11/3/26 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Pitchers - Part Fifteen
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 five players per article. Here is pitchers - part fifteen, highlighting the following :
Wesley Moore
MT Morrissey
Anderson Navas
Mitch Neunborn
Cade Obermueller
LH Wesley Moore - 27 years old (28 on 9/5/27) - signed as an un-drafted free agent 11/9/22 - Kansas State
2026 Stats : appeared in just one game with Reading - one IP - one run, hit batter, two walks and a strikeout. Placed on IL 5/2 - transferred to full season IL 6/16/26
2026 Notes : had TJ surgery in June - missed the season - now in rehab mode. When healthy features a sinking fastball (sits in the 92 to 94 mph range), curve and changeup with the change being a plus pitch, it is a swing and miss delivery. He has very good speed differential with the change-up off the fastball. His release point and arm speed are usually aligned on all of his pitches, hides the ball, making it difficult to distinguish the various pitches out of his hand.
2027 Outlook : will work with rehab team to push his way back to active play.
RH MT Morrissey - 24 years old (25 on 12/11/26) - signed as an un-drafted free agent - 12/18/25 - New Jersey Institute of Technology
2026 Stats : appeared in 25 games (40 IP) posting a 4-2 record and 4.50 ERA with 42 K’s and 30 walks for the Clearwater Threshers in his first pro season. Was outstanding in April - 0.66 ERA in 5 games (13.1 IP) with 15 K’s, 7 walks. Struggled in both May and June but then excelled in his last 8 appearances in July & August (8 games - 9 IP) posting a 0.00 ERA with 8 K’s and 5 walks.
2026 Notes : graduated from Portsmouth High School in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He initially attended Georgetown University after high school before transferring to Bryant and then on to NJIT. Prior to signing with the Phillies he pitched for Trenton in the 2025 MLB Draft League. Throws a fastball (90-95 mph - touched 98), splitter (change up), slider and cutter. His fastball has been described as having good shape with positive release traits - one that can play at the pro level. His control waned (6.75 BB/9) this summer but also showed strikeout capabilities (9.45 K/9).
2027 Outlook : will be in the mix for a bump up to Jersey Shore.
RH Anderson Navas - 19 years old (20 on 2/16/27) - signed as an international free agent - 1/15/24 - Venezuela
2026 Stats : made 11 appearances (15.1 IP) with the FCL Phillies posting a 5.87 ERA with 11 K’s and 14 walks in his first endeavor as a pitcher. Finished the year well - in his last 8 appearances posted a 2.18 ERA in 12.1 IP. In the first two years of his career (2024 & 2025) he was a catcher/first baseman playing in 90 DSL games posting a .218 BA in 330 AB’s.
2026 Notes : was signed as a catcher but converted to pitching last fall (2025) at the Dominican Academy and then was brought stateside for his pro pitching debut. Has a big arm - fast ball in the 93-99 mph range - can reach 100, slider, sinker and change up. Controlling the strike throwing and then commanding the zone are priorities to move upwards as a hurler. Works hard and is very coachable - if can harness the zone has the ability to throw it by hitters.
2027 Outlook : likely returns to the FCL for more pitching experience.
RH Mitch Neunborn - 29 years old (30 on 6/27/27) - signed as international free agent 6/5/23 - Australia
2026 Stats : began the year on the IL - made 7 rehab appearances (two in FCL - 2 IP, 3 with Jersey Shore - 3 IP and 2 with Reading - 2.2 IP) before returning to Lehigh Valley on 6/10/26 - pitched in 21 games with the IronPigs - 3.16 ERA in 25.2 IP - 21 K’s and 19 walks. Finished the year strong posting a 1.42 ERA in six September appearances (6.1 IP). It was his second stint at Lehigh Valley - made 8 starts (30.2 IP) there in 2025.
2026 Notes : FB in the 89-93 mph range, slider and splitter. Throws his splitter with a vulcan grip between his ring and index finger, reduction in velocity and downward movement, will throw it often. He pitched collegiate baseball for Phillies Minor League Pitching Director Travis Hergert at North Iowa Community College. Was born in South Africa - pitched for years in the Australian Baseball League (2018 to 2023) as a stalwart back end member of the bullpen - key member of the 2023 Adelaide Giants championship team. Can either start or relieve - ability to eat up innings - this year was used as a one to two inning reliever.
2027 Outlook : is rule 5 eligible - likely returns to Lehigh Valley in same role as this past season.
LH Cade Obermueller - 23 years old (24 on 7/28/27) - drafted in 2nd round of the 2025 draft from University of Iowa
2026 Stats : began the year on the IL with an unspecified illness - activated 5/23 by Clearwater - made 11 starts - 35.2 IP - 2.78 ERA, 55 K’s, 18 walks. Promoted to Jersey Shore 7/27 - 7 starts - 22.1 IP, 9.67 ERA, 28 K’s, 26 BB. Overall numbers - 18 starts - 58 IP, 5.43 ERA, 83 K’s, 44 walks.
2026 Notes : pitched well in Clearwater but had real difficulty throwing strikes after being promoted to Jersey Shore - BB/9 went from a too high 4.54 at Clearwater to an extremely high 10.48 with the BlueClaws. He works from a low arm slot featuring a sinker (sits 91-95 mph, touched 96-97). Secondaries include a sweeping horizontal break slider and change up. He was drafted by the Rangers in the 19th round of the 2024 draft but chose to return to Iowa for another season. Is from Iowa City, Iowa and was an all-state honoree. His father Wes pitched in the major leagues for Kansas City, Milwaukee and the Florida Marlins from 2002 to 2007. Cade runs a pitching academy (Obermueller Pitching Development) with his dad in Iowa City during the off-season.
2027 Outlook : a return to Jersey Shore to start the season is likely with a developmental plan to help him address his pitch control issues.
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