11/12/25 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - catchers - part three
- Steve Potter
- 1 minute ago
- 7 min read
This Phillies off-season I will 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 players per article. Here’s part three of the catchers highlighting the following :
Cesar Mujica
Caleb Ricketts
Guillermo Rosario
Kodey Shojinaga
Garrett Stubbs
Will Vierling
Bonus Profile - Anderson Araujo
Cesar Mujica - 18 years old (19 on 3/30/26) - signed as international free agent - 1/15/24 - Barquisimeto, Venezuela
2025 Stats : RH hitter who played in 31 games with the FCL Phillies - 104 plate appearances - .176/.279/.220 slash line with four doubles and five RBIs - appeared in one game with Clearwater. Defensively caught in 13 games throwing out 4 of 30 base stealers and posting a .977 fielding percentage.
2025 Notes : very young for an international player to come stateside - played his first pro season in the 2024 DSL with the Phillies Red team. Likely will return to the FCL Phillies to play the 2026 season. Has good size at 6’2” - pops the ball out of the yard frequently in the BP sessions I’ve watched - strong throwing arm - just needs to gain playing experience to see how he progresses.
Caleb Ricketts - 25 years old (26 on 5/10/26) - drafted in 7th round of the 2022 draft from the University of San Diego
2025 Stats : LH hitter - played in 58 games - 238 plate appearances with Reading - 14 doubles, 6 home runs, 27 RBIs - .256/.303/.399 slash line with a .702 OPS. Was placed on the IL on 4/16 - rehabbed with Clearwater & Jersey Shore from 6/5 to 6/17 - 7 games - 29 plate appearances - 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 7 RBIs - .429 batting average. Overall numbers for the season - 267 plate appearances - .275/.315/.438 slash line, .753 OPS, 17 doubles, 8 home runs, 34 RBIs. He had three different months (April - .316, June - .323 and August - .333) where he hit above .300. Defensively had a .986 fielding percentage in 57 games as a catcher.
2025 Notes : Caleb has been a good offensive player throughout his four year pro career - injuries have set him back each season ranging from hands,back, groin and hamstrings - he’s got real pop as a left handed hitter, a doubles machine driving balls in the gaps and a clutch performer in high pressure spots. Has made big strides in his pitch receiving and game calling - throwing is an area of continuing development - particularly accuracy to his targets - he’s a big fella at 6’3” and sometimes it takes a bit to uncoil throws - works hard at his craft and improvement has been made. This season was encouraging in stretches - finding consistency and staying healthy are his tickets to advance - can be a big league catcher as the ability is there.
Guillermo Rosario - 20 years old (21 on 4/22/26) - signed as international free agent - 7/25/22 - Santo Domingo, DR
2025 Stats : RH hitter - split time between the FCL Phillies and Clearwater - not a good statistical year - 46 games played - 159 plate appearances - .139/.245/.190 slash line - 2 home runs, 14 RBIs - defensively caught in 18 games - .980 fielding percentage - played first base in 29 games.
2025 Notes : the ability is far better than the numbers Guillermo put up for the season - large frame at 6’2” - solid mechanics - swing can get long but have seen pop - needs to focus on more contact - pleasant young man with a great smile - hard worker - hopefully figures it out and puts up better numbers in 2026.
Kodey Shojinaga - 22 years old (23 on 2/22/26) - drafted in 6th round of the 2024 draft from Kansas University
2025 Stats : RH hitter - began the year with Clearwater - 70 games - 283 plate appearances - .229/.340/.296 slash line - 11 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 33 RBIs - promoted to Jersey Shore on 8/4 - 15 games - 58 plate appearances - .239/.397/.283 slash line - 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 10 RBIs - defensively caught in 43 games - .983 fielding percentage - threw out 25 of 79 base stealers - 32% - played first base in 40 games. Best months were April (.306 BA, .404 OBP in 57 PA’s), May (.293 BA, .404 OBP in 89 PA’s) and August (.279 BA, .456 OBP in 57 PA’s).
2025 Notes : he’s from Honolulu, Hawaii and graduated from Mid-Pacific Institute HS. Played two seasons at Kansas primarily as a second baseman while also seeing time at first and third. He was recruited as a catcher but converted to an infielder to get his bat in the everyday lineup as Kansas had a starting catcher already. He’s known for his willingness to adapt to team needs, maturity and winning attitude. In his first full pro season that adaptability shined thru as he split time between catching and first base. Has good bat to ball skills and shows patience at the plate - walked (14%) nearly as much as he struck out (15%) in his plate appearances. Likely returns to Jersey Shore to begin 2026.
Garrett Stubbs - 32 years old (33 on 5/26/26) - acquired in a trade with Houston Astros - 11/19/21
2025 Stats : LH hitter - played in 71 games with Lehigh Valley - 309 plate appearances - .265/.352/.402 slash line and .754 OPS - 12 doubles, 8 home runs, 50 RBIs, 31 walks, 62 K’s, 5 stolen bases. Transferred to the Major Leagues on 9/1 - played in one game. Has played in 203 major league games - 521 plate appearances with Houston and the Phillies.
2025 Notes : brought the same clubhouse leadership and swag to LHV that he delivered with the Phillies from 2021 to 2024 as the big league backup receiver. He showed this season that he’s capable of contributing steady play, leadership, solid defense and a decent bat at more regular intervals. He was the primary catcher at Lehigh and had a significant positive impact on the club. His last minor league option was utilized therefore in 2026 he must either be carried on the active major league roster or clear waivers and accept a minor league assignment. Garrett has earned and shown he’s a major leaguer therefore it’s doubtful he would accept a minor league insurance role again - there’s very likely a 2026 major league job for him elsewhere if not with the Phillies. Was originally drafted by the Astros in the 8th round of the 2015 draft from USC - he’s from Del Mar, California and graduated from Torrey Pines HS.
Will Vierling - 22 years old (23 on 8/23/26) - drafted in 11th round of the 2025 draft from Murray State University
2025 Stats : LH hitter - played in 14 games - 56 plate appearances with Clearwater after being assigned there on 8/5 - .191/.321/.298 slash line with 2 doubles, a home run, 6 RBIs and 7 walks. Caught in 11 games - threw out 6 of 29 base stealers. Spent the first couple weeks after signing at the complex training in Draftee Mini Camp.
2025 Notes : he’s from Mequon, Wisconsin and graduated from Homestead HS, is the cousin of former Phillies utility player Matt Vierling. After high school Will enrolled at Louisville University playing there two seasons before transferring to Murray State for 2025 - had a standout year there - .312/.415/.530 slash line and .945 OPS in 277 plate appearances (60 games) with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 51 RBIs. Will was quoted in a 7/17/25 article written by Aaron Carlson in the Ozaukee County News Graphic which is his hometown newspaper as saying; “I feel like I do a pretty good job with everything, if I’m going to be honest. I’ve always been a really offensive-heavy player. I’ve always been very offensive-minded, especially this year but I feel like I improved a lot on my defense, and I think that also helped me in my overall game. I feel like I do a lot of things really well, feel like I can manage a pitching staff and can call games.” I have yet to see Will play in person but it seems like he has alot of the qualities to become a successful pro player. Likely begins 2026 with Clearwater.
Anderson Araujo - 17 years old (18 on 4/8/26) - signed as an international free agent - 1/15/25 - Barquisimeto, VZ
2025 Stats : in his first professional season posted a .289/.377/.528 slash line and .905 OPS in 183 plate appearances with 35 runs scored, 11 doubles, 3 triples, 7 home runs and 29 RBIs with 19 walks, 37 strikeouts and 11 stolen bases in the Dominican Summer League. Was the organization’s co-hitter of the month in July - .373/.431/.814 slash line and 1.244 OPS in 65 plate appearances with 17 runs, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs,15 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Defensively caught in 24 games - .991 fielding percentage - threw out 16 of 65 base stealers (25 %) - played first base in 18 games - 1.000 fielding percentage.
2025 Notes : was noted for a power bat with home run potential before signing - popped onto the radar with a stellar month in July - has the tools to advance stateside as soon as 2026 - has shown a strong arm, good instincts and leadership behind the plate - hope to see him on the Florida back fields this coming season.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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