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. The next group was on Infielders - we chronicled 40 different players broken down into five postings. I will list below the article links to the catchers and infielders notes previously published if ya missed them.
The next group of articles is Outfielders - I’ll discuss 36 different players broken down into five postings ( alphabetical order ) :
Group One : Jorge Bonifacio, Emaarion Boyd, Chris Burke, Jared Carr, Justin Crawford, Carlos De La Cruz, Jefferson Encarnacion - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-21-22-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-outfielders-part-one
Group Two : Ezra Farmer, Cade Fergus, Yemal Flores, Wilfredo Flores, Jorge Garcia, Yhoswar Garcia, Dalton Guthrie, Darium Gutierrez - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-22-22-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-outfielders-part-two
Group Three : Raylin Heredia, Dakota Kotowski, Matt Kroon, Marcus Lee Sang, Simon Muzziotti, Jhailyn Ortiz, Jerffson Pena
Group Four : Dustin Peterson, Leandro Pineda, Baron Radcliff, Felix Reyes, Gabriel Rincones Jr, Albert Rodriquez, Johan Rojas
Group Five : Ricardo Rosario, Troy Schreffler, Chris Sharpe, Gavin Tonkel, Jordan Viars, Justin Williams, Ethan Wilson
So we continue - the third article in the series on outfielders - note that speed will be a predominant theme when discussing the outfielders ⚾️🤓.
Raylin Heredia - 19 years old - Birthdate : 11/10/03 - signed as an international free agent 2/2/21 - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - This Fan’s View - was outstanding in the playoffs for Phillies White in their run for the league championship. He hit .417 with a .481 OBP and .667 slugging percentage in 6 games ( 27 PA’s ). He recorded a .332 OBP in the regular season in 190 PA’s with 16 doubles, 5 triples, 2 home runs and 33 RBIs. We saw him briefly in Fall Instructs and via live stream feeds of DSL games. From what we’ve seen has very good bat to ball skills, drives the ball well and has decent speed. 2023 Projection - likely comes stateside for extended spring training and FCL play.
Dakota Kotowski - 22 years old - Birthdate : 3/26/00 - signed 7/25/22 as an un-drafted free agent - Missouri State Jniversity - This Fan’s View - hit .306 with a .377 OBP with 4 doubles, a triple and 2 home runs in 20 games ( 69 PA’s ) for Clearwater and the FCL Phillies ( 11 games - FCL/ 9 games CW ) after signing. He hit 44 home runs including 24 during his senior season in college. Played for Williamsport in the Draft League after graduating. An imposing hitter at 6’5” - is a prototypical home run hitter, powerful swing who will strike out quite a bit. Saw action at both 1B and RF in his first 20 pro games - moves well for a big fella - decent arm. Fun to watch in BP - balls fly over the fences. 2023 Projection - a spot with Jersey Shore out of camp is very possible.
Matt Kroon - 25 years old - Birthdate : 12/5/96 - 2018 18th round draft selection - Oklahoma State University - This Fan’s View - Matt broke 2022 spring camp with Reading but went on the injured list for the second year in a row, this time with a knee injury in the second game of the season which required surgery and ended his season on April 10th - he had a very strong spring camp and got notice from the big league staff by his play both in mini camp and in spring games where he hit 2 home runs in 7 Grapefruit League AB’s. In 2021 he moved to center field and the lead off spot in the batting order with Reading - hit .301 with a .361 OBP in 181 PA’s, missing two months of action from mid May to mid July with a shoulder contusion. Matt has good wheels, generates strong bat speed and can drive the baseball beyond the fences, after initially playing infield in his pro career he’s become a decent defensive outfielder. We saw him this summer at the Complex working his way back with the rehab group - is progressing towards a 2023 return. 2023 Projection - when cleared to play we think he’s ready to take on AAA level pitching.
Marcus Lee Sang - 21 years old - Birthdate : 1/2/01 - 2019 11th round draft selection - Northern High School, Owings, MD - This Fan’s View - has major league level bat speed which generates both home run power and the ability to drive the ball into gaps. He’s a good finisher, gets the barrel thru the baseball. Played most of 2022 with the Clearwater Threshers - was promoted to High A Jersey Shore on 8/1 - finished the season with a .337 OBP with 14 doubles, 2 triples and 11 home runs in 413 PA’s - 19 stolen bases. Defensively plays all three outfield positions well, good jumps and reads and strong, accurate throwing arm. Good looking player - left handed hitter and thrower. 2023 Projection - likely returns to High A Jersey Shore to open the season.
Simon Muzziotti - 23 years old - Birthdate : 12/27/98 - signed as an international free agent - 7/5/16 - Cumana, Venezuela - This Fan’s View - made his major league debut with the Phillies in April ( played in 3 games ) - Suffered a lower leg injury which sidelined him for most of the 2022 minor league season - played in 46 games ( primarily with Reading ) - finished the year with Lehigh Valley ( 5 games ). We saw him at the Complex in October working his way back into form for the 2023 season. Simon is an old school prototype leadoff hitter with the exception of drawing walks, he generally puts the ball in play and has very good speed - isn’t necessarily a power bat but can drive the ball out of the yard on occasion. He’s a very good defensive outfielder, primarily in center field - big league caliber in that regard. 2023 Projection - should be an outfield regular with Lehigh Valley coming out of spring camp.
Jhailyn Ortiz - 24 years old - Birthdate : 11/18/98 - signed as an international free agent - 7/10/15 - Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic - This Fan’s View - Jhailyn followed up a 23 home run output in 2021 ( JS and Reading ) with 17 dingers in 2022 with AA level Reading plus hit 3 more homers in the Arizona Fall League. He hit 25 doubles with Reading which was a career high. This past season was his first full year at the AA level and as a member of the 40 man roster. Pitch recognition and reaction has been a limitation to date for Jhailyn in his career, initially a vision issue hampered him but that’s been corrected, now it’s a matter of adjustment, it’s still a struggle at times - in particular low and away breakers. He can crush middle in fastballs and has prestigious power - that’s always been evident from our early days of watching him soar long drives into the trees beyond the left field fence on Roberts Field. Defensively he’s got a big league arm, can throw the ball extremely well and loves the challenge to show it off. He moves quite well for a big fella and can play all three outfield positions however center field is not a likely higher level position. Very bright smile and always cordial - likable young man and by all accounts a great teammate. 2023 Projection - could bump up to AAA Lehigh Valley out of spring training camp.
Jerffson Pena - 18 years old - Birthdate 12/16/03 - signed 11/16/21 as an international free agent - Montecristi, Dominican Republic - This Fan’s View - posted a .360 OBP with Phillies Red in 2022 DSL play - 7 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs in 186 PA’s - 20 stolen bases - left handed hitter - right handed thrower. We saw him via live stream game feeds - has shown athleticism playing primarily center field - he seems to have an all around tool set that should bode well for his advancement. Good size at 6’2” - a frame to build upon. 2023 Projection - could come stateside but another full season of DSL play is likely the plan.
Top to bottom - left to right - Raylin Heredia, Simon Muzziotti, Jerffson Pena, Matt Kroon, Jhailyn Ortiz ( center ), Marcus Lee Sang, Dakota Kotowski - photos by Mark Wylie & George Youngs Jr
Prior Reports - Catchers & Infielders :
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
Infielders :
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 - article posted 11/16/22 - link - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-16-22-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-infielders-part-three
Group Four : Nikau Pouaka-Grego, Ty Penner, Wendell Rijo, Brian Rincon, Daniel Robertson, Jehisbert Sevilla, Kendall Simmons, Marco Soto - article posted 11/17/22 - link - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-17-22-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-infielders-part-four
Group Five : Madison Stokes, McCarthy Tatum, Will Toffey, Nicolas Torres, Randy Vasquez, Kevin Vicuña, Uziel Viloria, Rixon Wingrove - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-18-22-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-infielders-part-five
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