11/7/26 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Pitchers - Part Nineteen
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 nineteen, highlighting the following :
Casey Steward
Levi Stoudt
Brendan Sweeney
James Tallon
Saul Teran
RH Casey Steward - 25 years old (26 on 8/2/27) - drafted in 19th round of the 2023 draft from Washburn University, KS
2026 Stats : did not pitch in a game during the season - had TJ surgery in March and spent the summer working with the rehab team at the complex in Clearwater.
2026 Notes : struggled in 2025 at Jersey Shore as a starter and converted to the bullpen on 8/22 where he performed well in six appearances to end the season. However elbow pain was incurred and TJ surgery was required. When healthy has an upper nineties fastball which plays stronger as a reliever. Features a four seam fastball (sits 94-96, reaches 98), slider,change up and cutter. He’s a diligent worker and battler on the mound. Casey graduated from East High School in Wichita, Kansas where he lettered three years in baseball. As a freshman at Washburn University he redshirted - named to the MIAA (Mid Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association) Academic Honor Roll which is an honor he earned all four years as a student - in his last two years there he earned MIAA Scholar Athlete honors majoring in Kinesiology. He is a twin, his brother Calvin was also on the Washburn baseball team. He’s got a quiet demeanor but a big presence both physically (6’5”) and as a pitcher. I have always believed he’s got the talent, smarts and makeup to pitch in the major leagues - nothing has changed my mind in that regard,the injury is just a temporary setback. This young man is a winner and will succeed.
2027 Outlook : hopefully at some point in the season will return to game action.
RH Levi Stoudt - 28 years old (29 on 12/4/27) - signed as free agent 12/17/25 - was the Mariners 2019 3rd round draft pick - Lehigh
2026 Stats : opened the season with Reading and had great success - 10 appearances - 11.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 12 K’s, 7 BB, .128 BAA. Promoted to Lehigh Valley on 5/12 - continued to excel - 7 appearances - 0.00 ERA, 11 IP, 11 K’s, 2 BB, 0.55 WHIP, .108 BAA. Went on the IL 6/14 - transferred to full season IL 7/24 - forearm injury.
2026 Notes : was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 3rd round of the 2019 draft from Lehigh University. He had TJ surgery in 2019 and didn’t pitch in a game till 2021. Is from Pennsburg, PA and graduated from the Perkiomen School where he was part of four league championship teams. Stoudt was traded to the Reds on 7/30/22 in the Luis Castillo trade. He was in the Reds organization till 2/17/24 when the Mariners re-claimed him off waivers - the Orioles claimed him off waivers on 6/13/24 and he was with their organization till being released on 8/4/25. He has pitched in four major league games (two starts) - all in 2023 with the Reds - he threw 10.1 innings. His fastball sits 94-97 but frequently touches 98-99 mph which he couples with a change up (splitter) - also throws a slider and curveball.
2027 Outlook : free agent - signed with the Tampa Rays
RH Brendan Sweeney - 22 years old (23 on 12/23/26) - signed as an un-drafted free agent - 7/24/26 - Mississippi State
2026 Stats : spent the majority of his time after signing working in draft camp at the Complex - transferred to Clearwater 8/26 - three appearances (4 IP), 4.50 ERA, 5 K’s, 2 BB.
2026 Notes : is from Edmond, Oklahoma and graduated from Edmond North High School. He’s 6’7”. Brendan originally attended the University of South Carolina before transferring to Mississippi State for the 2026 season. He appeared in 36 games in his two year division one collegiate career - all but three as a reliever. Prior to attending South Carolina he played at Eastern Oklahoma State and then Blinn College in Texas where he was a member of the 2024 NJCAA National Championship team. Pitched for the Williamsport CrossCutters in the MLB draft league where he put up dominant numbers. He features a mid nineties (93-96 mph) fastball, low spin change up and cutter.
2027 Outlook : likely returns to Clearwater to begin the season.
LH James Tallon - 23 years old (24 on 9/29/27) - drafted in 6th round of the 2025 draft from Duke University
2026 Stats : made 26 appearances (30 IP) with a 7.68 ERA, 37 K’s and 29 walks - excessively high 8.70 BB/9 but an impressive 11.10 K/9.
2026 Notes : began the season on the IL and just never got untracked - showed flashes of what he might become but battled both command & control in many outings. He is from Arlington, Virginia and graduated from Yorktown High School. Is 6’5” and throws from a low slot - features a four seam fastball in the 91-95 mph range, touched 96 with a slider and change-up as secondary pitches.
2027 Outlook : likely returns to Clearwater.
RH Saul Teran - 24 years old (25 on 3/20/27) - signed international free agent 2/2/21 - Caracas, Venezuela
2026 Stats : made 29 appearances (40 IP) at Reading with a 6.98 ERA, 37 K’s, 16 BB, .315 BAA and 1.73 WHIP - was transferred to Jersey Shore 9/1 - pitched in two games (4 IP) dominating with 9 K’s and no walks without yielding a run.
2026 Notes : features a slider, four seam fastball (sits 92 to 95 mph, touches 96) and also throws a sinker. He is a very athletic pitcher - slider is a swing and miss delivery with sharp break and action, when he’s on with it is perhaps the best slider in the player development group. He struggled finding the same rhythm that he had in prior years, strike quality waned. Had a very successful 2025 campaign primarily at the A level (overall 1.30 ERA in 40 games - 44 IP) - it didn’t translate at the same success at AA this year. No worries, development isn’t always linear - he’s pitching this winter in the Venezuelan Winter League and will look to bounce back next summer.
2027 Outlook : likely returns to Reading to begin the year
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