4/27/25 : Phillies Minor Leagues : week in review (4/21 - 4/27)

Written by Steve Potter

International League (AAA) : Lehigh Valley (19-8)

The IronPigs went 5-1 hosting Columbus (Guardians affiliate). LHP Ranger Suarez pitched five scoreless innings on Tuesday in a rehab appearance and 4.2 more innings (2 R - 1 earned) on Sunday, he struck out 13 and walked four - fastball generally sat 92-93 mph, secondaries were Ranger like. RHP Mick Abel was outstanding on Wednesday going seven innings allowing just one run on four hits - great composure - FB range 94 to 99 mph (threw both sinker and four seamer) - last pitch was a 95 mph sinker. Used his slider as primary secondary - great bite and command - brought in the curve and change up later in the outing. RHP Nasbil Crismatt threw six scoreless frames on Thursday and RHP Kyle Tyler went five innings on Friday allowing two runs - one earned.

RHP Seth Johnson converted to a reliever and made three scoreless appearances in the series (4 IP, 1 H, 4 BB, 6 K’s) popping the mitt consistently in the 96-98 mph range. RH Joel Kuhnel (1.54 ERA overall in 10 games - 11.2 IP - 2 scoreless appearances- 1.1 IP this week), RH Brett de Geus (0.00 overall ERA in 7 appearances - 10 IP - 2 appearances - 3.1 IP this week - 1 unearned run), RH Guillo Zuniga (1.17 overall ERA in 8 appearances - 7.2 IP - 2 appearances, 1.2 IP, 1 R this week), RH Koyo Aoyagi (1.13 overall ERA in 8 appearances - 8 IP - 1 scoreless appearance this week) and RH Nicholas Padilla (0.00 overall ERA in 8 appearances - 8.2 IP - 1 scoreless appearance this week) continued to be bullpen standouts. RH Austin Schulfer (2 IP) and LH Nick Vespi (1.1 IP) each made two scoreless appearances out of the pen in the series.

Offensively the club scored 35 runs with UTL Otto Kemp (9 for 19, 5 doubles, HR, 6 RBIs -.583 OBP in 24 PA’s) having an eventful week - he was hit by a pitch four times in Tuesday’s game and had four hits (three doubles) in Friday’s contest then a double and home run on Sunday. Oscar Mercado (5 for 18, 5 BB - .458 OBP in 24 PA’s), Erick Brito ( 7 for 16, double, 4 walks, .550 OBP in 21 PA’s), Cade Fergus (6 for 10 (.600), 3 HR, 6 RBI’s including walk-off HR on Thursday), Justin Crawford (6 for 17, 3 doubles, 3 BB, .450 OBP in 20 PA’s) and Garrett Stubbs (4 for 15, HR, 3 BB, .389 OBP in 19 PA’s) all had strong weeks.

Eastern League (AA) : Reading (5-14)

Reading continued to struggle going 0-4 at Portland (Red Sox affiliate). RHP Jean Cabrera stretched out to six innings (four runs against on five hits and for walks) on Tuesday and had a lead when he exited but the bullpen couldn’t hold it. LHP Braeden Fausnaught went five innings on Wednesday (1 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 7 K’s) but once again the bullpen yielded game winning runs. RHP Chuck King was excellent on Thursday going five scoreless frames allowing just one hit but late rallies against the bullpen resulted in a Portland win. The recurring theme continued on Friday as starter RHP Gabe Mosser went six innings allowing just one unearned run on three hits but a ninth inning walk-off home run earned Portland the W.

Offensively it was an uphill battle for most of the week as the team scored just 13 runs (eight in Tuesday’s game). Catcher Jordan Dissin was 4 for 10 including two games in which he had two hits. First baseman Keaton Anthony was 4 for 12 and IF/OF Felix Reyes went 3 for 10.

Games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday were both postponed due to rain.

South Atlantic League  (High A) : Jersey Shore (7-13)

Jersey Shore hosted Brooklyn (Mets affiliate) and went 2-3, Saturday night’s game was rained out. RHP Casey Steward dominated on Tuesday going six shutout frames (2 H, 0 BB) in a 3-1 win. Both RHP Alex McFarlane (4 IP, 2 unearned R, 1 H) and RHP Luke Russo (5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 6 K’s) excelled on Wednesday in a tandem effort but the offense was stymied in a 2-1 loss. RHP Braydon Tucker pitched well in relief on Friday (5 IP, 1 R, 6 H). RHP Brandon Beckel threw two scoreless frames on Thursday.

Infielder Carson DeMartini had four two hit games and went 9 for 21 (.429) during the week. Second baseman Devin Saltiban had a three hit game on Thursday and hit his first High A level home run on Sunday, he recorded a .391 OBP in 23 PA’s in the series. C/1B Kehden Hettiger had a good week going 4 for 10 with two doubles and a home run. 1B/OF Eduardo Lopez had a three hit game (two doubles & HR) on Sunday posting five RBIs. Bryan Rincon had seven walks in 19 PA’s and posted a .474 OBP.  Raylin Heredia hit his first High A level home run on Sunday.

Florida State League (Low A)  : Clearwater (11-10)

The Threshers hosted Fort Myers (Twins affiliate) and went 2-4 for the week. RHP Enrique Segura posted a strong outing on Wednesday (5 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB) and LHP Kevin Warunek made his pro debut in the same game with a perfect inning in relief (he threw another perfect inning on Sunday). LHP AJ Wilson retired all five batters he faced in Wednesday’s game. Wilson threw three more scoreless innings on Sunday and hasn’t yielded an earned run in any of his five appearances (9 IP) to date. RHP Andrew Painter threw three scoreless frames on Thursday with reliever RHP Marcus Morgan turning in a solid effort going two scoreless innings. RHP Ryan Degges continued to pitch well - he went 2.1 scoreless innings on Friday allowing just a walk. RHP Titan Hayes posted another save - the fireballer (upper nineties to triple digits) threw two scoreless frames (one on Wednesday & one on Sunday) and has four saves to date in five opportunities. Right handers Ryan Dromboski and Jake Eddington each threw two scoreless innings out of the bullpen on Saturday night.

Offensively Aroon Escobar (4 hits, 7 walks, HR, .545 OBP in 22 PA’s), Dante Nori (7 for 21 - three two hit games), Raider Tello (6 for 19, HR, 3 RBIs), Brady Day (5 for 17), Eduardo Tait (6 for 22, HR, 4 RBIs) and Diego Gonzalez (3 for 9 with 5 walks - .600 OBP in 15 PA’s) had solid  weeks.

Extended Spring Training - 1-3 for the week

The Phillies XST crew went 1-3 defeating the Blue Jays on Friday but losing contests against the Tigers, Blue Jays and Yankees earlier in the week. On the hill nineteen year old RHP Brad Pacheco impressed on Friday against the Blue Jays with two dominant scoreless innings - upper nineties fastball and sharp slider. Relievers Joel Heredia, Josbel Garcia, Eligio Arias and Orlando Gonzalez each made two scoreless game appearances this week. Garcia popped 98 mph on the radar gun. Offensively outfielder Griffin Burkholder (he was transferred to Threshers on Saturday), C/3B Yhoan Escalona and Infielder Francisco Loreto had good weeks, both Escalona and Loreto hit home runs.  Extended Spring Training concludes on May 2nd with the Florida Complex League slated to open on May 3rd.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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