5/25/25 : Phillies Minor Leagues : week in review (5/19 - 5/25)

Written by Steve Potter

International League (AAA) : Lehigh Valley (36-15)

The IronPigs went 5-1 hosting  Buffalo (Blue Jays affiliate). Oscar Mercado had two hits on Tuesday and manufactured what turned out to be the game winning run by stealing third base in the eighth inning and scoring on an errant throw by the catcher. Garrett Stubbs had three hits (two singles & double) in Wednesday night’s eight inning rain shortened win, RH Andrew Painter pitched four innings and struck out seven in that contest. Justin Crawford had a three hit game on Friday night. RH Mick Abel continued to dominate on Saturday with a six inning performance (one run on three hits) in game one of a doubleheader sweep, at one point in the game he retired nine batters in order. RHKyle Tyler was equally brilliant in game two going six innings (two runs - one hit), his first five innings of work were perfect as he retired all fifteen batters he faced. RH Alan Rangel struck out nine batters in five innings of work on Sunday (one run) - the IronPigs stole eight bases in that game.

Justin Crawford went 7 for 17 (.412) this week with a double and triple and six runs scored - he also had four walks (.524 OBP in 22 plate appearances). He has an eleven game hitting streak (16 for 46 - .348 - 3 doubles, triple & HR) and is posting a .377 batting average for the month of May (29 for 77) with a .435 OBP. On the season he’s hitting .328 with a .395 OBP in 206 plate appearances. When you watch Justin play everyday you can’t help but marvel at his bat to ball skills, especially with two strikes on him. His ability to put the ball in play for base hits or place the ball in competitive spots to get a hit is uncanny. It’s a skill that is very infrequently talked about by folks but it is indeed an ability that is elite and not many players possess. I am continually impressed with how he carries himself, plays hard every game and the skill set he possesses - he’s a dynamic player.

Oscar Mercado went 5 for 13 (.385) for the series with five stolen bases, four walks and two HBP’s - a .579 OBP in 19 PA’s. Rodolfo Castro was 5 for 15 (.333) with a .412 OBP in 17 PA’s. Cal Stevenson was 6 for 18 (.333) with a .455 OBP in 22 PA’s. Garrett Stubbs posted a .538 OBP in 13 PA’s. Christian Arroyo went 5 for 16 (.316) and Otto Kemp had a .423 OBP in 26 PA’s with 6 hits including two home runs, seven RBIs, five runs scored, three walks and two HBP’s.

Eastern League (AA) : Reading (16-27)

Reading was 3-4 visiting Portland (Red Sox affiliate). They swept a doubleheader on Wednesday with RH Gabe Mosser pitching six innings (one run) in game one and four relievers (including RH Gunner Mayer - 3 IP, no runs and RH Tommy McCollum - two scoreless frames) combining for a winning effort in game two. RH Chuck King pitched six innings (two runs - one earned) on Thursday night, catcher Andrick Nava posted three hits in that game. RH Luke Russo pitched five innings Saturday night (two runs). RH Jean Cabrera pitched five innings on Sunday (two earned runs) and RH Tommy McCollum threw two more scoreless innings with RH Travis Kuhn closing out the win with two shutout frames. Robert Moore delivered a two RBI triple in the ninth inning of that game and then scored himself on an errant throw.

OF/1B Leandro Pineda went 6 for 15 (.400) with three doubles and four runs scored, 1B Keaton Anthony 7 for 21 (.333) and OF Hendry Mendez 7 for 22 (.318) with five RBIs in the series.

South Atlantic League  (High A) : Jersey Shore (17-27)

The BlueClaws were 3-4 hosting Brooklyn (Mets affiliate). Bryan Rincon had three hits in Tuesday’s win including a seventh inning grand slam home run that turned out to be the game winner. Lefty relievers Wesley Moore (1.2 IP) and Erubiel Armenta (2 IP) pitched scoreless baseball on Thursday. Matt Higgins had three hits (singles) with an RBI and two runs scored in Saturday’s win. Two relievers (RH Andrew Baker - 1.2 IP and RH Ethan Chenault - 2 IP) pitched scoreless baseball in that game. RH Brandon Beckel pitched 3.1 scoreless innings in relief in game one of Sunday’s doubleheader. Bryson Ware had four hits in the Sunday doubleheader (two singles double, home run).

For the week INF Carson DeMartini was 8 for 23 (.348) with a triple, two home runs and seven RBIs, he walked 3 times and posted a .429 OBP in 28 PA’s. 1B Matt Higgins went 5 for 11 (.455) with two walks and a HBP in 15 PA’s (.533 OBP) and SS Bryan Rincon 6 for 20 (.300) with two doubles, a triple, home run, five RBIs and five runs scored (.391 OBP in 24 PA’s).

Florida State League (Low A)  : Clearwater (24-21)

Clearwater was 3-3 visiting Bradenton (Pirates affiliate). RH Luke Gabrysh pitched five scoreless innings on Tuesday in a win and Eduardo Tait had two hits including his seventh home run of the season. RH reliever Jose Pena Jr stood out on Wednesday retiring all four batters he faced, he then closed a win on Saturday with a perfect ninth inning lowering his season ERA to a sparkling 1.20 in twelve appearances (15 IP) with 17 K’s and 4 walks (0.87 WHIP). RH Ryan Degges threw five frames on Thursday (two unearned runs) and left-handers Kevin Warunek and AJ Wilson each threw a scoreless inning in relief. Griffin Burkholder had two hits (double & triple) on Friday night. Eduardo Tait had four hits on Saturday night (three singles and a double) with three RBIs. Infielder Raider Tello had three hits (single,double & HR) in Sunday’s win and RH Luke Gabrysh pitched three more scoreless innings (one hit) in his second start of the week.

Catcher Eduardo Tait went 8 for 23 (.348) for the series with a double, home run and five RBIs. INF Raider Tello was 8 for 19 (.421), Catcher Kodey Shojinaga 7 for 17 (.412), OF Carter Mathison 5 for 15 (.333) and second baseman Aroon Escobar had a .414 OBP (6 hits, 4 walks, 2 HBP & 6 runs scored) in 29 plate appearances.

Florida Complex League Phillies (4-12)

The FCL Phillies went 1-4 during the week. Manolfi Jimenez had two hits on Monday and three more on Tuesday including a home run. Rehab assignment (from Clearwater) right handers Danyony Pulido and Guissepe Velasquez each threw two scoreless innings in a Tuesday win over the Blue Jays. LH Erick Ritchie pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief on Thursday. RH Alexis De La Cruz threw three scoreless innings in relief on Friday.

Outfielder Isaias Dipre was 4 for 11 (.364) with five walks (.529 OBP in 17 PA’s), 1B Rickardo Perez 3 for 8 (.375) and outfielder Manofli Jimenez 5 for 15 (.333) for the week.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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