5/18/25 : Phillies Minor Leagues : week in review (5/12 - 5/18)

Written by Steve Potter

International League (AAA) : Lehigh Valley (31-14)

The IronPigs went 4-2 visiting Syracuse (Mets affiliate). In Wednesday’s extra inning win the team set a franchise record by scoring ten runs in the tenth inning, the most runs the ‘Pigs have ever score in an extra frame. It also tied the franchise record for most runs scored in any inning. Six IronPig home runs were hit in the game including two by Gabriel Rincones Jr - one of which was a grand slam. RH Andrew Painter went five workmanlike innings on Thursday, didn’t have his best stuff or command but he competed and picked up a win - Justin Crawford hit his first AAA level home run in the game and Buddy Kennedy posted three hits including a home run. Kennedy added two more hits on Saturday night including a home run and another two on Sunday (two doubles).

For the series Buddy Kennedy was 12 for 30 (.400) with 3 doubles, 4 home runs, 10 RBIs and 8 runs scored. Payton Henry was 4 for 12 in three games behind the dish. Justin Crawford went 8 for 25 (.320) with five runs scored, Otto Kemp 7 for 22 (.318) but was also hit by pitches four more times to post a .423 OBP in 26 PA’s. Erick Brito was 3 for 10 (.300) and had a .417 OBP in 13 PA’s.

Eastern League (AA) : Reading (13-23)

Reading was 4-2 hosting New Hampshire (Blue Jays affiliate). The bullpen delivered in a 2-1 victory on Wednesday after starter Moises Chace exited the contest in the second inning with an elbow injury (he will undergo TJ surgery) - four relievers combined to pitch scoreless baseball over seven and a third innings. Reading persevered in a back and forth contest on Thursday to post a walk-off win in the tenth inning on Leandro Pineda’s double. Cade Fergus and Paul McIntosh each had three hits in the 11-10 victory. RH Gabe Mosser pitched 6.2 innings (one run) on Friday night in a 3-2 win - Aidan Miller and Hendry Mendez both homered in that contest - RH Josh Hejka closed it with a scoreless ninth inning. Reading lost both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday but Leandro Pineda continued to hit with four knocks in the two games including two doubles.  Seth Beer homered and walked twice on Sunday, he scored three runs, his seventh inning home run turned out to be the game winner. RH Nelson Alvarez retired all four batters he faced in the eighth and ninth to close the win.  The series win was the first for Reading this year.

For the series Leandro Pineda went 8 for 19 (.421) with four doubles - he was 11 for 22 in plate appearances (.500), a needed strong week for Leandro as he’s scuffled thus far this year. Keaton Anthony was 7 for 19 (.368) with four doubles. Hendry Mendez 8 for 22 (.364) with two home runs and five RBIs, Aidan Miller 6 for 17 (.353) with a .450 OBP, Cade Fergus 4 for 13 (.308), Paul McIntosh 4 for 8 (.500) with four walks - .667 OBP and Felix Reyes 4 for 9 (.444) with four RBIs.  On the pitching side reliever RH Tommy McCollum had a great week - in two appearances he retired all ten batters he faced in 3.1 perfect frames of pitching. RH Travis Kuhn also pitched well in relief with three innings of scoreless baseball over two appearances. RH Mitch Neunborn yielded just one run over two appearances (5.1 IP).  Good production week for Reading!

South Atlantic League  (High A) : Jersey Shore (14-23)

The BlueClaws were 2-4 visiting Wilmington (Nationals affiliate). In the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader RH Alex McFarlane extended out to six innings allowing just one run - his fastball was clocked in the 97-99 mph range - great signs as this is his first year back from TJ recovery. LH Mavis Graves went 5.1 innings in the second game of the twin-bill allowing just one run in an 8-2 win. Friday’s game started but only two outs were recorded when a lightning flash forced players off the field  and into a two hour delay - it cost Micah Ottenbreit the start as he had already warmed up. RH Brandon Beckel pitched three innings (one run) as Ottenbreit’s replacement. RH Aaron Combs pitched four scoreless innings on Saturday but the club was shutout in a 2-0 loss. Ottenbreit started on Sunday and went four innings allowing just two runs (one earned), RH Estibenzon Jimenez pitched the final five innings in that game (two runs) to pick up his fourth win of the season.

The offense sputtered in all but two games of the series (scored 14 runs in two games and just 3 in the other four) - UTL Bryson Ware went 4 for 12 (.333) with four doubles, three runs scored and five RBIs - he walked three times posting a .438 OBP.

Florida State League (Low A)  : Clearwater (21-18)

Clearwater was 2-4 hosting Lakeland (Tigers affiliate). Aroon Escobar had three hits on Tuesday and Griffin Burkholder hit his first professional home run (it was an inside the parker). RH Luke Gabrysh pitched five innings (one run) on Wednesday, RH Gabriel Barbosa went two and a third scoreless frames in relief behind Gabrysh. Four Threshers pitchers combined to strikeout 20 Lakeland hitters Thursday with starter RH Sam Highfill recording seven in four innings of work, the offense was silent though in a 4-0 defeat. RH Ryan Degges went 5.2 innings on Friday night (two runs) and RH Adilson Peralta retired every batter he faced in 1.2 innings of relief. Aroon Escobar went five for five on Saturday including hitting his eighth home run of the season. RHP Ryan Dromboski continued his early season success going 5.1 innings (one run) striking out nine batters in that game - he lowered his overall ERA to 1.83 in 34.1 IP. RH Reese Dutton pitched 5.1 innings on Sunday (one run) and RH Zack Tukis went three frames (one run) to earn his first pro win. Dutton made two starts during the week totaling 9.2 innings of work.

Aroon Escobar was 9 for 21 (.429) for the series - he is now slashing .328/.429/.573 on the season in 156 PA’s with 8 doubles, 8 home runs and 25 RBIs.

Florida Complex League Phillies (3-8)

The FCL Phillies went 2-3 during the week. RH Danyony Pulido pitched two perfect innings striking out four batters on Tuesday in his first rehab appearance (is on Clearwater roster) since being placed on the IL in spring training. They got a walk-off win on Thursday as first baseman Rickardo Perez knocked a game winning double in the bottom of the tenth inning. LH Angel Liranzo pitched five scoreless frames in the contest and reliever RH Pedro Reyes threw three shutout frames - the game was a scoreless tie after nine innings with the Phillies eventually winning 3-2. On Friday third baseman Francisco Loreto (17 years old) had a day going five for five (four singles & HR) with a walk, five runs scored and four RBIs 😳.  Not to be out-shined catcher Alirio Ferrebus hit two home runs in that contest and posted five RBIs. Francisco Loreto was 8 for 19 (.421) with a double, triple, home run and four RBIs for the week. Infielder Isaias Dipre was 6 for 14 (.429) with four doubles.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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