A very strong week for many of our pitchers and a milestone moment for a slugger in Lehigh Valley.
Position Players :
Darick Hall ( 26 yrs old ) had a big time power week for Lehigh Valley going 8 for 24 ( .333 ) with 2 doubles, 4 home runs and 11 RBIs. He had a two home run game on 4/23 in which he also doubled and drove in six runs. It was a milestone week for Darick - he hit his 100th career minor league home run on 4/20. That prompted me to research the Phillies all-time minor league leaders in home runs. I searched back to 1960 and here’s the list - only included home runs hit as part of a Phillies minor league affiliate. 🤓
Joe Lis - 164
Pancho Herrera - 141
Dan Held - 135
Dylan Cozens - 132
Greg Luzinski - 113
Ryan Howard - 112
Cody Overbeck - 105
Darick Hall - 103
Darin Ruf -95
Mike Anderson - 94
Rhys Hoskins - 93
Hank Allen - 90
Darick now has 19 RBIs for the season placing him second in the International League leaders, he’s also tied for second in home runs with 5.
Darick Hall - photo by Cheryl Pursell
Donny Sands ( 25 years old ) went 8 for 19 ( .421 ) during the week for Lehigh Valley. He had three doubles and four RBIs. Sands has been the primary catcher for the Iron Pigs and has also been consistently in the middle of the batting order. He’s posted a .326 batting average in 46 AB’s and has 12 RBIs. Donny was acquired from the Yankees this past off season in a trade.
Jadiel Sanchez ( 20 years old ) had a solid week for Clearwater going 8 for 22 (. 364 ) with two doubles and a triple. He’s got that pretty left hander’s swing - was the 2019 12th round draft selection from Natividad Rodriguez Gonzalez High School in Arroyo, PR. Quick hands and good bat to ball skills - Outstanding arm as an outfielder, moves well with good reads and jumps. He’s hitting .314 in the early going in 51 AB’s.
Arturo DeFreitas ( 20 years old ) went 5 for 15 ( .333 ) in the four games he played in during the week for Clearwater. The young catcher is yet another strong receiver in the Phillies system. He’s got excellent mechanics and a strong arm - till this season he’s spent most of his stateside time on the backfields where we’ve seen him play. Arturo is from Maracay, Venezuela and was signed as an international free agent on 3/13/18.
Marcus Lee Sang ( 21 years old ) went 6 for 18 ( .333 ) in five games this week for Clearwater. The sweet swing lefty outfielder had two hit games twice and posted two doubles. So far this season he’s got a .316 batting average in 38 AB’s and has also played very good defense in both corner spots. Marcus was drafted in the 11th round of 2019 draft from Northern High School in Owings, MD.
Nick Matera ( 25 years old ) went 6 for 18 ( .333 ) for the week with Jersey Shore. He had two doubles and seven RBIs and delivered key blows in the middle of the Blue Claws order during their 5-1 week. The 2018 34th round draft selection from Rutgers University is an excellent defensive catcher and is a great receiver to have on the team to lead the young Jersey Shore hurlers.
Kevin Vicuna ( 24 years old ) was 7 for 19 ( .368 ) for Reading during the week. He had a three hit game on 4/19 followed by a two hit contest the next day. The versatile defender from Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela has 2B,3B,RF and LF so far this season for the Fightin’s. He was signed as a minor league free agent in January.
Pitchers :
Starters :
RH Mick Abel ( 20 yrs old ) was outstanding on the hill on Saturday 4/23 for Jersey Shore going five scoreless innings, he had all of his arsenal working with both location and movement, the fastball was consistent in the 95 to 98 mph range. The young man can dominate an opponent when he’s on.
RH Griff McGarry was stellar on 4/20 as he struck out every batter he faced in two innings of work for Jersey Shore. He threw 26 pitches of which18 were strikes consistently registering 97-98 mph on the radar. The 22 year old was the 2021 5th round draft selection from the University of Virginia. He was slowed by an oblique injury in spring training which has limited his pitch counts in the early going. Can be a quick riser, stuff is upper level ready.
RH Cristian Hernandez - the 21 year old went five innings for Jersey Shore on 4/21 allowing one run on 3 hits and 2 walks. The fastball was popping the mitt at 96-97 mph for the evening. He was signed as an international free agent on 7/9/17 from Cumana, Venezuela. He generally has a three pitch mix with the fastball sitting 94-95 and a curve and changeup, the fastball was up a notch this past week.
Clearwater Strong : the Threshers swept 🧹 their series with Tampa - pitching was excellent
RH Andrew Painter ( 19 yrs old ) was spectacular on Saturday night ! The 19 year old pitched five scoreless innings and struck out 14 batters - 13 in a row to end his outing 🔥👍. He flat out dominated batters with a fastball sitting in the 96 to 100 mph range and a wipeout slider exploding at 78 to 86 mph. In three starts this season he’s pitched 12 innings allowing no earned runs, just four hits and three walks. Andrew has struck out a whopping 30 batters and has a WHIP of 0.58 👏
RH Oswald Medina ( 20 yrs old ) pitched four shutout frames on 4/20 allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out seven. The velocity doesn’t flash in the mid nineties ( yet ) but he can sure spin the baseball and showed big time off speed stuff.
LH Gabriel Cotto made a second consecutive solid start on 4/22 - his line : 4 2/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 4 BB, 1 HB, 4 K’s. In two starts this season the 21 year old has posted a 3.00 ERA in nine innings with 13 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.89.
LH Matt Osterberg made his first start of the season on 4/22. Matt tossed four scoreless frames allowing just two hits, no walks and struck out four batters. The 23 year old was the 2021 15th round draft selection from St. Cloud State, St. Cloud State, MN. He’s got a four pitch mix ( FB, sinker, change & slider ) with FB generally in the 90-93 range.
RH Gunner Mayer went 5 innings on Sunday, 4/24 - 5 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K’s - threw very well, his second consecutive strong start. He also pitched well on Sunday, 4/17 - 4 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 5 K’s. The 21 year old was the 2019 5th round draft selection from San Joaquin Delta JC in San Joaquin Delta JC, CA. His fastball sits in the 92-94 mph range and he features a curve and change up as secondaries - mix was excellent this past Sunday.
Andrew Painter - photo by Mark Wylie
Relievers :
Multiple strong Appearances during the week :
RH Francisco Morales ( 22 yrs old ) - Reading
2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 4 BB, 4 K’s - 43 pitches - 21 strikes - 4/20
2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K’s - 33 pitches - 20 strikes - FB sat 95-96 mph 🔥- slider just nasty - 4/23
LH Brian Marconi ( 24 yrs old ) - Reading
2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 5 K’s - 36 pitches - 26 strikes - 4/20
1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K - 11 pitches - 5 strikes - 2nd save in two opportunities - 4/23
RH Andrew Baker ( 22 yrs old ) - Jersey Shore
1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K’s - 18 pitches - 11 strikes - 4/19
1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K - 12 pitches - 6 strikes 🔥 4/22
RH Malik Binns ( 23 yrs old ) - Clearwater
2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K’s - 23 pitches - 17 strikes - 4/20
2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 HB, 0 BB, 4 K’s - 34 pitches - 22 strikes - 4/24
RH Tommy McCollum ( 22 yrs old ) - Clearwater
1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K’s - 26 pitches - 16 strikes - 4/20
2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 4 K’s - 24 pitches - 18 strikes - 4/24 - 95 mph on radar 🔥
RH Alex Garbrick ( 23 yrs old ) - Clearwater - 0.00 ERA in 4 games this season , 8 IP
2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K’s - 41 pitches - 21 strikes - FB reached 95 mph - 4/19
2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K’s - 23 pitches - 17 strikes - FB touched 95 - 4/22
RH Rodolfo Sanchez ( 22 yrs old ) - Clearwater
2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 K’s 🔥- 32 pitches - 21 strikes - FB - 94 mph - 4/19
1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K’s - 15 pitches - 10 strikes - FB touched 95 mph 4/22
RH Braden Zarbnisky ( 25 yrs old ) - Reading
1 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s - 19 pitches - 13 strikes - 4/20
2 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K’s - 26 pitches - 15 strikes - 4/22
LH Jeff Singer ( 28 yrs old ) - Lehigh Valley
1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K - 24 pitches - 17 strikes - 4/19
1 1/3 IP - retired all four batters he faced - 15 pitches - 11 strikes - 4/23
LH Erik Miller ( 24 yrs old ) - Reading
1 perfect IP, 1 K - 9 pitches - 7 strikes - 4/19
3 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 HB, 3 K’s - 32 pitches - 23 strikes - 4/23 - started the game
RH Dominic Pipkin ( 22 yrs old ) - Jersey Shore
1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s - 26 pitches - 15 strikes - 4/20
1 IP, 1 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K - 14 pitches - 7 strikes - 4/23
RH Tyler McKay ( 24 yrs old ) - Jersey Shore
2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K’s - 20 pitches - 15 strikes - 4/20
2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K - 30 pitches - 17 strikes - 4/23
RH Jason Ruffcorn ( 23 yrs old ) - Jersey Shore - 3 saves this season
1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 K’s - 21 pitches - 12 strikes - 4/19
1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 K’s - 28 pitches - 13 strikes - 4/22
1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K’s - 4/24
LH JP Woodward ( 23 yrs old ) - Jersey Shore
1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K’s - 20 pitches - 15 strikes - 4/19
2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 K’s - 26 pitches - 19 strikes - 4/22
Had a rough go on 4/24 - 2/3 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 HB, 0 K’s - 24 pitches - 11 strikes
LH Gabriel Yanez ( 22 yrs old ) - Clearwater
2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K’s - 31 pitches - 20 strikes - 4/19
2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 4 K’s - 39 pitches - 22 strikes - 4/24
RH Buddy Hayward ( 23 yrs old ) - Clearwater
2 IP, 1 unearned R, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K’s - 44 pitches - 24 strikes - 4/20
1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K - 21 pitches - 13 strikes - 4/24
RH Cam Wynne ( 23 yrs old ) - Clearwater
1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K’s - 18 pitches - 14 strikes - 4/21
1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K - 11 pitches - 8 strikes - 4/24
LH Damon Jones ( 27 yrs old ) - Lehigh Valley
1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K’s - 11 pitches - 9 strikes - 4/21
1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s - 17 pitches - 9 strikes - 4/24
RH Michael Kelly ( 29 yrs old ) - Lehigh Valley
1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K’s - 16 pitches - 8 strikes - 4/19
1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K - 16 pitches - 9 strikes - 4/21
1 perfect inning - 2 K’s - 22 pitches - 13 strikes - 4/24
RH Nick Duron ( 26 yrs old ) - Lehigh Valley
1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K - 26 pitches - 14 strikes - 4/20
1 perfect IP - 1 K - 11 pitches - 6 strikes - 94/95 mph on FB - 4/22
1 perfect IP - 1 K - 7 pitches - 5 strikes - 4/24
RH Matt Seelinger ( 27 yrs old ) - Reading
1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 K’s - 10 pitches - 6 strikes - 4/21
1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K’s - 25 pitches - 16 strikes - 4/24
Three Inning standouts :
LH Ethan Lindow ( 23 yrs old - Jersey Shore ) - 3 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 7 K’s - 56 pitches - 38 strikes - 4/20
LH Jhordany Mezquita ( 24 yrs old - Jersey Shore ) - 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K’s - 29 pitches - 22 strikes - 4/21
Two innings scoreless :
LH Jonathan Hennigan ( 27 yrs old ) - Lehigh Valley 2 IP, 0 R, 0, 1 BB, 3 K’s - 33 pitches - 24 strikes - 4/20
RH Jake Newberry ( 27 yrs old ) - Lehigh Valley - 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K’s - 27 pitches - 17 strikes - 4/21
RH Victor Lopez ( 22 yrs old ) - Clearwater - 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 5 K’s - 30 pitches - 23 strikes - FB touched 94 mph - 4/22
RH Bubby Rossman ( 29 yrs old ) - Reading - 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K’s - 27 pitches - 16 strikes - 4/23
2022 season win/loss records :
Lehigh Valley went 4-2 during the week and is now 9-9 overall
Reading went 1-5 during the week and is 4-11 overall
Jersey Shore went 5-1 during the week and is 6-9 overall
Clearwater went 6-0 🧹 during the week and is 7-8 overall
This coming week’s schedule :
AAA - Lehigh Valley will be at Scranton Wilkes-Barre ( Yankees affiliate )
AA - Reading will be at New Hampshire ( Blue Jays affiliate )
High A : Jersey Shore will be at Aberdeen ( Orioles affiliate )
Low A : Clearwater will be at Fort Myers ( Twins affiliate )
Extended Spring Training : at Tigers ( 4/26 ) & @ Yankees ( 4/29 )
I am posting this a day early and won’t be as diligent in my viewing or writing this coming week - my daughter Michelle is graduating from nursing school and a bunch of family members are coming to town to attend the ceremony and celebrate her accomplishment. It will be a great week of catching up with family but my writing hobby of Phillies minor league baseball will take a back seat for the week. I’ll still likely post updates - just won’t be from first hand accounts of watching the games and likely not as timely as usual. Consider me to be on the TIL ( Temporarily Inactive List ) 🤓. Just letting those of ya who read know in advance. 😎
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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