Last off-season I started a different writing venture - rather than producing a hard copy version of what was an annual Phillies Minor League Digest I went with a new approach and posted a series of articles on the webpage instead. A large portion of the digest was my player notes - views that are not entirely built upon seasonal or short term stats - while I referenced them I relied more upon my observations and feedback from players and coaches.
This off-season we continue the series “Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes”with profiles presented in groupings by defensive positions. I intend to offer notes on every stateside player I watched perform this past season that finished the 2023 season with the organization. I can attest that I actually watched most every Phillies minor league game each evening, attended practices and interacted with a vast amount of players, coaches, scouts and front office folks. Recently I sent a couple questions to the players - asked them what was their biggest personal takeaway from the 2023 season and what they are focusing on this off-season to prepare for 2024. Where I have responses I will include them in the notes. Also where I’m able I will include feedback from coaches and player development leadership.
The initial set of twenty articles were on the pitchers - if you missed them here’s a link to article 20, it contains within it links to the other 19 pitcher’s articles - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-17-23-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-pitchers-part-twenty.
The second set was four articles on the catchers - - if you missed them here’s a link to article 4, it contains within it links to the other 3 catcher’s articles - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-21-23-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-catchers-part-four
We now present notes on infielders in eight groups of as listed below.
Today we focus on group five of the infielders.
Group Five : Pedro Martinez, Aidan Miller, Freylin Minyety, Cole Moore, Nick Podkul
Link to previous infielders articles :
Group One : Keaton Anthony, Zach Arnold, Pierce Bennett, William Bergolla, Erick Brito - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-22-23-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-infielders-part-one
Group Two : Chad Castillo, Kody Clemens, Oliver Dunn, Drew Ellis, Trent Farquhar - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-23-23-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-infielders-part-two
Group Three : Wilfredo Flores, Diego Gonzalez, Jim Haley, Darick Hall, Lou Helmig - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-24-23-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-infielders-part-three
Group Four : Otto Kemp, Scott Kingery, Dakota Kotowski, Matt Kroon, Casey Martin - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-25-23-annual-phillies-minor-league-player-notes-infielders-part-four
The following players will be discussed in future articles :
Group Six : Nikau Pouaka-Grego, Marco Soto, Ty Penner, Esteban Quiroz, Felix Reyes
Group Seven : Bryan Rincon, Devin Saltiban, Jehisbert Sevilla, Kendall Simmons, Madison Stokes
Group Eight : Will Toffey, Nick Ward, Bryson Ware, Weston Wilson, Rixon Wingrove
So we continue - the fifth article in the 2023 series on infielders ⚾️🤓.
SS,3B - Pedro Martinez - 22 years old - selected in minor league rule 5 draft 12/7/22 from Rays organization
2023 Stats : A switch hitter who had a .226/.313/.347 slash line in 214 plate appearances (FCL Phillies - 9 games - rehab, Reading - 53 games) with 6 doubles, a triple, 5 home runs and 20 RBIs, 20 walks and 8 stolen bases in 9 attempts. .184/.265/.282 slash line at Reading in 181 plate appearances. Defensively saw action at shortstop (.969 fielding percentage in 96 chances), second base (.972 fielding percentage in 36 chances) and third base (.980 fielding percentage in 50 chances).
2023 Notes : went on the IL on 5/1/23 with an oblique strain and didn’t return to Reading roster till 7/14/23. Has a great personality, uplifting sense of humor. Would come watch FCL games alongside us during his rehab at the complex. Had a strong spring training camp, can swing the bat which numbers don’t reflect but has quick hands with decent bat to ball skills. Consistency in approach has been a struggle. Good athletic skills, was relatively young for the AA level, that coupled with the injuries made for a down season, one to learn from.
2024 Projection : in the mix for a return to Reading
SS - Aidan Miller - 19 years old - drafted in 1st round of the 2023 draft from Mitchell HS , New Port Richey, FL
2023 Stats : played in 10 FCL games (36 PA’s) and posted a .414/.528/.483 slash line for an OPS of 1.011. He hit two doubles, drove in a couple runs and walked six times. Was promoted to the Clearwater Threshers on 8/24/23 and recorded a .341 on base percentage there in 44 plate appearances with 8 hits and 6 walks. Defensively posted a .885 fielding percentage in 52 chances. Had an outstanding Florida State League playoff and championship appearance going 8 for 23 (.348) with a triple, home run (his first as a pro) and four RBIs in six games.
2023 Notes : He’s a well built young man who can drive the baseball to all fields as a right handed hitter, in batting practices we saw him take pitches on the outside part of the plate to the right side of the diamond repeatedly. He’s also capable of turning on pitches as well as driving the ball to the gaps. He quickly adjusts his swing path and gets thru the baseball. Defensively has a strong arm at shortstop and good instincts, he’s got the bat to succeed wherever he plays. One can’t help but like what we’ve seen, looks like a big leaguer in the making.
Aidan’s reflections : “Biggest takeaway for me was getting used to the speed of the game and learning how to get comfortable. I’m going to focus this off-season on getting stronger and faster.”
2024 Projection : a lineup regular for the Clearwater Threshers out of spring camp.
UTL - Freylin Minyety - 24 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent 7/20/21 - Wabash Valley Junior College, IL
2023 Stats : played in 57 games with Clearwater and Jersey Shore combining the two for a .258/.344/.307 slash line in 191 plate appearances with 8 doubles, 19 RBIs and 20 walks. Hit .310/.374/.356 at Clearwater in 101 plate appearances with 4 doubles and 4 RBIs. Defensively played mostly third base (.942 fielding percentage in 86 chances) but also saw time at second base (.943 fielding percentage in 35 chances) and left field (one game).
2023 Notes : Freylin has good bat to ball skills (right handed hitter), ability to hit the ball hard consistently. Will always give a professional at bat and defensive effort. Has leadership qualities, great teammate. Plays hard and is a gamer, strong baseball acumen. When playing days are over could be a really good coach.
Freylin’s reflections : “My biggest takeaway was that you need to be ready all the time, that if you worry about helping the team first it will make the job easier. My focus this off season is to get in better shape, get stronger, faster, and hit the ball hard to the entire field.”
2024 Projection : in the mix for a AA level roster spot.
1B - Cole Moore - 24 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent 7/31/22 - Dallas Baptist University
2023 Stats : played in 59 games with Clearwater and Jersey Shore - .237/.346/.374 slash line in 228 plate appearances with 12 doubles, 4 home runs and 19 RBIs, 34 walks - .720 OPS. Had an outstanding month of July - .372/.460/.628 slash lime with an 1.088 OPS in 49 plate appearances with 5 doubles, 2 home runs and 7 walks. Defensively had a .995 fielding percentage in 382 chances.
2023 Notes : very good defensive skills. Has raw power as a left handed hitter and the best mustache in the system, will work counts and take walks. Began the year in extended spring training, promoted to Threshers on 4/12/23 - went on IL from 4/25/23 till 5/16/23 - was promoted to Jersey Shore on 8/21/23.
Cole’s reflections : “My biggest takeaway this season was learning how to manage my time before games. We had a lot of down time before games when we weren’t hitting or doing fielding work. So I learned how to manage that time well with stretching, taking more swings, or extra fielding work if needed. This off season I am focusing on my work in the gym with building strength and continuing to stay flexible. I will also continue to work on my swing and fielding.”
2024 Projection : likely opens the season with Jersey Shore.
1B,3B - Nick Podkul - 26 years old - signed as a minor league free agent 12/17/22 from Jays organization
2023 Stats : hit .285/.396/.588 with a .984 OBP at Reading with 8 doubles, 3 triples, 12 home runs and 35 RBIs. Was promoted to Lehigh Valley in July - in 34 plate appearances for the IronPigs hit .280/.471/.560 with a 1.031 OBP - 2 home runs, 5 RBIs and 5 walks. Had a 1.000 fielding percentage for the season at first base in 183 chances and a .923 fielding percentage at third base in 39 chances.
2023 Notes : suffered a season ending injury on 7/28/23 when he was hit in the face by a pitch and incurred multiple facial fractures. He has since recovered and is signed to play the 2024 season with the Phillies organization. We first got to chat with Nick in spring training, very upbeat and welcoming personality. Can swing the bat with power and for average, opened the season with Reading on the development list but once activated had strong months of April, May and June which earned a promotion to Lehigh Valley on 7/14/23. Nick is solid defensively, played mostly second base in college but has been a corner infielder as a professional. Good all around baseball player.
Nick’s reflections : I asked Nick how he was doing after the incident and subsequent recovery - “Hey Steve, yes I am doing great. Biggest takeaway from 2023 is probably to play every game like it’s your last. Being in a scary situation like I was reminded me how quick the game could be taken away from you. During the off season, I am going to focus on increasing my bat speed to raise my exit velo and homerun totals.”
2024 Projection : on the Lehigh Valley roster as a corner infielder.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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