeper. Was slated for minor league free agency however re-signed with the Phillies in October - in my humble opinion he can become a major league contributor as soon as next season.
2027 Outlook : a bump up to Lehigh Valley seems likely with an eye towards helping the big club.
RH Brian Keller - 32 years old (33 on 6/21/27) - signed as a free agent 5/18/26 - was the 2016 39th round pick of the New York Yankees
2026 Stats : made two initial appearances with the FCL Phillies (three scoreless innings) before being assigned to Lehigh Valley on 5/30. In his first seven starts for Lehigh Valley he pitched 34.1 innings posting a 2.10 ERA with 35 K’s and 10 BB. It earned him a call-up to the majors - made his big league debut on 7/25 against the Yankees - 3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K’s. Was returned to AAA thereafter and struggled mightily - in his final 9 starts pitched 30.1 innings with a 11.86 ERA, 18 K’s, 18 walks and 51 hits against. Overall numbers at Lehigh Valley - 19 starts - 6.33 ERA, 69.2 IP, 59 K’s, 30 BB.
2026 Notes : He had Tommy John surgery in late 2023 after playing for the Hanshin Tigers in Japan. Returned to action this year. Pitched very well initially with Lehigh Valley and earned his first appearance in the major leagues - was designated for assignment on 8/19 and then out-righted back to AAA on 8/21 - didn’t pitch well to finish the year. His fastball sat in the 90-95 mph range, touching 96-97 and showed a change up, slider, cutter and curve as secondaries. Has pitched in the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies organizations.
2027 Outlook : free agent
RH Titan Kennedy-Hayes - 24 years old (25 on 11/12/26) - drafted - 11th round of the 2024 draft from Austin Peay State
2026 Stats : spent the entire year at Jersey Shore - 38 appearances -5.56 ERA, 45.1 IP, 62 K’s, 36 walks, 10 hit batters, .183 BAA, 12.21 K/9, 6.52 BB/9. Best month was July - 2.00 ERA in 6 appearances - 9 IP, 17 K’s, 2 BB - that month showed what he can be if he’s controlling and commanding the strike zone.
2026 Notes : he’s from Enid, Oklahoma and graduated from Enid High School - pitched for Cowley College, Cisco College and San Jacinto College before pitching one season for Austin Peay. Features a four seam fastball that sits 95 to 98 mph and often touches 100 mph, a slider and cutter. Is a very confident young man who has big league velocity - battles command and control, especially late this season - 16 walks in 11.1 August IP - attacks hitters with a here it is try to hit it approach, can be fun to watch if in the strike zone - has the capability to throw the ball by hitters.
2027 Outlook : likely returns to Jersey Shore to begin the season.
RH Charles (Chuck) King - 28 years old (29 on 1/6/27) - signed as un-drafted free agent 2/6/24 - Texas Christian University
2026 Stats : made 27 appearances (26 starts) posting 132.2 IP - 4.55 ERA, 105 K’s, 42 BB for Lehigh Valley. Stellar month of June - three starts - 21.1 IP, 1.69 ERA, 18 K’s & 5 BB. Had four “blowup” games during the season where he was tagged for 27 earned runs in 14.1 IP - in his other 23 appearances had a very good 3.04 ERA.
2026 Notes : the 6’6” right hander pitched collegiately at Texas Christian University from 2017 to 2021. After his time at TCU ended he became a Sports Science Intern with the San Diego Padres and then moved into a full time role in the organization in November of 2022 as a Performance Analyst. However, he continued to train as a pitcher after his collegiate career ended and on 1/28/24 performed for scouts in a pro day at Driveline Baseball. On 2/2/24 he signed a minor league contract with the Phillies. He features a four seam fastball (94-97 mph) and a sinker (93-95 mph) - secondaries include a slider, change up, curve and cutter. He competes, will generally throw strikes and often forces soft contact from hitters. Isn’t a big strikeout pitcher but will get his fair share - big strong frame who also uses his baseball intellect to zone up his opponents. In his three year career he has been relatively consistent however has experienced “blowup” games that distort his numbers - as an example in 8 of his 52 appearances over the past two seasons he yielded 49 runs in 30.2 innings - in the other 44 games he recorded a 2.99 ERA in 234.1 IP.
2027 Outlook : avoidance of the “blowup” games reflect a pitcher capable of bumping up to the show. Will likely return to Lehigh Valley to begin the season once again.
RH Casey Lawrence - 39 years old (40 on 10/28/27) - signed as free agent 8/14 - was originally signed as an un-drafted free agent 6/17/10 by the Toronto Blue Jays - Albright College
2026 Stats : made seven starts for Lehigh Valley - 30.2 IP, 7.34 ERA, 22 K’s, 5 BB. Had previously made 23 starts for Tacoma (Mariners AAA affiliate) - 4.37 ERA, 131.2 IP, 79 K’s, 19 BB.
2026 Notes : has played with the Blue Jays, Mariners, Twins, Cardinals and Phillies organizations - 65 major league appearances - last one in 2025 with the Mariners. Phillies signed him as organizational depth as a starter. FB 87-90 mph, slider, sinker, change up, cutter and curve.
2027 Outlook : free agent
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