Major League Camp Activity :
The major league team reported at 8:30, on field activities began at 10 and practice finished at around 12:30. There were five pitchers who threw live bullpen sessions ( two on Ashburn and three on Roberts ). Bailey Falter, Matt Strahm, Ranger Suarez & Taijuan Walker each threw side bullpens ( on the seven mounds in front of the Montgomery Building ).
Major League Camp Pitchers who threw live bullpens :
Aaron Nola, Connor Brogdon, Andrew Bellatti, Andrew Vasquez & McKinley Moore.
My observations :
Darick Hall got two AB’s in the live bullpen sessions on Roberts Field and made them both count - he drove a Connor Brogdon delivery over the right field fence and later a Andrew Vasquez slider well over the right center field fence - one against a right-hander and one against a left-hander. 👏💪.
Bryson Stott homered against Aaron Nola on Ashburn Field. Simon Muzziotti had two opposite field doubles, one to left center and the other down the left field line.
The pitchers got their work in which is most important at this juncture in camp - but it’s also fun to see some hitters thump the ball. As Matt Gelb of the Athletic noted on twitter Vasquez makes a hissing sound every time he delivers a pitch - I kept looking around for an snake or something to jump out at me 🤦♂️ - he threw almost 100 % sliders in his session - a bit of a quirky delivery - comes from behind his back with his arm as a lefty from about a three quarter slot.
Johan Rojas was in camp today and participated in the live BP sessions. As far as I know all the position players invited to big league camp are now here.
Darick Hall facing Connor Brogdon - Aramis Garcia catching
Today’s Minor League Camp activities :
Thirteen pitchers threw afternoon bullpen sessions on the seven mounds area in from of the David Montgomery Training Center while the other pitchers in camp went thru PFP’s ( Pitcher’s Fielding Practices ) on Schmidt Field including separate drills on holding runners and getting acclimated to the pitch clock.
Position players were divided into five groups and each group went thru run prevention defensive drills, base running practice and batting practice - BP included game simulated situational hitting.
New Arrival :
Nick Ward has arrived - he’s playing for Team England in the WBC and has joined mini camp to get a jump on things - Nick is coming off a very strong Australian Baseball League season where he played for the league champion Adelaide Giants.
Minor League Pitchers who threw bullpens :
Josh Bortka, Tristan Garnett, Cristian Hernandez, Orion Kerkering, Zach Lingenfelter, Gunner Mayer, Tommy McCollum, Alex McFarlane, Yoniel Ramirez, Alex Rao, Matt Russell, Rodolfo Sanchez & Brett Schulze
Alex McFarlane had coaches and Player Development folks and his catcher Anthony Quirion oohing and awing in his session - he was getting really good movement and location on what I believe is a relatively new offering for him - a two seam fastball that had both cut and sink to it. In addition he threw a four seamer, slider and changeup - easy delivery and ball pops - impressive outing.
This is a pitching rich system - from my view Cristian Hernandez, Orion Kerkering, Tristan Garnett & Tommy McCollum once again today showed really good stuff and Rodolfo Sanchez, Matt Russell & Brett Schulze hit locations consistently, had good pop and command of their secondaries. Protecting the Standard well on display in todays pen session.
Bullpen session - Brett Schulze delivers to Adony Mejia
Minor League Batting Practice :
Regular BP today ( coaches throwing ) - I focused on two players - 20 year old outfielder Gavin Tonkel ( 2021 9th round draft selection - Heritage HS - Brentwood, CA ) had a solid round of BP spraying line drives both on the pull side ( RH hitter ) and the opposite way. He appears to have added muscle to his frame - Gavin was on the IL most of last season after literally hitting a pole in an extended spring training game in Tampa against the Yankees - great to see him back on the field with no apparent issues.
Catcher Rickardo Perez ( 19 years old - signed 2/2/21 as an international free agent from Valencia, Venezuela ) has the old baseball description of “a pretty left handed swing” - he also had a good round of BP today showcasing power to the pull side - swing seems effortless and ball jumps off the bat - good stuff.
Gavin Tonkel BP
Just for Fun : Updated List - Former Phillies players and coaches now in American League organizations - will share National League later this week
American League :
Baltimore Orioles :
40 man roster - RHP Kyle Gibson, LHP Cole Irvin
Minor League Non Roster Invites - RHP Ofreidy Gomez
Minor Leagues : RHP Tyler Burch
New York Yankees :
40 man roster - RHP Jimmy Cordero
Minor League Non Roster Invites - RHP James Norwood, C Rodolfo Duran
Minor Leagues : RHP Michael Gomez, 1B TJ Rumfield, LHP Joel Valdez
Toronto Blue Jays :
40 man roster - none
Minor League Non Roster Invites - RHP Drew Hutchinson, C Rob Brantley
Minor Leagues : none
Boston Red Sox :
40 man roster - LHP Joely Rodriquez, RHP Nick Pivetta
Minor League Non Roster Invites - RHP Victor Santos, C Jorge Alfaro, LHP Ryan Sherriff
Minor Leagues : Director of Hitting - Jason Ochart
Tampa Rays :
40 man roster - LHP Garrett Cleavinger, RHP Zach Eflin, C Christian Bethancourt, INF Curtis Mead
Minor League Non Roster Invites - RHP Heath Hembree, RHP Trevor Kelley, INF Daniel Robertson
Minor Leagues : none
Cleveland Guardians :
40 man roster - RHP Enyel De Los Santos
Minor League Non Roster Invites - RHP Michael Kelly, OF Roman Quinn
Minor Leagues : LHP Anthony Gose, Mgr Andy Tracy ( AAA ), C Tyler Heineman
Minnesota Twins : 40 man roster - None
Minor League Non Roster Invites - None
Minor Leagues : OF Kyle Garlick, Rehab Pitching Coach Josh Tols
Detroit Tigers :
40 man roster - C Donny Sands, INF Nick Maton, OF Matt Vierling
Minor League Non Roster Invites - C Andrew Knapp, INF Cesar Hernandez
Minor Leagues : INF Luis Garcia, LHP Jace Fry, RHP Michael Mariot, RHP Aneurys Zabala, 1B Quincy Nieporte
Kansas City Royals :
40 man roster - LHP Josh Taylor
Minor League Non Roster Invites - None
Minor Leagues : INF Johan Camargo, INF Ryan Goins, INF Shervyen Newton, Hitting Coach Ari Adut
Chicago White Sox :
40 man roster - LHP Jake Diekman
Minor League Non Roster Invites - OF Adam Haseley
Minor Leagues : none
Houston Astros :
40 man roster - RHP Hector Neris
Minor League Non Roster Invites - LHP Austin Davis
Minor Leagues : RHP Manuel Urias, OF Logan Cerny
Oakland Athletics :
40 man roster - RHP Trevor May
Minor League Non Roster Invites - None
Minor Leagues : RHP Delois Guerra
Seattle Mariners :
40 man roster - SS JP Crawford
Minor League Non Roster Invites - INF Jake Scheiner
Minor Leagues : John Russell ( Mgr - AAA )
Los Angeles Angels :
40 man roster - LHP Aaron Loup, C Logan O’Hoppe, OF Mickey Moniak, LHP Matt Moore
Minor League Non Roster Invites - RHP Chris Devenski
Minor Leagues : INF Jose Gomez
Texas Rangers :
40 man roster - RHP Spencer Howard, OF Brad Miller
Minor League Non Roster Invites - RHP Ian Kennedy, OF Travis Jankowski
Minor Leagues : Pitching Coach Josh Zeid ( AA ), RHP Aidan Anderson, RHP Josh Gessner
Back at ‘em tomorrow - Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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