The Phillies and Blue Jays extended spring training ( XST ) teams met this morning in a 10 AM nine inning contest. It ended in a 6-6 tie with Edward Barboza tripling to right center field to score Yemal Flores ( doubled ) with the game tying run in the bottom of the ninth.
RHP Starlyn Castillo made his initial return to game action by pitching the first inning. The 20 year old Dominican pitched a scoreless/hitless frame with two walks and a K consistently hitting 92-93 mph and touching as high as 96 on the radar 🔥.
LH Jose Acuna threw 2 2/3 innings today, LH Christopher Soriano went 1 1/3, RH DJ Jefferson pitched 2 frames and RH Ty Collins went two innings. Acuna had three K’s during his outing - big breaking hook and good life on the FB. Jefferson punched out four batters - when he throws strikes he can be very difficult to hit - big arm.
Barboza also added a single for a two hit game. Randy Vasquez & Jordan Viars had singles - Viars was very active on the base paths with a couple steals and scored on a wild pitch. Kevin Vicuna hit a three run home run and had two hits ( the other a single).
Rafael Marchan returned to game action this week - he caught the first half of today’s game. Marchan is eligible to come off the major league IL on June 7th but could begin a rehab assignment before that. Jordan Viars played right field today, the young man is an exciting player to watch - beautiful left handed swing 💪.
Starlyn Castillo delivers a strike ( Rafael Marchan catching )
Jordan Viars - he plays hard - slides into bases ripped the pants 😎
New arrivals :
Infielders Jehisbert Sevilla ( 19 yrs old from Venezuela ), Diego Gonzalez ( 18 yrs old from Venezuela ) and Outfielder
Solardo Rodriguez ( 18 yrs old from Venezuela ) played in today’s contest. Sevilla played shortstop and had an RBI double down the left field line in his first AB. Gonzalez played second base ( made a very athletic off balance throw to get a runner at 1B on a grounder up the middle ) and Rodriquez played left field.
Also new in camp is LHP Nick Fanti who has re-signed with the organization. The 25 year old is one year removed from TJ surgery and will work towards his return to action at the Complex. He is the author of two no hitters during the 2017 season at Lakewood - I really like the investment to bring him back as there’s unfinished business for the talented young man !
Jehisbert Sevilla
Solardo Rodriguez
Live BP on Roberts Field
While the XST game was being played on Ashburn Field three pitchers threw live BP sessions on Roberts. RH Albertus Barber, RH Sam Jacobsak & RH Brett Schulze each threw. It’s a marathon and not a sprint to work back from injuries - each day and week with progression is the goal.
Albertus Barber throwing to Catcher Freddy Francisco with Chris Burke hitting.
Florida Complex League
Next week is the Atlantic Association Conference college tournament at BayCare Ballpark. The collegians also use the two front fields at the Complex so the Phillies XST team will be on the road next week. There’s only a couple weeks left of extended spring camp.
The Florida Complex League ( FCL ) begins on June 6th. There are 16 teams in the league with the Astros as the only organization fielding two teams ( Blue & Orange ). Others are the Phillies, Marlins, Mets, Nationals, Cardinals, Tigers, Blue Jays, Yankees, Orioles, Pirates, Rays, Braves, Red Sox and Twins.
The game schedule is a regional one determined by each teams complex locations so as to limit travel - the Phillies will only play games against the Blue Jays ( Dunedin ), Yankees ( Tampa ) and Tigers ( Lakeland ). The two Astros teams will play in a group with the Mets, Marlins, Nationals & Cardinals on the east coast of Florida. The Braves, Rays, Orioles, Red Sox, Twins and Pirates will form the third divisional play group in the southwest part of the state.
Here’s the Phillies schedule for the FCL.
6/6 - Blue Jays @ Phillies
6/7 - Phillies @ Blue Jays
6/8 - League Off Day
6/9 - Yankees @ Phillies
6/10 - Phillies @ Yankees
6/11 - Phillies @ Tigers
6/12 - League Off Day
6/13 - Tigers @ Phillies
6/14 - Phillies @ Blue Jays
6/15 - League Off Day
6/16 - Blue Jays @ Phillies
6/17 - Phillies @ Yankees
6/18 - Yankees @ Phillies
6/19 - League Off Day
6/20 - Tigers @ Phillies
6/21 - Phillies @ Tigers
6/22 - League Off Day
6/23 - Blue Jays @ Phillies
6/24 - Phillies @ Blue Jays
6/25 - Yankees @ Phillies
6/26 - League Off Day
6/27 - Phillies @ Yankees
6/28 - Phillies @ Tigers
6/29 - League Off Day
6/30 - Tigers @ Phillies
7/1 - Phillies @ Blue Jays
7/2 - Blue Jays @ Phillies
7/3 - League Off Day
7/4 - Phillies @ Yankees
7/5 - Yankees @ Phillies
7/6 - League Off Day
7/7 - Tigers @ Phillies
7/8 - Phillies @ Tigers
7/9 - Blue Jays @ Phillies
7/10 - League Off Day
7/11 - Phillies @ Blue Jays
7/12 - Yankees @ Phillies
7/13 - League Off Day
7/14 - Phillies @ Yankees
7/15 - Phillies @ Tigers
7/16 - Tigers @ Phillies
7/17 - League Off Day
7/18 - League Off Day
7/19 - League Off Day
7/20 - League Off Day
7/21 - Phillies @ Blue Jays
7/22 - Blue Jays @ Phillies
7/23 - Phillies @ Yankees
7/24 - League Off Day
7/25 - Yankees @ Phillies
7/26 - Tigers @ Phillies
7/27 - League Off Day
7/28 - Phillies @ Tigers
7/29 - Blue Jays @ Phillies
7/30 - Phillies @ Blue Jays
7/31 - League Off Day
8/1 - Yankees @ Phillies
8/2 - Phillies @ Yankees
8/3 - League Off Day
8/4 - Phillies @ Tigers
8/5 - Tigers @ Phillies
8/6 - Phillies @ Blue Jays
8/7 - League Off Day
8/8 - Blue Jays @ Phillies
8/9 - Phillies @ Yankees
8/10 - League Off Day
8/11 - Yankees @ Phillies
8/12 - Tigers @ Phillies
8/13 - Phillies @ Tigers
8/14 - League Off Day
8/15 - Blue Jays @ Phillies
8/16 - Phillies @ Blue Jays
8/17 - League Off Day
8/18 - Yankees @ Phillies
8/19 - Phillies @ Yankees
8/20 - Phillies @ Tigers
8/21 - League Off Day
8/22 - Tigers @ Phillies
8/23 - Phillies @ Blue Jays
8/24 - League Off Day
8/25 - Playoffs
8/26 - Playoffs
8/27 - Playoffs
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️