Each Monday this year for the Phillies minor league full season affiliates is a scheduled off day. They get to re-charge from a six day run of games before starting on another stretch the next day.
Here’s a review of the past week with a spot light on players from each team who had good numbers and performances.
Lehigh Valley ( Overall Record 13-11, 2-4 during the past week) - next series @ Scranton Wilkes-Barre ... the RailRiders ( Yankees affiliate ) are 16-6 overall
C Edgar Cabral - went 5 for 13 ( .385 ) during the week in five games played. He’s been solid behind the dish coming back from practically two years of inactivity after having TJ surgery early in the 2019 season. For the year he’s hitting .289 with 9 RBIs in 45 AB’s
OF Travis Jankowski - went 3 for 8 ( .375 ) in three games vs Worcester, his .304/.451/.375 slash line in 19 games earned him a promotion to the big leagues on 5/30
INF Ruben Tejada - has had a hit in 10 of the 11 games he’s played with the Iron Pigs including 5 of 6 this past week. In 42 AB’s he’s slashing .286/.348/.310 and has been a good defender at both shortstop and second base.
OF Ryan Cordell - went 6 for 22 ( .273 ) during the week with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs. Dating back to 5/22 he had a seven game hitting streak which ended on 5/30. In 54 AB’s this season he’s hit 5 home runs and posted 11 RBIs.
Strong Pitching Efforts :
LH Bailey Falter - another strong outing on 5/29 going 4 2/3 scoreless frames and striking out 9 batters. In his last four starts he’s yielded just one run in 19 1/3 IP with 30 K’s while issuing only 4 walks. He’s also averaged yielding just 3 hits per game. Bailey has used precision command, a four pitch mix with his FB sitting in the 92-94 range and a unique ability with his delivery of hiding the baseball from the hitter. He’s definitely trending upwards 👍.
LH Christopher Sanchez - he went 5 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings on 5/26 with one walk and 8 K’s. When the 24 year old “big arm” hurler is within the zone he can dominate with a mid to upper 90’s FB, a slider and change up. He showed us that again this past week with his performance against Worcester.
Reading ( Overall Record 4-20, 1-5 during the past week) - next series @ Somerset ... the Patriots ( Yankees Affiliate ) are 16-7 overall
OF Jorge Bonifacio was training with the Guadalajara Mariachis of the Mexican League preparing to play with them during the 2021 season when the Phillies signed him on 5/25. He stepped into the Reading lineup full time on 5/27 and went 4 for 7 in a double header with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs. During the week he went 6 for 19 ( .316 ) with 1 double, 3 home runs and 10 RBIs. The veteran former major leaguer provided an impact bat to a struggling R Phils offense.
INF Daniel Brito - went 7 for 22 ( .318 ) during the week and has 10 hits in his last 34 AB’s ( .294 ) dating back to 5/21. He’s coming off a strong winter league effort playing for Zulia in Venezuela but was delayed due to visa issues getting over to the States. He would have been invited to participate in mini camp aligned to big league spring training but due to the delay began instead in Alternate Camp at Allentown. Indications are he’s starting to heat up now, good things to come 👍.
RHP Billy Sullivan - was promoted to Reading on 5/21 from High A Jersey Shore. In two appearances this week the hard throwing reliever ( FB 94-97 ) tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Overall this season he’s been in 8 games ( 10 1/3 IP ) with a WHIP of 0.87 ... 10 K’s and 4 walks. Three of his appearances have been at the AA level including a 2 scoreless inning stint on 5/21 in Akron. Billy has posted an ERA of 0.87 thus far.
Jersey Shore ( Overall Record 9-14, 1-4 during the past week) - next series @ home vs Brooklyn... the Cyclones ( Mets affiliate ) are 7-14 overall
OF Hunter Markwardt - went 6 for 16 ( .375 ) for the week including a 3 hit game on 5/29. He also stole 4 bases during the week. For the season Hunter is hitting .320/.400/.387 combined between Clearwater and Jersey Shore in 20 games ( 75 AB’s ) with 8 stolen bases.
OF Jhailyn Ortiz - went 7 for 19 ( .368 ) for the week including a 2 home run, 6 RBI game on 5/27 which included a grand slam home run. He also scored 6 runs in the series.
INF Bryson Stott - went 8 for 21 ( .381 ) during the week including a 3 hit game on 5/29 which included a double and home run. He drew two walks during the week giving him a system leading total of 22. Bryson’s slash line for the season now stands at .288/.453/.548 in 22 games ( 73 AB’s ) with an OPS of 1.001.
RHP Dominic Pipkin - the hard thrower pitched 3 scoreless innings on 5/26 allowing 2 hits and a walk while punching out 2 batters. That comes off his prior week 3 innings of shutout baseball on 5/20 when he also allowed just 2 hits while striking out 3 batters. On the season he’s struck out 14 batters in 12 IP ( 5 games ). When he’s in the zone, akin to Sanchez at LHV, he can dominate.
Clearwater ( Overall Record 11-13, 2-4 during the past week) - next series @ Daytona... the Tortugas ( Reds affiliate ) are 12-12 overall
UTL Nicolas Torres - he went 5 for 11 ( .454 ) in his last three games of the week and 5 for 16 during the week. Nicolas had all three of the team’s hits in their 3-2 win on 5/30 and scored the game winning run. He’s played five defensive positions for the team this year ( 2B, SS, 3B, RF, LF ) and is an excellent defender whereever he plays. The 21 year old hopes to utilize that versatility to continue climbing the ladder.
INF Luis Garcia - went 6 for 21 ( .286 ) for the week including two multi hit games and hits in four of the six games he played. He was robbed by Mother Nature of a home run on 5/29 when the wind blew what would have been a tater back into play. Defensively he’s been outstanding at both second base and shortstop. Just 20 years old ... the future remains as bright for him as his wide smile displays each time we’ve seen him play. 🤓
Strong Pitching Efforts :
RH Starlyn Castillo - he made two appearances during the week ... first on 5/25 he went four innings allowing 3 runs on 6 hits but walked none and struck out 4 batters. He twirled a gem on 5/30 going 5 scoreless innings allowing just 2 hits, no walks and punched out two batters. For the season he’s now pitched in 5 games ( 3 starts ) totaling 18 IP and has a WHIP of 1.06 and an ERA of 2.00 with 20 K’s and 7 BB - 5 of the walks came in one game ... in the others he’s had great control. A power arm ( FB 92-96 ) who’s just 19 years old with great command ... that’s promising indeed 😎.
RH Cristian Hernandez - went 3 1/3 scoreless innings on 5/27 allowing no hits and one walk while striking out 2 batters. He’s punched out 24 batters in 17 1/3 IP with only 3 walks and has a WHIP of 0.87 with an ERA of 2.08. The 20 year old has consistently posted his fastball in the 93 to 97 mph range and has shown two good supporting pitches in a changeup and curveball.
LH Rafael Marcano - also made two appearances during the week as part of the piggyback tandem with Castillo. His first outing on 5/25 was short going just 1 2/3 IP yet he yielded just 1 unearned run on 2 hits, 1 walk and struck out 4 batters. On 5/30 he was outstanding going 4 scoreless innings producing 8 groundouts allowing just 2 hits and a HBP with 3 punch outs. The 21 year old has posted 20 K’s and 5 walks in 5 games ( 2 starts - 15 1/3 IP ) on the season with a 1.20 ERA and WHIP. He has been consistently in the 92-96 range with his fastball, yet another young arm to get pumped about eh 😃
RH Mick Abel - the 19 year old went 3 2/3 innings on 5/28 allowing 1 run on 3 hits and a walk, he struck out 3 batters. For the season he’s recorded 17 strikeouts and 6 walks in 14 IP and has a 1.14 WHIP. Mick has shown a four pitch mix with an electric fastball ( 93-98 mph ) being the attention getter. As he stretches out more each coming start it’s gonna be fun watching him develop. Big time potential.
RH Victor Vargas - he went 4 innings in a relief appearance on 5/29 allowing 1 run on 5 hits and no walks while striking out 5 batters. It was a good bounce back performance for the 20 year old from his last start on 5/23. Victor has recorded 18 K’s and only 2 walks in 15 IP for the season.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️