Most every Monday for the Phillies minor league full season affiliates is a scheduled off day. They get to re-charge before starting on a stretch of six games the next day.
Here’s a spot light on players who stood out this past week (includes Lehigh Valley opening series in Rochester played 3/31 and 4/1)
The Iron Pigs went 2-0 to open the year in Rochester and then 2-4 in their home opening series against Scranton Wilkes Barre (Yankees AAA Affiliate). Reading went 0-3 in Richmond against the Giants AA affiliate. Jersey Shore went 1-2 on Coney Island against the Mets High A Affiliate - the Brooklyn Cyclones and Clearwater was 2-1 in Bradenton against the Marauders (Pirates Low A Affiliate).
The week’s highlight was a combined no hitter by five pitchers for the Clearwater Threshers on Saturday night against Bradenton. The five hurlers allowed just four walks and punched out sixteen batters in the nine inning 3-0 win. See below in the pitching section for further details.
Team Win/Loss records to date and next opponent on 4/11/23 :
Lehigh Valley : 4-4 - @Durham (Rays)
Reading : 0-3 - @home vs Hartford (Rockies)
Jersey Shore : 1-2 @home vs Greensboro (Pirates)
Clearwater : 2-1 @ home vs Ft Myers (Twins)
Position Players :
Lehigh Valley :
Dalton Guthrie is off to a hot start, in 28 plate appearances he’s posted a .500 OBP and a .391 BA. Dalton has primarily played the outfield but also played a game at second base in the series against SWB. Vimael Machin also has gotten out of the gates strong with a .455 OBP in 33 plate appearances and a .346 BA, he’s hit 2 doubles and 2 home runs. Simon Muzziotti has a .346 OBP in 26 plate appearances and a .320 BA. Jim Haley had at least one hit in all six games against SWB and has a .333 OBP in 27 plate appearances with a .308 BA. Scott Kingery has two home runs, a double and triple in 23 AB’s - a .519 slugging percentage.
Reading :
Carlos De La Cruz has posted a .545 OBP in the first three games in eleven plate appearances, he’s gotten four hits in nine at bats including one extra base hit, a double. McCarthy Tatum hit the team’s first home run of the season on Sunday and is 2 for 6 in the early going.
Jersey Shore :
Hao Yu Lee has been an on base machine to start the season, he’s posted a .563 OBP in his first 16 plate appearances and a .417 batting average. Marcus Lee Sang has a .438 OBP in his first 16 plate appearances which includes four walks. Nick Ward has a .467 OBP in his first fifteen plate appearances including four walks. Jared Carr has a .400 OBP and .308 BA in his first 15 plate appearances. Anthony Quirion hit the club’s first home run of the season on Sunday and is 3 for 8 thus far with a single, double and tater - his OBP is .500 in ten plate appearances. Troy Schreffler has the early lead in stolen bases with four followed by Ward with three, the team swiped 15 bags in the first three games.
Clearwater :
Emaarion Boyd reached base in four of his first eight plate appearances and went 2 for 6 in his AB’s. The mercurial outfielder scored two runs. Erick Brito is 3 for 9 to begin the year and has a .455 OBP in eleven plate appearances. Chad Castillo hit the first home run of the season on Sunday.
Pitchers :
Lehigh Valley :
TJ Zeuch has been outstanding in his first two starts (0.82 ERA in 11 IP), he’s pitched ten scoreless innings (seven were perfect frames) with six strikeouts and only one walk. Zeuch was acquired for cash considerations from the Colorado Rockies on 3/28/23, the 27 year old has previously pitched in 16 major league games with Toronto and Cincinnati. Noah Skirrow pitched five solid innings in his first start of the season allowing one earned run on four hits and one walk while punching out three hitters. Jakob Hernandez has a 0.00 ERA and 0.25 WHIP in three appearances (4 IP) with a save. Trey Cobb also has a 0.00 ERA in three appearances (2 2/3 IP) with a save.
Reading :
Braden Zarbnisky threw two scoreless innings in relief during game two of the season, Adam Leverett retired all five batters he faced, striking out two in the same game as a reliever. Taylor Lehman threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his season debut on Sunday.
Jersey Shore :
Rafael Marcano was excellent as the bulk reliever in the season opener going three scoreless frames allowing just one hit. Carlos Francisco threw really well in relief in the second game going the final two frames to close out the victory. Matt Osterberg threw four scoreless frames on Sunday in a start allowing just one hit and two walks.
Clearwater :
Five pitchers combined to throw a no hitter in the second game of the season, a 3-0 win. Sam Aldegheri was outstanding as the starting pitcher, he threw four perfect innings and struck out seven batters. Eduar Segovia threw two strong innings behind him. Andrew Walling pitched a hitless seventh inning. Orion Kerkering struck out the side in a dominant 8th inning. Wesley Moore completed the no hitter with a scoreless ninth frame! The five hurlers combined to tally 16 strikeouts and allowed just four walks.
Jean Cabrera pitched very well as the bulk reliever going three scoreless frames in the first game of the season, he also displayed great exuberance as well with his success, I truly enjoy when the players have fun playing the game! In that same contest Alex McFarlane consistently hit 100 mph with his fastball as the starting pitcher - he battled control and command but showed dominant stuff in his three innings of work.
Jonh Henriquez threw two perfect innings in relief in Sunday’s 4-2 win.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
Sam Aldegheri, Carlos De La Cruz, Hao Yu Lee and TJ Zeuch - photos by Rebecca Alexander, Michael Dolcemascolo and Cheryl Pursell
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