The minor leaguers are in between camps this week with High Performance Camp concluding this past Friday and Mini Camp not slated to start till next Monday so I did something I rarely do today - focus on the major league team - go figure 😎. It’s been my self made charter to write about the minor leaguers as the big club gets plenty of attention elsewhere. However it’s also my intention to watch Phillies baseball every day so when the developing players aren’t in action I am “forced” to watch the big leaguers 🤓.
Today we watched multiple pitchers throw bullpen sessions on the mounds by the half field in front of the stadium. Some were more extensive than others as a few of the fellas were just throwing limited sessions because they had done longer ones on Friday. Nick Nelson and Orion Kerkering threw limited sessions while we watched Griff McGarry, Dylan Covey, Jose Ruiz, Tyler McKay, McKinley Moore and Nick Snyder in more extended action. Snyder brings it - he’s noted as having the ability to throw his fastball with triple digit reads, reportedly sits 99 to 101 mph when going full tilt - from what we saw this morning he attacks on his deliveries - funny story about Snyder was that he was a shortstop in college ball and pitched a total of 2.2 innings as an amateur at Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, FL. He only took the mound in a blowout game, was seen by a scout for the Rangers and ultimately drafted as a pitcher. He did not pitch last season but was back on the bump today and looked to be letting it fly without any issues. Someone to perhaps keep an eye out for. Also spotted Connor Brogdon and Yunior Marte walking to and from the stadium locker room but we didn’t see them on the field.
We saw infielders Diego Castillo, Nick Podkul, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, Weston Wilson and William Simoneit take grounders on the half field. Castillo is noted as being a smooth fielder, particularly as a shortstop - in a small sample size view today he certainly seems to have good actions and soft hands.
Today’s Spotlight Player :
C/1B William Simoneit - 27 years old - selected in minor league Rule 5 Draft 12/6/23 from Oakland A’s organization
He was signed as an undrafted free agent on 6/22/20 by the Athletics from Wake Forest University. Last season at AA level Midland he hit .237/.326/.387 in 72 games and 289 plate appearances with 15 doubles, a triple, 7 home runs and 39 RBIs. He played mostly first base last season (342 innings) but also caught in 30 games (262 innings). Collegiately he spent three seasons with Cornell in the Ivy League, then played 2020 for Wake Forest.
William got here in early February and has been catching quite a few bullpens. He seems very interested in catching as many pitchers as possible - I observed the other day he switched over to catch Griff McGarry after working with Tyler McKay in a session where they were throwing side by side. McKay had finished and Simoneit asked the catcher who was receiving McGarry to let him catch a few pitches from McGarry also - it’s little things like that I see and think truly matter - catchers are field generals and need to know their pitchers - it’s cool that Simoneit coming from a different organization to here is working to learn the arsenal of as many pitchers as possible - good stuff. Today after catching bullpens he switched to his first baseman mitt and took grounders at first base as well as throws from infielders, even did a drill with LHV manager Anthony Contreras digging out low throws as the skipper hit them from a fungo bat from second base. Gotta like the fellas who work hard - it’s the only way to hone your skills.
BTW today is my wife Barb’s birthday - love of me life - even more than baseball 😎!
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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