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.
AAA Level : Lehigh Valley : 1-5 for the week against Durham, 5-9 overall - 4/18/23 @ home vs Worcester (Red Sox affiliate) - six games
Position Players :
Esteban Quiroz posted a .429 OBP (12 for 28) for the week with five walks, three doubles, a home run and four RBIs from the lead off spot in the order. He was acquired in a trade with the Cubs for cash considerations on 3/23/23 and is a veteran 31 year old player. Jordan Qsar (acquired via trade from Rays 3/20/23 for cash) went 7 for 18 (.389) with two doubles, two home runs and five RBIs against his former organization. The 27 year old outfielder has hit three home runs and driven in eleven runs in eleven games played to date for the Iron Pigs. He was the Rays 25th round draft pick in the 2018 draft from Pepperdine University. Weston Wilson hit two doubles and two home runs during the week.
Pitchers :
Christopher Sanchez pitched four scoreless innings on 4/11/23 and went 4 2/3 innings on 4/16/23 allowing one run on three hits. The plans are for him to continue to stretch out as a starter with the Iron Pigs. Louis Head pitched two perfect innings in relief on 4/14/23 - three strikeouts. Jeff Hoffman made two appearances during the week pitching three innings, he struck out six batters and has eleven punch outs in six innings of work this season - he’s been consistently 97 to 98 mph with his fastball. Jeremy Walker pitched 3 2/3 innings during the week over two appearances (4/12,4/16) allowing one run on one hit while striking out seven batters, he walked none.
AA Level : Reading : 2-4 for the week against Hartford, 2-7 overall - 4/18/23 @ Portland (Red Sox affiliate) - six games
Position Players :
Matt Kroon (2018 18th round draft selection - Oklahoma State) went 8 for 16 (.500) for the week slugging two doubles and a home run. He’s posted a .419 OBP thus far in 31 plate appearances playing primarily third base (has also seen time in center and left field). Matt played only two games in 2022 after suffering a knee injury and undergoing season ending surgery, it’s great to see him back in action and excelling in the early going. Oliver Dunn was 11 for 25 (.440) with 4 doubles and a triple, Oliver was selected in the minor league rule five draft this off-season from the Yankees organization. Johan Rojas was 10 for 24 (.417) with a double, home run and four RBIs, he also was stellar defensively in center field. Carlos De La Cruz was 8 for 26 (.308) with three home runs and five RBIs. McCarthy Tatum was 7 for 22 (.318) with three doubles and two walks (.375 OBP). Baron Radcliff hit two home runs during the week, unfortunately he was injured going back into first base on a slide on 4/15 and was placed on the IL thereafter.
Pitchers :
David Parkinson returned to action after taking a year off last season. He went five innings in his season debut on 4/11/23 and pitched 4 1/3 frames on 4/16/23. David threw a total of 9 1/3 innings during the week allowing three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out seven batters. Adam Leverett threw three scoreless frames (two perfect) in relief on 4/12/23 and 4/15/23, he’s off to a great start after pitching 1 2/3 scoreless frames last week. Mick Abel was 97-100 mph with the heater in his start on 4/13/23, came out firing, Mick went four innings. Brett Schulze pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief during the week posting seven strikeouts, he pitched on 4/13 and 4/16. Braden Zarbnisky threw two scoreless frames in relief on 4/14/23 - three strikeouts. Josh Hendrickson was excellent as the starter on 4/15/23, he pitched five scoreless innings allowing two hits and no walks while striking out four batters. Taylor Lehman pitched two scoreless innings in the same game including stranding two inherited runners. Tyler McKay made three appearances during the week (4/11, 4/14 & 4/16) and pitched 4 1/3 innings allowing one earned run on two hits.
High A Level : Jersey Shore : 1-5 for the week against Greensboro, 2-7 overall - 4/18/23 @ Aberdeen (Orioles affiliate) - six games
Position Players :
Nick Ward went 7 for 18 (.389) for the week and posted a .522 OBP as he also drew five walks. Nick scored six runs, hit two home runs and drove in six runs and has hit safely in eight of the nine games he’s played thus far (10 for 29 - .345 BA, .487 OBP). He was signed as a minor league free agent on 12/19/22 after playing in the Frontier League the past two seasons and for Adelaide in the Australian Baseball League this past winter. He is a Philly local from West Chester University and Unionville High School in Kennett Square. Wilfredo Flores was 6 for 15 (.400) for the week, Marcus Lee Sang reached base 9 times in 25 plate appearances (.360 OBP) with five hits and four walks. Casey Martin went 6 for 18 (.333) for the week including hitting a double and home run on Sunday. He also drew four walks for a .454 OBP in 22 plate appearances. Arturo De Freitas went 5 for 10 (.500) in the three games he caught during the week and played his usual stellar defense behind the dish.
Pitchers :
Rafael Marcano pitched very well in his first start of the year on 4/12/23, was in command of his pitches and mixed well. Marcano has now pitched 6 2/3 scoreless frames (went three on 4/7 vs Brooklyn) to open the season posting seven strikeouts against just two hits and one walk. Jordan Fowler delivered a good starting outing going five innings on 4/13/23. Gunner Mayer had a very strong outing on 4/14/23 as the starter going four scoreless, walking none and striking out five batters. He threw nearly 70 % of his 58 pitches for strikes. Carlos Betancourt went 2 2/3 innings in relief on 4/15/23, he allowed one inherited runner to score but otherwise went unblemished. Gabriel Cotto pitched five good innings on 4/16/23 allowing just one run, he struck out five batters. It was a good bounce back effort for Gabriel as he didn’t survive the first inning on Monday, 4/11/23.
Clearwater : 3-3 for the week against Fort Myers, 5-4 overall - 4/18/23 @ Tampa (Yankees affiliate) - six games
Position Players :
Justin Crawford went 6 for 20 (.300) with a double, triple and four RBIs, he stole three bases during the week. The mercurial nineteen year old was the 2022 1st round draft selection from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, NV. He’s played outstanding defensive center field as well tracking down baseballs that most would not get to. Gabriel Rincones Jr was 6 for 17 (.353) for the week with two doubles and a home run, he also drew six walks for a .522 OBP. Rincones Jr was the club’s 3rd round draft selection in the 2022 draft from Florida Atlantic University.
Pitchers :
Five pitchers combined for a shutout on 4/11/23 - Alex Rao (two IP), Jaydenn Estanista (three IP), Andrew Walling (two IP), Wesley Moore (one IP) and Orion Kerkering (one IP). It was Clearwater’s second shutout win of the 2023 season to date, last season’s Threshers threw two shutouts in April (4/22 & 4/23) and totaled eight for the year. Jack Dallas finished out the 5-3 win on 4/12/23 going 1 1/3 scoreless frames punching out two batters, he pitched two more scoreless innings on 4/14 striking out three batters. Alex McFarlane went 3 2/3 innings as the starter on 4/14/23, he was in the 94 to 99 mph range with his sinker and fastball. Seth Nightingale went 2 1/3 innings in that game, his Clearwater debut, one inherited runner scored on a single but he retired every other batter he faced. Sam Aldegheri went four innings as the starter allowing one run on 4/15/23 following up from four perfect frames last week. In the 4/15/23 game Jonh Henriquez went 1 1/3 innings in relief retiring all four batters he faced including stranding three inherited runners, he’s thrown multiple innings in each of his three outings, two of which occurred this week. Also on 4/15/23 Wen Hui Pan made his Threshers debut, he came out firing featuring a fastball (97-98 mph) and slider, Pan threw two perfect innings posting three strikeouts. Orion Kerkering closed that game out with a scoreless ninth inning (fastball - 97 to 99 mph & nasty slider) striking out two batters, he’s made three appearances to date - six strikeouts in three innings pitched, no hits and just one walk. Wesley Moore finished the week with another scoreless inning in relief on Sunday. Braeden Fausnaught pitched four innings as the bulk reliever on Sunday allowing one run and two hits.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
Matt Kroon, Christopher Sanchez, Justin Crawford & Nick Ward - photos by George Youngs Jr, Cheryl Pursell, Casey Burns and Michael Dolcemascolo
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