2/6/26 : High Performance Camp - Day Fifteen
- Steve Potter
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Workouts continued for camp participants. While the emphasis is on strength training and conditioning the winter version of HP Camp has more baseball practice activities that the Fall version.
HP Camp workouts were held on the complex training fields. Position players fielding drills were conducted on Ashburn field while pitchers did their fielding drills on Carlton field.
Twenty one pitchers threw side bullpen sessions today on the side mounds by Ashburn Field and in the lab - Kyler Carmack, Naoel Mejia, Mavis Graves, Wen-Hui Pan,Christian McGowan, Saul Teran, James Tallon, Cade Obermueller, Cody Bowker, Matt Fisher, Gabe Craig, Aaron Combs, Ryan Dromboski, Gage Wood, Brian Walters, Ryan Degges, Luke Gabrysh, Alexander De Los Santos, Ryan Cusick, Marty Gair and Sean Youngerman.
Some of the major league players and non-roster invites are at the Complex doing early work as well - today pitchers Christopher Sanchez, Aaron Nola, Orion Kerkering, Alex McFarlane, Trevor Richards, Zach McCambley, Seth Johnson, Max Lazar, Zach Pop, Jonathan Bowlan, Tim Mayza, Ryan Cusick, Andrew Walling and Jean Cabrera threw side bullpens on the mounds by the half field.
I watched the bullpens by the half mound - Christopher Sanchez is in tremendous shape, Aaron Nola continued to look Nola-Like. Orion Kerkering always impresses with the movement he gets on his sweeper. Alex McFarlane threw well inclusive of a few splitters that had arm side break. Zach McCambley has more pop than I expected - ball runs late. Andrew Walling is a name to keep in mind - really good slider and was down in the zone - Ryan Cusick impressed with velocity and movement.
Camp Spotlight : LH Andrew Walling - 26 years old (27 on 10/29/26) - signed as an un-drafted free agent 8/1/22 - Mississippi State
2025 Stats : began the year on the IL with shoulder discomfort - worked with the rehab team in the spring - made an appearance with Jersey Shore on 5/23 - one scoreless IP. Activated with Reading on 5/27 - made 37 appearances - 4.10 ERA in 41.2 IP, 45 K’s and 18 walks, .203 BAA, 11.04 K/9, 2.37 K/BB. Promoted to Lehigh Valley on 9/9 - made 5 appearances - 5 IP, 3.60 ERA, 7 K’s, 4 walks, .167 BAA. Overall - 43 games, 47.2 IP, 3.97 ERA, 54 K’s, 22 walks, .204 BAA. A very solid season.
Notes : one of my favorites - a likeable young man whose desire to excel shines thru, can handle pressure spots in games, has baseball savvy and moxie - strong competitor. Reminds me a bit of former Phillie Jake Diekman in his stuff, motion and arm slot. He can double up on innings in his outings. He was signed by Mike Stauffer who told me a great story how he discovered him - Andrew didn’t pitch much in college as he battled to throw strikes but Mike had seen him in a blowout game and noted the superior stuff he saw regardless of the location of his deliveries - he continued to follow him and then signed him to a contract after he went un-drafted - Andrew had pitched only 13 innings in collegiate play. He features a four seam fastball (93-97 mph), slider and cutter. A couple years ago now Lehigh Valley Pitching Coach Phil Cundari told me this about Andrew - “I don’t know what’s tougher, playing catch with him or trying to hit him. He’s got electric stuff, very strong young man who throws a bowling bowl of a cutter, varies his slider from a cutter to one that has more sweep, both have great velocity, exceptional breaking stuff. Has a strong fastball already but I believe that velocity down the road with the fastball will be sitting 96–98 mph.” Andrew is from Castle Rock, Washington and originally attended Oregon State before transferring to Eastern Oklahoma State College and then Mississippi State. He’s got the goods to become a major leaguer. Received his first big league non-roster invitation this year.
Andrew’s 2025 reflections : “What I learned about myself this past season is that I have the ability to throw at the major league level. Just continue to be as consistent as I can and my abilities will allow me to compete at that level. Very happy with how the season ended up and I think I continued to improve throughout the season. Off season training approach will be to maintain health and gain back strength that inevitably goes throughout a season. Prepare myself to show up ready to compete for a job come spring. I look to show up with the mindset to go earn whatever I may get and make the most of those opportunities.”
Non-Roster Invitee Additions :
IF/OF Dylan Moore and RHP Daniel Robert were officially invited to major league spring training camp today - Moore is a veteran super utility player who’s perfect for a 13th man role. Robert just re-signed this week on a minor league contract.
Winter League Roundup :
Notes on Phillies and former Phillies participating in winter leagues from games played on 2/5.
Caribbean Series :
Mexico Green (Tomateros de Culiacán) 10 (2-2) Dominican Republic (Leones del Escogido) 7 (3-1) - Luis Verdugo (SS) went 3 for 4 (singles) for Mexico.
Puerto Rico (Cangrejeros de Santurce) 8 (2-2) Panama 3 (0-4) - RHP Andrew Bakerpitched 1.2 scoreless innings (1 BB, 4 K’s) for Puerto Rico.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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