Minor League Camp :
Side Bullpens : Michael Mercado, Sam Aldegheri, Micah Ottenbreit, Griff McGarry, Jean Cabrera, Gunner Mayer
Live BP : Christian McGowan
Intrasquad Scrimmage : Eight Innings :
I watched four and a half innings of the scrimmage. Here’s what I saw 👀.
At the Plate :
Leonardo Rondon impresses every time I see him hit -he gives a professional AB. Today the twenty year old 3B/C drew two walks and lined a single to center in the three plate appearances I saw, he also stole two bases. Junior Marin had two hits (singles) in the three AB’s I saw him in. Rixon Wingrove walked and doubled in three plate appearances while I was there and posted an RBI. Yhoswar Garcia, Pedro Martinez, Arturo DeFreitas and Andrick Nava each singled - Nava had an RBI. Gavin Tonkel hit a sacrifice fly to center for an RBI. Yemal Flores didn’t have a hit to show for it but in the two AB’s I saw him today he hit the ball really well - two fly outs to deep center field - one of which center fielder Yhoswar Garcia ran a long ways to make a great catch robbing Yemal of at least a double.
Pitching Notes :
Tyler Phillips and Estibenzon Jimenez were really sharp - both had strong outings. Phillips went three scoreless frames allowing two hits and no walks, he struck out two batters. Jimenez worked two perfect frames with two ground outs, two fly outs and two strikeouts - truly like the young man’s demeanor, approach and stuff. Cam Brown showed high velo and a strong breaking pitch but battled command today with four walks in his two frames - he yielded a couple runs on the walks, two hits and a sac fly. Robinson Pina uses an assortment of pitches and arm angles to produce outs, he also changes speeds well - today went two scoreless frames allowing two hits and a walk while striking out three.
Mitch Neunborn, Andrew Schultz, Konnor Ash, Tommy McCollum, Jonathan Petit and Mason Ronan were scheduled to throw but I left to walk up to the stadium before they took the mound -will hopefully catch them sometime before camp breaks.
Other Notes :
Was good to see and catch up with Aaron Mayer (Gunner’s dad) and Brian Osterberg (Matt’s dad) today - getting to know the families a bit is enjoyable and something I always attempt to do.
Minor League Transactions :
RHP Eduar Segovia, RHP Malik Binns, C Jose Colmenarez and INF Freylin Minyety were released.
Grapefruit League Game Eighteen :
Phillies 4 Tigers 1
Clearwater, Florida
Matt Vierling homered for Detroit in the fourth inning. Whit Merrifield hit a home run in the sixth inning to tie the score. Kody Clemens tripled in the 8th inning, William Simoneit and Cal Stevenson walked. Clemens scored on a wild pitch. Carlos De La Cruz singled to score a run, Jake Cave singled to score another.
At the Plate : 4 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 12 K’s
Jake Cave was 2 for 2 (singles) with an RBI. Kody Clemens tripled and Whit Merrifield homered.
Defensive Gem :
Third baseman Kody Clemens made a diving stop of a hard grounder in the top of the eighth inning and threw to second where second baseman Edmundo Soto made an athletic grab and throw falling to the ground while doing so to complete his throw to first base and complete a double play!
Pitching Notes :
Aaron Nola - 4 2/3 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K’s - FB (90-94 mph), curve, sinker, cutter, change up
Carlos Francisco - 1/3 IP - retired only batter faced with a K - FB (89-92 mph), slider
Seranthony Dominguez - 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s - FB ( 95-98 mph), slider, sinker, change up
Gregory Soto - 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K’s - FB (98-99 mph), sinker, slider
Nick Nelson - 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K’s - FB (91-94 mph), sinker, slider, change up
Austin Brice - 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K’s - FB (92-93 mph), sinker, curve, change up
Minor League Camp Call-Ups for the game :
Pitchers : Carlos Francisco, Alex Rao, Paxton Thompson, Cam Wynne
Carlos Francisco pitched in the game.
Grapefruit League record is now 7-8-3
Transactions :
RHP Mick Abel, RHP Ryan Burr and RHP Tyler McKay were reassigned to minor league camp.
Injury News :
Dylan Covey has been down with a shoulder issue. He'll open the season on the IL. Michael Rucker hasn't pitched since March 1 because of numbness in his right middle finger. He's in Philadelphia getting checked out. - Todd Zolecki
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
Leonardo Rondon - photo by Casey Burns
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