4/21/26 : Did Ya Know🤔⚾️ - Just Sayin
- Steve Potter
- 18 minutes ago
- 4 min read
The Jersey Shore BlueClaws are led this season by thirty-eight year old Mycal Jones. He’s the first black manager in the team’s twenty-five year history. Mycal was a fourth round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2009 from Miami Dade College initially as a shortstop before moving to center field, he played in their system through 2015 and then one season in the independent Atlantic League. He is entering his seventh season in the Phillies organization as a coach and now manager.
The Blue Claws have started the year with a 9-5 record highlighted by standout starting pitching in the early going - as posted on the BlueClaws social media sites the starting pitchers thru the first fourteen games have a minor league best 1.79 ERA - they’ve allowed just 11 earned runs in 55.1 IP. I read multiple comments when the opening day rosters were announced about the lack of talent on the roster and while that may be perceived as being true for the “prospect projectors” this team has played as a true unit thus far, inclusive of moving runners with sacrifices and in doing so has showcased players as individual performers within a team setting. I’ve always believed that a player is a “prospect” the minute they put on the uniform - it’s often times a matter of opportunity. Don’t ever shortchange the will to succeed - just sayin.
Matthew Ferrara was named the Florida State League Player of the Week for last week with a .450 batting average and 1.528 OPS - I wrote about him on Sunday - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/4-19-26-phillies-minor-leagues-week-in-review-4-14-4-19
The Phillies 8-14 start to the season is obviously not ideal - nine teams in major league history have previously started the season with an 8-14 record yet still made the playoffs - the last to do so was the 2024 Astros. The 2005 Astros began the year 15-30 and still went to the World Series finishing the regular season 89-73. The 2002 Angels were 8-14 to start and went on to win the World Series finishing the regular season with a 99-63 record. The 2026 Phillies need to trust their skills inclusive of the young players they’ve incorporated, as a player development advocate I say “let the kids play” and don’t be adverse to sitting those that are in “mixups”. Ya will never know what a kid like Felix Reyes can do unless he gets opportunities. Just sayin once more.
Three of the four minor league affiliates (Lehigh Valley, Reading and Clearwater) are hosting this week’s six game set with only Jersey Shore on the road in Kentucky. The Extended Spring Training group played the Rays yesterday and have three more games this week (Yankees, Jays and Tigers). Another action packed week of player development on the horizon!
Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford and Felix Reyes made their major league debuts this season with the Phillies - elsewhere former Phillies signees George Klassen (Angels) and Hao Yu Lee (Tigers) made their big league debuts. All five were signed in the 2020 to 2024 drafts and international signing periods. The Phillies presently have twelve “home grown” players on their 40 man roster (Jean Cabrera, Orion Kerkering, Alex McFarlane, Andrew Painter, Aaron Nolan, Rafael Marchan, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, Justin Crawford, Otto Kemp, Felix Reyes, Gabriel Rincones Jr). In addition there are 26 more players originally signed as draft picks by the Phillies or as free agent amateur signings on other organization’s 40 man rosters - nine of those were signed from 2018 to 2023. That’s 38 players originating from the Phillies system now on 40 man rosters with 29 on active rosters, that is a pretty impressive number - for those that doubt the Phillies ability to scout, draft, sign and develop those numbers indicate otherwise. - just sayin.
Phillies original draft picks or free agent amateur signings now with other organizations : 40 man roster occupants :
LHP Sam Aldegheri - Angels - signed 7/2/19 from Italy
C Travis d’Arnaud - Angels - 2007 round C-A draft pick
C Logan O’Hoppe - Angels - 2018 23rd round draft pick
RHP George Klassen - Angels - 2023 6th round draft pick
RHP Mark Leiter Jr - Athletics - 2013 22nd round draft pick
LHP Jojo Romero - Cardinals - 2016 4th round draft pick
RHP Ben Brown - Cubs - 2017 33rd round draft pick
LHP Hoby Milner - Cubs - 2012 7th round draft pick
UTL Scott Kingery - Cubs - 2015 2nd round draft pick
LHP Erik Miller - Giants - 2019 4th round draft pick
RHP Connor Brogdon - Guardians - 2017 10th round draft pick
1B/DH Rhys Hoskins - Guardians - 2014 5th round draft pick
SS JP Crawford - Mariners - 2013 1st round draft pick
INF Curtis Mead - Nationals- signed 5/4/18 from Australia
LHP Ranger Suarez - Red Sox - signed 4/1/12 from Venezuela
OF Mickey Moniak - Rockies - 2016 1st round draft pick
1B TJ Rumfield - Rockies - 2021 12th round draft pick
RHP James McArthur -Royals - 2018 12th round draft pick - 60 day IL
LHP Bailey Falter - Royals - 2015 5th round draft pick - IL
OF Matt Vierling - Tigers - 2018 5th round draft pick
INF Hao Yu Lee - Tigers - signed 6/15/21 from Taiwan
RHP Drew Anderson - Tigers - 2012 21st round draft pick
RHP Connor Seabold - Tigers - 2017 3rd round draft pick
RHP Mick Abel - Twins - 2020 1st round draft pick - IL
LHP Tyler Gilbert - White Sox - 2015 6th round draft pick
RHP Seranthony Dominguez - White Sox - signed 5/31/12 from Dominican Republic
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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