The crack of the bat and baseballs popping the mitts were very welcome sounds today at Carpenter Complex as visitors were allowed in for the first time since March of 2020. About thirty or so fans made their way into the training facility to watch workouts of approximately sixty minor league players invited to a two week mini camp prior to the commencement of full blown minor league spring training in early March.
There are some restrictions in place as compared than the last time the complex welcomed fans, Covid concerns are still an issue so a few more barriers were in place to keep players, coaches and other Phillies personnel a safe distance from spectators. Autograph collecting is also not part of the present allowable protocol. It’s just smart to be cautious at this point, a safe return to normalcy in a step by step process is good practice.
You can still watch the baseball practices with clear views. Today we saw infielders take ground balls, outfielders do their drills, catchers throwing and at the end of the day’s practice pitchers throwing bullpens on the seven mounds in front of the David Montgomery Training Center.
Infielders were divided into positions for ground balls, Kendall Simmons and Nicolas Torres at third base, Bryson Stott, Jonathan Guzman and Casey Martin at shortstop, Erick Brito, Alexeis Azauje and Jamari Baylor at second base and Darick Hall and Randy Vasquez at first base as four coaches hit grounders simultaneously to each position.
Outfielders drilled on Roberts Field - Johan Rojas, Jordan Viars, Matt Kroon, Ethan Wilson, Yhoswar Garcia and Yemal Flores were in the group. Catchers we saw included Logan O’Hoppe, Vito Friscia, Nick Matera, Jackie Pertuz, Micah Yonamine and Herbert Iser.
Batting practice standouts today were the trio of Logan O’Hoppe, Vito Friscia and Nick Matera on Roberts Field as they took turns launching home runs over the left and left center field walls. Friscia was particularly impressive as he sent some absolute bombs into orbit. On Ashburn Field left handed hitter Darick Hall was crushing em as he launched multiple baseballs over the right and right center field fences putting the vehicles in the parking lot beyond those fences in jeopardy. I think one of the trucks was Darick’s own yet he showed no mercy in his drives. The ball was jumping loudly off his bat today !
It felt great to get back out and watch baseball at the Complex again, something we’ve sorely missed. It made for a great day.
Till tomorrow - Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
