11/4/26 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Pitchers - Part Sixteen
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 sixteen, highlighting the following :
Micah Ottenbreit
Brad Pacheco
Wen-Hui Pan
Jose Peña Jr
Adilson Peralta
RH Micah Ottenbreit - 23 years old (24 on 5/7/27) - drafted in 4th round of the 2021 draft from Trenton HS, Michigan
2026 Stats : began the season on the 60 day IL recovering from UCL surgery in July of 2025 - went on rehab assignment with the FCL Phillies 5/19 - two games - two IP, transferred to Clearwater 5/29 - 5 appearances - 9 IP. Activated by Jersey Shore 6/18 - made 14 relief appearances - 22.1 IP, 5.24 ERA, 28 K’s - 13 BB. Previously had been a starter - the surgery was his second - had TJ in 2023.
2026 Notes : is an intriguing prospect - general four pitch mix with a sinker that is in the 91-95 mph range, a curve, changeup and slider - will throw a four seamer on occasion. Is a well schooled pitcher, good mechanics which he repeats with seeming ease along with two plus deliveries (sinker & a high spin curve - comes out of his hand like a slurve - big break). Also has a cutter and change up. He’s an angular hurler at 6’4” who sequences his pitches well. Really nice young man from Michigan who had committed to Michigan State University before choosing to sign with the Phillies. He was a high school standout both on the mound and as a hitter earning all-state honors.
2027 Outlook : hopefully with elbow issues in his past can show the abilities that got him drafted - ideally as a starter - with a good spring camp might bump up to Reading to begin the season.
RH Brad Pacheco - 21 years old (22 on 6/9/27) - signed international free agent 5/18/23 - Bejuma, Venezuela
2026 Stats : appeared in 23 games (21 starts) posting 101.1 IP - all career highs - 4.00 ERA with 111 K’s and just 22 walks. Also made a September postseason start going 5.2 innings - 1 R, 3 H, 4 BB, 5 K’s. He had a stellar month of July - 1.23 ERA in four starts - 22 IP, 25 K’s, 2 walks. He went five innings or more in ten of his twelve starts from June thru August.
2026 Notes : the young man has a power arsenal with a fastball consistently in the 94-98 mph range which he couples with a slider, sinker, change up and new this year, a splitter. The slider has been his best secondary but the splitter became very effective as well. He’s a strike thrower with plus stuff whom we first saw on the backfields where he would often pop 100 mph (still flashes that) - has a chance to become a very good hurler going up the ladder with a target of performing in the show at some point in his future as he continues to progress.
Pitching Development Director Travis Hergert : “Pacheco has picked up three new pitches since his FCL season. A hard slider, a sweeper and halfway through the ’26 season he added a splitter. On top of his ability to throw strikes, he learned how to use his entire arsenal in order to limit damage and hard contact, as well as increase whiffs that lead to more strikeouts.”
2027 Outlook : likely breaks ST camp with Jersey Shore and will be one of the younger pitchers in the South Atlantic League.
RH Wen Hui-Pan - 24 years old (25 on 9/19/27) - signed international free agent 1/15/23 - Hualien, Taiwan
2026 Stats : began the year with the rehab team at the Complex - went on rehab assignment with the Clearwater Threshers on 4/22 - six appearances - 6.2 IP, 5.40 ERA, 14 K’s, 3 BB. Transferred to Jersey Shore 5/12 - was outstanding in nine appearances - 0.82 ERA, 11 IP, 13 K’s, 2 BB, 0.73 WHIP and .158 BAA. Promoted to Reading on 6/13 - 23 appearances in regular season - 23 IP, 3.52 ERA, 21 K’s, 9 walks. Made three postseason appearances (4 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 6 K’s). In his last 8 appearances of the season (including playoffs) he yielded no runs on just three hits in nine innings of work.
2026 Notes : has a three pitch mix, fastball (94 to 100 mph), splitter and slider. Easy motion, starts in the stretch, one side step, a rock and fire delivery. The fastball has great life and movement, can dominated hitters. He features the splitter as his top secondary. Highly regarded skill set. Was a clutch reliever in high impact innings for Reading in the second half of the season and in the playoffs. Has big league stuff and size at 6’3”.
2027 Outlook : could return to Reading for more innings else break camp with Lehigh Valley if deemed big league capable in spring camp.
RH Jose Pena Jr - 23 years old (24 on 7/8/27) - drafted in 6th round of the 2021 draft from Tampa Prep HS, FL
2026 Stats : put up strong numbers at Jersey Shore - 2.59 ERA in 19 games (24.1 IP) with 34 K’s and 13 BB, .136 BAA and 0.99 WHIP, 12.58 K/9 - however, walks were up - 4.81 BB/9. Went on the IL 6/22 (elbow) and never returned to game action. Was slated to pitch in the Arizona Fall League but was replaced as decision was to continue rehab work at the complex instead.
2026 Notes : is often used in inherited runners situations and more often than not leaves those runners stranded. He has a power curve/slider that is a swing and miss pitch - it is an out maker that compliments a 92-96 mph fastball. He’s a highly energetic young man who wears his emotions on his sleeve. Is a “spin master” as he gets great movement on his pitches - always has. When he throws strikes he can dominate and is a viable candidate to develop into a potential big league reliever.
Pitching Development Director Travis Hergert : “He has continued to gain velocity on his fastball that shows good ride/carry. His “curve ball” is more of a hard, downer slider. The key for him will be to develop a weapon vs right handed hitters. He’s working on a slider that can have a little more sweep over depth.”
2027 Outlook : if in good health could bump up to Reading out of spring camp.
RH Adilson Peralta - 23 years old (24 on 6/17/27) - signed international free agent 11/16/21 - Moca, Dominican Republic
2026 Stats : made 28 appearances for Jersey Shore totaling 32 IP - 6.47 ERA, 45 K’s, 21 BB, 12.66 K/9. Was outstanding in May - 6 appearances - 1.50 ERA with 9 K’s, 2 BB.
2026 Notes : showed a fastball (92-95 mph),slider and change-up as deliveries. Was a starter in the Dominican Summer League his first two seasons - pitched this season as a reliever in a one to two inning role - big frame, lean build at 6’4” - decent velocity and movement - solid mechanics. Provides versatility in how he can be used, has started, pitched bulk relief and one/two inning stints.
2027 Outlook : likely returns to Jersey Shore to begin the season.
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