I’ve entitled this series “Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes” and will break down the presentations into defensive categories. I intend to offer notes on every player I watched perform this past season that finished the 2022 season with the organization.
The initial set of articles was on catchers - we chatted about 18 receivers and posted three articles - done in alphabetical order. I will list below the article links to the catchers notes previously published if ya missed them.
The next group of articles is Infielders - I’ll discuss 40 different players broken down into five postings ( alphabetical order ) :
Group One : Matt Alifano, Alexeis Azuaje, Jamari Baylor, William Bergolla, Erick Brito, Johan Camargo,Ali Castillo, Chad Castillo - article posted 11/14/22 - link - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-14-22-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-infielders-part-one
Group Two : Aldrem Corredor, Aroon Escobar, Diego Gonzalez, Sal Gozzo, Jonathan Guzman, Darick Hall, Lou Helmig, Otto Kemp - article posted 11/15/22 - link - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-15-22-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-infielders-part-two
Group Three : Scott Kingery, Hao Yu Lee, Casey Martin, Nick Maton, Freylin Minyety, Cole Moore, Yairo Munoz, Josh Ockimey
Group Four : Nikau Pouaka-Grego, Ty Penner, Wendell Rijo, Bryan Rincon, Daniel Robertson, Jehisbert Sevilla, Kendall Simmons, Marco Soto
Group Five : Madison Stokes, McCarthy Tatum, Will Toffey, Nicolas Torres, Randy Vasquez, Kevin Vicuña, Uziel Viloria, Rixon Wingrove
So we continue - the third article in the series on infielders ⚾️🤓.
Scott Kingery - 28 years old - UTL - Birthdate : 4/29/94 - 2015 2nd round draft selection - University of Arizona - This Fan’s View - had a subpar statistical year and if that’s all you consider you would potentially dismiss his future projection. Kingery started the season in extended spring training working his way back from shoulder surgery and for the majority of the season at Lehigh Valley struggled to find consistency but the rust seemingly subsided mid summer and his on base percentages became respectable - he finished with a strong September both hitting and defensively at shortstop - I still remember the best player on the field in his Reading days and see glimpses of that player. - 2023 Projection - he should get a shot at earning a job in 2023 big league spring camp.
Hao Yu Lee - 19 years old - 2B/SS/3B - Birthdate : 2/3/03 - signed as an international free agent 6/15/21 - New Taipei, Taiwan - This Fan’s View - is a fun player to watch, his baseball instincts and IQ are very good and he can flat out rake ( right handed hitter ), we first saw Lee in 2021 FCL action - he’s got a quick swing that also generates plenty of bat speed to drive the baseball. The young man from Taiwan has a competitive fire and passion for the game that shines thru. He displays a lot of joy playing and from what we’ve seen has the skill set to continue the climb upwards. An injury set him back temporarily this past summer but when on the field he excelled, finishing the year at High A Jersey Shore. Defensively I think he’s capable of playing shortstop at the upper levels but I’d surmise that second base or even third base as perhaps truer possibilities - has the arm and hands to handle each spot. 2023 Projection - should continue to rise in 2023 - time at Reading certainly within reach, likely starts season with Jersey Shore.
Casey Martin - 23 years old - 2B/SS - Birthdate : 4/7/99 - 2020 3rd round draft selection - University of Arkansas - This Fan’s View - Casey suffered a season ending injury for the second year in a row in late August and spent Fall Instructs with the rehab team at the Complex, hopefully will be ready to go in spring camp. He is a very good defender at both shortstop and second base, excellent range at either position and strong arm - he played both spots with Jersey Shore this past summer. Offensively the swing gets long and he’s prone to strikeouts but he also showed the ability to drive the ball. Has decent speed - needs to shorten up swing and put the ball in play more - could lead to top of the order capabilities. 2023 Projection - might advance to Reading out of spring camp.
Nick Maton - 25 years old - UTL - Birthdate : 2/18/97 - 2017 7th round draft selection - Lincoln Land Community College - Illinois - This Fan’s View - There’s a big league skill set that we believe will eventually earn him a full time assignment in the show. Great attitude, tremendous energy and a team spark on whatever club he’s on. Nick played in 35 big league games in 2022 and posted a .341 OBP in 85 PA’s - he made 252 PA’s in the minors and recorded a .363 OBP. Defensively he added the outfield to his repertoire appearing in 20 big league games in corner spots. He’s not just energy, is a heady ball player with good bat to ball skills, a short and quick bat as a lefty hitter and a versatile defender - what’s not to like 🤓. 2023 Projection - in major league spring training with an opportunity to break camp with the big club, at the least provides depth if assigned to Lehigh Valley.
Freylin Minyety - 23 years old - INF - Birthdate : 10/22/99 - signed as an un-drafted free agent - 7/20/21 - Wabash Valley JC, Wabash Valley JC, IL - This Fan’s View - Played at three levels in 2022 ( CW, JS & Reading ) and garnered 329 plate appearances - numbers weren’t good offensively but I like his bat - we’ve seen the ability to hit the ball hard consistently and believe that will come to fruition - defensively has worked at both second and third base with a cameo in left field. 2023 Projection - likely starts the season with either Jersey Shore or Reading.
Cole Moore -23 years old - 1B - Birthdate : 6/14/99 - signed as an un-drafted free agent 7/31/22 - Dallas Baptist University - This Fan’s View - We saw Cole play in the Florida Complex League after he signed and in multiple practices at the complex - is a very good defender at first base, soft hands on throws, moves well and good range. He posted 41 plate appearances in 12 FCL games and hit 3 doubles and his first pro home run - 7 walks - .341 OBP. Joins Darrick Hall and Herbert Iser as active DBU alumni with the Phillies. We’ve seen a powerful left handed swing, a patient approach and perhaps the best mustache in the organization 🤓. 2023 Projection - will compete for a full season roster spot in spring training - CW or JS possibilities.
Yairo Munoz - 27 years old - UTL - Birthdate : 1/23/95 - signed as a minor league free agent 2/1/22 from the Red Sox - This Fan’s View - brings great energy to whatever team he’s with - played in 29 games with the Phillies appearing at 2B,3B, RF and LF - hit .310/.338/.437 in 292 plate appearances with Lehigh Valley. 2023 Projection - declared minor league free agency
Josh Ockimey - 27 years old - 1B/OF - Birthdate : 10/18/95 - signed as a minor league free agent 2/14/22 from the Red Sox - This Fan’s View - Josh grew up in Philadelphia and graduated from Neumann Goretti High School. His family was thrilled to see him be able to play at both Reading and Lehigh Valley - posted a strong OBP of .366 in 483 PA’s with 21 doubles, 17 home runs and 55 RBI’s - numbers that are consistent with his career numbers. Handled first base well defensively. 2023 Projection - declared minor league free agency.
Top then - left to right - Hao Yu Lee, Nick Maton, Yairo Munoz, Scott Kingery, Cole Moore, Josh Ockimey, Freylin Minyeti and Casey Martin - photos by Mark Wylie, George Youngs Jr and Cheryl Pursell
Prior Reports - Catchers :
Group 1 : Jack Conley, Arturo DeFreitas, Jordan Dissin, Vito Friscia, Herbert Iser and Ryan Leitch. - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-9-22-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-catchers
Group 2 : Rafael Marchan, Nick Matera, Adony Mejia, Andrik Nava, Rickardo Perez & Jackie Pertuz - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-10-22-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-catchers-part-two
Group 3 : Anthony Quirion, Caleb Ricketts, Leanardo Rondon, Donny Sands, Gustavo Sosa & Micah Yonamine - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-11-22-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-catchers-part-three
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