4/18/25 : Extended Spring Training (XST) notes

Yesterday (4/17/25) the Phillies hosted the Yankees on Roberts Field and won the contest 6-0. Four Phillies pitchers combined for the eight inning game shutout. Catcher Alirio Ferrebus shined - he had a single and double plus three RBIs along with throwing out an attempted base stealer at second base. The play that stood out to me though will not show up in any boxscore or highlight reel. With a limited number of players due to MLB overall stateside roster limits Phillies Manager Shawn Williams had to use players out of position - his infield yesterday was manned in three of the four spots by players originally signed as catchers. Yhoan Escalona swapped his catcher’s mitt for an infielders glove and played third base. In the sixth inning with runners on first and third the Yankees batter hit a pop-up just to the right of home plate. Catcher Alirio Ferrebus and first baseman Rickardo Perez sprinted to it as did pitcher Maxwell Hernandez. The plate was left uncovered but Escalona noticed and sprinted towards it to cover in case the runner at third base attempted to tag and advance. When Perez caught the ball the entire Phillies bench erupted in applause and appreciation for Escanola’s efforts as his baseball acumen outshined his novice abilities as a third baseman. It was a moment that only those who truly appreciate the game can understand and acknowledge. To me it was the play of the game even though no actual play on the ball by Escolona occurred.  Just a very heads up play by a nineteen year old catcher playing third base out of necessity. Good stuff!

Outfielder Griffin Burkholder continues to work his way back from some hamstring discomfort experienced this spring.  He’s played the last two XST games and has also manned right field for a few innings. Griffin has extremely quick hands and turns on pitches with seeming ease. Yesterday he drove a couple balls high into the sky to left field - both were caught yet each was well struck. He seems to be running without cause for concern as well and hopefully will join the Threshers lineup in the not too distant future.

On the pitching mound young lefty Angel Liranzo (18 yrs old) continues to impress. His ability to locate deliveries and mix pitches is beyond his age. He’s a pitcher who as he gets stronger and grows into his body one could certainly project with a major league future. When you watch him pitch there’s glimpses of a young Ranger Suarez. Liranzo has a plus change up already but uses a four pitch mix interchangeably.

The XST squad travels to Lakeland today to play the Tigers in noon action.

Here’s statistics from yesterday’s contest :

At the Bat : 6 R, 8 H, 4 BB, 10 K’s

RF Griffin Burkholder - 0 for 2

C Alirio Ferrebus - 2 for 3 - double, walk, 3 RBIs, 1 K

CF Victor Cardoza - 1 for 4, 3 K’s

DH Jaeden Calderon - 1 for 3, double, walk, 2 RBIs, 1 K

1B Rickardo Perez - 1 for 3, 1 K

2B Francisco Loreto - 0 for 2, walk, 1 K

SS Meylin De Leon - 0 for 3, 2 K’s

DH Isaias Dipre - 1 for 3, triple

LF Manolfi Jimenez - 1 for 2, walk

3B Yhoan Escalona - 1 for 3, double, 1 K

On the Hill : 0 R, 5 H, 3 BB, 6 K’s

LH Angel Liranzo - 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K’s - 31 pitches - 19 strikes - FB 87-91 mph

RH Eligio Arias - 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K - 27 pitches - 14 strikes - FB 90-95 mph

RH Maxwell Hernandez - 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K - 23 pitches - 16 strikes - FB 93-95 mph

RH Pedro Reyes - 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K’s - 24 pitches - 16 strikes - FB 92-94 mph - strong outing - has thrown well this spring

Stateside Promotion :

Seventeen year old shortstop Jose Familia has been promoted from the Dominican Academy to stateside extended spring training. He was signed on 1/15/24 from  El Fundo, Dominican Republic and won’t turn 18 till August 16th.  Jose appeared in 47 games last summer for the DSL Phillies White roster and posted a .344 OBP in 195 plate appearances. He had 5 doubles, a triple, 2 home runs and 13 RBIs while stealing 9 bases in 10 attempts. He’s a tall,lanky left handed hitter who played exclusively at shortstop last summer but can also play third base.  Baseball America said this about him when he signed last year “His Aug. 16 birthday makes him one of the youngest players signed in 2024. He has high-end physical projection with his lean, athletic build at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds and the look of a player who might still be growing. He’s an average runner with good hands and an above-average arm. His bat speed enables him to drive the ball for extra-base impact from the left side right now and his strength potential points to more power coming, with possibly a power-over-hit profile.”

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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