Started our day, as is our custom, at the complex watching pre game practices. One of “our guys” was informed early that he had been traded - later the team announced that RHP James Norwood had been acquired from the San Diego Padres in exchange for INF Kervin Pichardo. Kervin spent the majority of last season here in Clearwater playing in the Complex League and the Threshers. He’s a pleasant young man and we wished him well heading over to the Padres. Kervin is just 20 years old. Norwood is reportedly a high velo reliever who was placed on the 40 man roster upon acquisition. He’s appeared in 28 major league games over parts of four seasons with the Cubs and Padres.
Additionally there’s another new hurler in camp, RH Michael Mariot has re-signed ( minor league contract ) with the organization and was scheduled to pitch the first three innings today in a game against the Yankees. Michael is 33 years old and was released by the Nationals on March 23rd. He’s pitched in 44 major league games ( from 2014 to 2016 ) including 25 with the 2016 Phillies. He left the Phillies organization after the 2017 season and has pitched in the minors since then with the Royals and Reds, he also played in the Mexican League.
The Yankees were supposed to play the Phillies A level clubs at Carpenter Complex this afternoon but their bus broke down en-route so instead the Phillies groups played an Intra-squad game. The AA/AAA Phillies group did go to Tampa to play the Yankees. James Marvel was scheduled to go four innings with Mike Adams and Jeff Singer going 1 plus and Tyler Cyr and Jonathan Hennigan finishing with an inning each in one of the contests. Mariot was scheduled to go three innings to start the other game followed by Carlo Reyes and Aidan Anderson going two apiece, Carlos Francisco 1+ and Austin Ross finishing.
Before today’s Grapefruit League Game OF Ethan Wilson and RHP Oswald Medinawere honored as the 2022 Bill Giles and Larry Rojas award winners for best minor league spring training camps. Ethan is 22 years old and was the club’s 2021 2nd round draft selection from South Alabama - he’s impressed from day one of mini camp with his hitting skills and athleticism. At the least he seems destined to start the year with the Blue Claws. Oswald was signed as an international free agent on 5/9/19 from Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. He had an outstanding 2021 season with the DSL Phillies Red team ( 14 starts - 2.16 ERA in 58 1/3 IP - 0.93 WHIP, 65 K’s and a minuscule 6 walks ) and has continued to impress this spring - the slender twenty year old generally sits in the low 90’s at present with his fast ball and has terrific command and movement - it’s also expected that velo will increase with added strength.
Today’s Grapefruit League Game :
Tigers 7 Phillies 1
Rough day pretty much all around but there were still some shining moments. Bryce Harper homered, his third of the spring. Kyle Gibson got in four plus innings of work. Corey Knebel, Seranthony Dominguez, Damon Jones and Braedon Ogle pitched scoreless baseball in relief, Damon looked very sharp with his slider and retired all four batters he faced, two via strikeouts. Other than that it was a “forget about it” performance for our guys with a back at em tomorrow outlook 🥸.
Other Stuff :
It was my honor today to get to chat with Phillies Executive Vice President Dave Buck for a bit, even got a photo. The Phillies family of employees are good people and it’s really cool to interact when possible … makes for a Happy Day, Happy Baseball experience. ⚾️
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