11/14/26 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Catchers - Part Four
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 multiple players per article. Here is part four - catchers - highlighting the following :
Matt Quintanar
Caleb Ricketts
Guillermo Rosario
Kodey Shojinaga
Will Vierling
Macon Winslow
Matt Quintanar - 22 years old (23 on 4/7/27) - 2026 16th round draft pick - Texas Tech University
2026 Stats : RH hitter - spent the majority of his time working at the complex in “draft camp” learning the regimen of pro baseball life and working on skills, strength and conditioning along with mental skills. Activated with Clearwater 8/4/26. Played 14 games (53 PA’s) posting a .240/.283/.260 slash line, 8 runs, 12 hits, 1 double, 4 RBIs, 3 BB, 6 K’s, 13 total bases. Defensively threw out 8 of 27 base stealers (30 %).
2026 Notes : is from Sunland, California and graduated from Hart HS. Played his first collegiate season at Central Arizona College - transferred to Blinn College his sophomore year - joined Texas Tech in 2026 - was one of the best defensive catchers in the country - fielding percentage of .990. Hit .323 with 6 home runs and 46 RBIs - .870 OPS.
2027 Outlook : likely returns to Clearwater to begin the season.
Caleb Ricketts - 26 years old (27 on 5/10/27) - drafted in 7th round of the 2022 draft from the University of San Diego
2026 Stats : LH hitter - started the season with Lehigh Valley - 41 games (175 PA’s) - .173/.200/.315, 15 runs, 29 hits, 12 doubles, 4 home runs, 25 RBIs, 6 BB, 46 K’s, 53 total bases. Transferred to Reading 6/9/26 - 54 games (223 plate appearances), .252/.318/.455, .773 OPS, 30 runs, 51 hits, 8 doubles,11 home runs, 34 RBIs, 15 BB, 50 K’s, 92 total bases. Overall regular season - 20 doubles, 15 home runs, 59 RBIs. In the playoffs for Reading went 5 for 15, 4 runs, double, home run and seven RBIs in 4 games. Threw out 27 of 133 base stealers (20 %).
2026 Notes : became a team leader and lineup cog for Reading after being transferred from LHV, a key component to their Eastern League championship. He had a very good month of April with Lehigh Valley (20 for 71, .282, 4 HR’s, 16 RBIs) but then struggled in May and early June - was transferred to Reading for a re-set but also due to catching needs there - offensively continued to struggle in July but exploded in August (.344/.382/.500) and September (.292/.469/.458). He has been a good offensive player throughout his five year pro career - injuries have set him back in previous seasons 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 - works hard at his craft.
2027 Outlook : likely returns to Lehigh Valley - has the ability to play in the big leagues.
Guillermo Rosario - 21 years old (22 on 4/22/27) - signed as an international free agent - 7/25/22 - Santo Domingo, DR
2026 Stats : RH hitter - played at three levels - FCL Phillies - 36 games - 129 PA’s - .225/.380/.402, 15 runs, 23 hits, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 22 RBIs, 22 BB, 36 K’s, 41 total bases. Clearwater - 7 games - 24 PA’s - 3 for 22, 1 double, 2 walks. Reading - 2 games - 4 PA’s - 1 for 3, HR and 3 RBIs. Defensively threw out 5 of 25 base stealers (20 %).
2026 Notes : 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. Hit a two run blast against Binghamton for Reading on 7/30 in the first game he played at the AA level. He will be playing for the Adelaide Giants in the Australian Baseball League this off-season.
2027 Outlook : could join Jersey Shore on opening day.
Kodey Shojinaga - 23 years old (24 on 2/22/27) - drafted in 6th round of the 2024 draft from Kansas University
2026 Stats : RH hitter - played in 91 games (374 PA’s) for Jersey Shore - .231/.329/.302, 33 runs, 74 hits, 15 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 35 RBIs, 45 walks, 65 strikeouts, 97 total bases. Defensively threw out 29 of 97 base stealers (30 %) in 44 games behind the dish. Also played 24 games at first base and saw time as the DH.
2026 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 there as a catcher but converted to an infielder to get his bat in the everyday lineup. Was drafted by the Phillies as a catcher. He’s known for his willingness to adapt to team needs, maturity and winning attitude. Has good bat to ball skills and shows patience at the plate.
2027 Outlook : likely bumps up to Reading.
Will Vierling - 23 years old (24 on 8/23/27) - drafted in 11th round of the 2025 draft from Murray State University
2026 Stats : LH hitter - played in 72 games (284 PA’s) for Clearwater - .248/.339/.402 with a .742 OPS, 26 runs, 61 hits, 11 doubles, 9 home runs, 41 RBIs, 30 walks, 55 strikeouts, 99 total bases. Finished the season very strong - in August and September went 19 for 55 (.345) with 5 doubles, 4 home runs and 13 RBIs. Defensively threw out 24 of 104 base stealers (23 %) in 54 games, also played 9 games at first base.
2026 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. In his first two pro seasons he’s caught 65 games at Clearwater serving as the primary receiver. From what I’ve seen has good mechanics as a catcher, rarely gets shaken off in his pitch calls by the hurlers he’s receiving.
2027 Outlook : likely bumps up to Jersey Shore.
Macon Winslow - 21 years old (22 on 1/21/27) - 2026 6th round draft pick - University of North Carolina
2026 Stats : RH hitter - spent the majority of his time working at the complex in “draft camp” learning the regimen of pro baseball life and working on skills, strength and conditioning along with mental skills. Was activated with Clearwater on 7/30/26. Played in 19 games (85 PA’s) - .230/.329/.392 with a .721 OPS - 9 runs, 17 hits, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 15 RBIs, 9 walks, 22 strikeouts, 29 total bases. Defensively threw out 3 of 27 base stealers (11 %).
2026 Notes : is from Hertford, North Carolina - graduated from Perquimans County HS. Grew up on a sod farm, loves to hunt and fish. Was the #6 rated catcher in the country in HS and #1 in state of North Carolina. Two-time HS baseball state champion. Initially attended Duke and played 100 games there. Transferred to UNC for the 2026 season. MLB - “Winslow played two years at Duke before joining North Carolina and slashing .282/.417/.466 with 10 homers in 68 games for the College World Series runners-up. He has solid to plus bat speed and raw power to go with a strong arm, though his receiving skills needs improvement.”
2027 Outlook : likely returns to Clearwarer to begin the season.
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