The Phillies have historically issued minor league “Player of the Month” awards. Below are a few nominations for the May awards 🤔🤓. Last month outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr and pitcher Orion Kerkering were chosen as the award winners.
Hitter of the Month :
Marcus Lee Sang (Jersey Shore) - the 22 year old left handed hitting outfielder (2019 11th round draft selection) posted a .352 batting average (31 for 88) with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs and 18 RBIs. He walked 24 times which contributed to his .491 OBP for the month. Marcus recorded a 1.048 OPS in May and continued to play great defense in the outfield, an outstanding month. For the season he’s hitting .315 with a .448 OBP with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs and 28 RBI’s - he walked 35 times and stolen 13 bases.
Justin Crawford (Clearwater) - the 19 year old (2022 1st round draft selection) went 26 for 74 posting a .351 batting average for the month and a .417 OBP with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 14 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. On the season he’s hitting .338 (44 for 130) with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 24 RBI’s and 20 stolen bases. He’s an electric player both on offense and defense.
Johan Rojas (Reading) - a very strong month for the 22 year old from the Dominican Republic (signed 1/18/18) as he went 36 for 104 (.346) with 5 doubles, 2 triples and 3 home runs, 14 RBIs and 10 stolen bases and recorded a .395 OBP. For the season he’s hitting a solid .295 in 183 AB’s with 15 extra base hits and 16 stolen bases, his OBP for the year is .360. Johan continues to play stellar defense in center field as well.
Emaarion Boyd (Clearwater) - .421 OBP, 21 for 64 (.328 batting average), 2 doubles, 9 RBIs, 10 stolen bases for the 19 year old 2022 11th round draft selection. He leads the organization in stolen bases with 24 for the season and is hitting a solid. 270 on the year in 111 AB’s with a .388 OBP. Quick hands and excellent speed make him a player who will be exciting to continue to watch develop. He’s got game changing speed and with added strength will impact the baseball even more than he already has.
Jake Cave (Lehigh Valley) - the 30 year old outfielder was optioned to the minor leagues on May 2nd after going three for four in a game against Houston on April 2nd. In his first 21 games with the Iron Pigs he produced a hit in every contest (an overall 22 game hitting streak). With Lehigh Valley overall in 23 games he’s posted a .404 batting average (38 for 94) with 16 doubles, 7 home runs and 22 RBIs and has a .500 OBP and an 1.298 OPS. That’s pretty good 🤓.
Simon Muzziotti (Lehigh Valley) - the International League leader (to qualify must have 2.7 plate appearances per team game played) was 30 for 91 (.330) with a .413 OBP for the month with 8 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs and 14 RBIs. The 24 year old Venezuelan is having his best season start by far in his career, he’s hitting .355 in 183 AB’s and has a .402 OBP.
Cade Fergus (Clearwater) - the 22 year old (2022 13th round draft selection) posted a .351 batting average (20 for 57) with 7 doubles, 4 home runs and 17 RBIs. His OBP for the month was .413 in 18 games played with an OPS of 1.097. He’s played all three outfield positions this season.
Kendall Simmons (Jersey Shore) - the 23 year old infielder (2018 6th round draft selection) went 25 for 79 (.316) for the month with 4 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs and 17 RBIs. He posted a .400 OBP and a 1.033 OPS including a .633 slugging percentage. Kendall was activated from the injured list on April 23rd and hasn’t missed a beat since, he’s played both second base and third base defensively this season. Unfortunately he hurt his knee in the game on May 27th and is back on the injured list, hopefully not for long.
Otto Kemp (Clearwater) - the 23 year old infielder (signed 8/1/22 as an un-drafted free agent) had a 29 game on base streak dating back into April and posted a .411 OBP with 4 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs and 14 RBIs. He walked 15 times during the month and recorded a .911 OPS. The California native had played second and third base defensively this season.
Weston Wilson (Lehigh Valley) - the 28 year old versatility player was 31 for 99 (.313) with a .417 OBP - 6 doubles, 8 home runs, 29 RBIs and a 1.033 OPS for the month. He was signed on 1/11/23 as a minor league free agent from the Brewers and had a solid spring training camp with the big club and leads the Iron Pigs with 13 home runs and 41 RBIs. Weston has played four defensive positions to date for Lehigh Valley (1B,SS,3B, LF).
Others with strong months :
AAA Lehigh Valley :
Jhailyn Ortiz - 15 for 53 (.283) with a .400 OBP - 3 doubles, 1 triple and 3 home runs
Drew Ellis - 21 for 78 (.284) with 4 doubles, 8 home runs and 27 RBIs between Reading & LHV - .380 OBP
AA Reading :
Oliver Dunn - .422 OBP, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, 17 RBIs, 24 walks
Matt Kroon - 27 for 86 (.314) with 5 doubles, 2 home runs and 13 RBIs, .396 OBP
Madison Stokes - .396 OBP, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 11 RBIs, 16 walks
McCarthy Tatum - .389 OBP, 4 doubles, 10 RBIs
Nick Podkul - .388 OBP with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs and 15 RBIs
High A Jersey Shore :
Casey Martin - 27 for 90 (.300) with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs and 11 RBIs, .370 OBP
Hao Yu Lee - 15 for 41 (.366), .410 OBP in 51 PA’s - IL 5/19/23
Freylin Minyety - .327 BA (17 for 52) between Clearwater and JS, .386 OBP
Clearwater :
Gabriel Rincones Jr - 7 doubles, 1 home run, 6 RBIs, 11 walks, .390 OBP
Jordan Dissin - .431 OBP, 5 doubles, HR, 11 RBIs, 12 walks
Bryan Rincon - .414 OBP, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 16 RBIs, 16 walks
Pitcher of the Month :
Wen Hui Pan (Clearwater) - the 20 year old right hander made 6 appearances (16 2/3 IP) and recorded a 0.96 WHIP and 2.16 ERA holding opponents to a .175 batting average striking out 11 batters while walking six. He’s been dominant since signing as an international free agent from Hualien, Taiwan on 1/15/23. In nine games overall he’s posted a 1.52 ERA in 23 2/3 innings with 22 strikeouts and an outstanding 0.80 WHIP.
Rodolfo Sanchez (Jersey Shore) - he had 9 appearances during the month - 12 2/3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 15 K’s, 6 BB. The 23 year old right hander was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Rays on 11/5/20 and has pitched well as a back end reliever since. This year he’s posted a 1.80 ERA in 15 games (20 IP) with 28 strikeouts. He’s pitched scoreless baseball in 13 of his appearances and hasn’t given up a run in his last 12 games (17 2/3 IP) allowing just seven hits and striking out 25 batters.
Orion Kerkering (Clearwater/Jersey Shore) - made 10 appearances in May - 12 1/3 IP, 1.46 ERA, 18 K’s, 0.73 WHIP continuing his standout start to the season. The 22 year old right hander (2022 5th round draft choice - South Florida) has a 0.92 ERA in 17 games this season (19 2/3 IP) with 31 strikeouts and just 4 walks, opponents are hitting a combined .106 against him and he has a 0.56 WHIP. Orion was promoted to Jersey Shore on 5/9/23.
Jordan Fowler (Jersey Shore) - the 24 year old lefty (signed as an un-drafted free agent 6/14/20 - Central Missouri) made four starts and posted a 2.75 ERA in 19 2/3 IP with 14 K’s, 4 BB and a 1.37 WHIP. He’s been the anchor of the Jersey Shore starting rotation and is 3-1 for the season in eight starts with a 2.92 ERA in 37 innings pitched. Jordan pitched this off-season for Adelaide in the Australian Baseball League and was a key part of their championship as he recorded a 1.63 ERA in ten games (38 2/3 IP) for the Giants.
Andrew Walling (Clearwater) - the 23 year old lefty (signed 8/1/22 as an un-drafted free agent from Mississippi State) made 8 appearances (eleven and one third IP) and recorded a 0.00 ERA and 0.97 WHIP striking out 14 batters, walking seven and allowing four hits. For the season he’s 4-0 with a 2.18 ERA in 20 2/3 innings pitched.
Jack Dallas (Clearwater) - in eight appearances (14 1/3 IP) he recorded a 0.63 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 14 strikeouts allowing 7 walks and 9 hits, batters hit .188 against him. For the season he’s posted a 0.35 ERA in 16 games (25 2/3 IP) with 26 strikeouts. The 24 year old right hander was signed on 8/1/22 as an un-drafted free agent from Lamar University.
Wesley Moore (Clearwater) - in eight appearances (13 2/3 IP) the lefty posted a 1.32 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP striking out 22 batters while walking 5 and yielding 9 hits. Opponents hit .188 against him. On the season he’s got a 0.79 ERA in 22 2/3 innings with 37 strikeouts in 15 games. Wesley is 23 years old and was signed on 11/9/22 as an un-drafted free agent from Kansas State.
Others with strong months :
AAA Lehigh Valley :
LH Ben Bowden - 9 appearances - 11 2/3 IP, 1.54 ERA
LH Jakob Hernandez - 8 appearances - 11 IP, 1.64 ERA
RH Jeremy Walker - 11 appearances - 17 2/3 IP, 2.04 ERA
AA Reading :
RH Cristian Hernandez - 7 appearances - 11 2/3 IP, 0.77 ERA, 12 K’s , 1.20 WHIP
RH Matt Seelinger - 9 appearances - 11 1/3 IP, 0.79 ERA, 0.97 WHIP
RH Adam Leverett - 7 appearances - 11 IP, 2.45 ERA, 12 K’s
High A Jersey Shore :
RH Alex Garbrick - 8 appearances - 1.50 ERA - 12 IP, 12 K’s, 1.25 WHIP
RH Tommy McCollum - 10 appearances - 2.70 ERA, 17 K’s, .094 opponents BA
LH Rafael Marcano - 5 appearances - 3.06 ERA - 17 2/3 IP
Low A Clearwater :
RH Jonh Henriquez -3.45 ERA in 7 appearances (15 2/3 IP) - opponents BA of .196
RH Estibenzon Jimenez - 3.10 ERA in 5 starts - 20 1/3 IP - 23 K’s
Photos by Casey Burns, Mark Wylie, Michael Dolcemascolo, Rebecca Alexander, George Youngs Jr & Cheryl Pursell.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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