11/6/26 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Pitchers - Part Eighteen
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 eighteen, highlighting the following :
Ruger Riojas
Luke Russo
Adam Seminaris
Deven Sheerin
Kirby Snead
RH Ruger Riojas - 23 years old (24 on 7/12/27) - 2026 3rd round draft pick - University of Texas
2026 Stats : did not pitch in a game after signing, instead worked at the complex in “draft camp” learning the regimen of pro baseball life and working on skills, strength and conditioning along with mental skills.
2026 Notes : is from Wimberley, Texas and graduated from Wimberley HS - Two-year letterman at Wimberley - Two-time All-State selection. Spent his first two collegiate seasons at UTSA - transferred to Texas for his junior year. Played two seasons at Texas - 2026 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll. MLB - “Riojas won 15 games in two years as a reliever at Texas-San Antonio before transferring to Texas, where he worked his way into the rotation by mid-2025. He was pitching himself toward the top three rounds before coming down with the flu and bronchitis, costing him 20 pounds and sapping his stuff as he surrendered 27 runs in 14 2/3 innings over his final starts. After going unselected last July, he emerged as one of the best senior prospects in the 2026 Draft. By regaining the weight he lost and adding another 10 pounds, Riojas boosted his four-seam fastball 2-3 mph to parking at 94-96 and peaking at 98 with carry. His heater has been unhittable at times when he has commanded it to both sides of the plate this spring. He uses a diving 82-85 mph splitter as his changeup and it has been just as untouchable. His upper-80s cutter can be a plus pitch at its best, and he also deploys a sweepier mid-80s slider and a low-80s curveball. Riojas will unleash four-seamers, curveballs, cutters and splitters from a high three-quarters arm slot, then mix in two-seamers and sliders from a lower angle. He pounds the zone with his entire arsenal, and all of his pitches save his slider elicit plenty of chases as well. The only real knocks on him are that he's not terribly deceptive and he'll turn 23 on Draft Day, but he's advanced enough to make his pro debut in Double-A and could help a big league rotation in a hurry.”
2027 Outlook : likely starts the season with Clearwater
RH Luke Russo - 25 years old (26 on 2/21/27) - drafted in 16th round of the 2023 draft from Eastern Michigan University
2026 Stats : posted a 11-8 record in 25 appearances (23 starts) totaling 121.1 IP - 4.30 ERA, 124 K’s, 51 walks, 9.2 K/9 and 3.78 BB/9 for Reading as a key cog in the rotation. Started a game in the championship series throwing five scoreless innings on five hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
2026 Notes : had a strong spring camp which earned a starting rotation assignment to Reading which is where he finished 2025. It was a season of opposite extremes for Luke - he ate up innings for Reading and generally pitched very well but had four “blowout” games where he yielded 23 earned runs in 16 IP. Digging into the data a bit further he had ten games (including the playoff game) where he gave up one run or less - in those games he pitched 46.2 innings and had an 1.34 ERA with 55 K’s and 15 walks. He had another three games where he pitched 18 innings yielding six runs with 5 walks and 16 K’s. So … in 13 of his 26 games he posted a 1.80 ERA with 77 K’s and 25 walks and in the other 13 an ERA of 6.57. It shows his capabilities but also the inconsistency - if he can become more consistent it’s his ticket upwards even perhaps to the major leagues. He’s a big fella at 6’4” - strong build - he will use a full mix of pitches and often pitch “backwards” leading with his slider with a sinker and change up, has a four seamer (91-95 mph, touches 96-97), cutter and curve ball.
2027 Outlook : in my opinion he’s ready to make the jump to Lehigh Valley
LH Adam Seminaris - 28 years old (29 on 10/19/27) - signed as free agent - 11/18/25 - was the 2020 5th round draft pick of the Angels - Long Beach State
2026 Stats : went 11-9 in 26 starts (138.1 IP) with a 4.03 ERA, 162 K’s and 30 BB for Reading - 10.54 K/9, 1.95 BB/9 and 5.40 K/BB ratio. Had pitched for Arkansas (Mariners system) in 2025 recording a 3.02 ERA in 125.1 IP. This year he had a 2.03 ERA five April starts, 3.24 ERA in five May starts, 2.31 ERA in four June starts and a 3.27 ERA in four July starts. The months of August and September weren’t as strong - 7.01 ERA in 8 starts.
2026 Notes : provided a stable anchor and veteran presence to the Reading pitching staff - was the 2020 fifth round draft selection of the Los Angeles Angels. He was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on 11/23/22 as part of a three player package to acquire outfielder Hunter Renfroe. The Brewers released him on 10/8/24 and he signed a one year free agent deal with the Mariners on 1/29/25. He’s from Chino Hills, California and graduated from Ayala HS. He’s a cross fire delivery pitcher who throws strikes - comes from a high three quarter arm slot. Has a four pitch mix - fastball will sit low nineties touching 93/94 mph with a curve, slider and changeup. Uses a deceptive delivery, a plus changeup and the ability to control/command the zone by pounding strikes as his repertoire. He reached the AAA level in 2022 and 2023 but pitched exclusively at the AA level in 2024 thru 2026. Is pitching winter ball in the Dominican Winter League.
2027 Outlook : free agent
RH Deven Sheerin - 21 years old (22 on 8/8/25) - 2026 4th round draft pick - Louisiana State University (LSU)
2026 Stats : did not pitch in a game after signing, instead worked at the complex in “draft camp” learning the regimen of pro baseball life and working on skills, strength and conditioning along with mental skills.
2026 Notes : is from Reading, PA and graduated from Exeter HS. Played both baseball and basketball at Exeter. Originally attended Mount St Mary’s after HS where he played one season - in his freshman season at Mount St. Mary’s - named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year and received first-team All-MAAC recognition, leading the league in strikeouts. Was a medical redshirt his first year at LSU. MLB - “Sheerin broke into college baseball by winning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year accolades and setting Mount St. Mary's records for strikeouts, strikeouts per nine innings and opponent average in 2024. One of the top transfers on the portal market that year, he moved to Louisiana State but tore an anterior cruciate ligament while playing basketball that summer and missed all of 2025 following left knee surgery. Hereturned in 2026 throwing three mph harder than he did as a freshman and some teams rate him as the best reliever available. Sheerin's fastball now sits at 95-97 mph and tops out at 100, exploding on hitters with carry and armside run. He does a nice job of throwing his tight mid-80s slider for strikes, though it doesn't miss as many bats as it should. He'll flash a low-80s curveball with depth and an upper-80s splitter, but he relies almost exclusively on his heater and slide piece. Sheerin has a 6-foot-5 frame and gets down the mound well, creating good extension, and his low arm slot and crossfire delivery provide plenty of deception. With his mechanics and effort, he's definitely a reliever. If he can upgrade his slider and fringy control, he could be a late-inning option as a pro.”
2027 Outlook : likely begins with Clearwater
LH Kirby Snead - 32 years old (33 on 10/7/27) - signed as free agent 5/16/27 - was the 2016 10th round draft pick of the Blue Jays - University of Florida
2026 Stats : posted a 2.76 ERA in 34 appearances (49 IP) with 47 K’s and 23 walks for Lehigh Valley. Had a 6-3 win/loss record.
2026 Notes : has appeared in 79 major league games (2021 to 2024) with the Blue Jays, A’s and Mariners. Prior to signing with the Phillies he last pitched in affiliated baseball in 2024 - in 2025 pitched in the Atlantic League for Staten Island. Is a sinker/slider/change up pitcher with the sinker in the 90-92 mph range. Was an innings eater for Lehigh Valley this summer seemingly going multiple innings in any game where he was needed - always took the ball without hesitation - very popular teammate - great personality.
2027 Outlook : free agent
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