6/17/25 : This week in the minors

Play begins today for the final week of full season league first halves, the A levels will conclude first half play on 6/19 while the AA and AAA first halves conclude at the end of play on 6/22. In the International League the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs have a magic number of four to clinch the first half title. LHV hasn’t been to the playoffs since the 2018 season and their best finish since the first half/second half format was adopted was second place in 2023. Only two teams make the playoffs in the twenty team International League - the first and second half winners. Those two teams then travel to Las Vegas in September for a tournament with the ten team Pacific Coast League first/second half winners to determine both individual league champions as well as the overall AAA winner.

For those that seek such information Andrew Painter will pitch on Saturday this week. LHV fans can expect to see a new starter in their rotation during the week as well, yet to be disclosed. At Reading the club will welcome newly acquired infielder Nick Dunn to the lineup, he’s been a productive hitter to date in his minor league career (primarily in the Cardinals system) and will hopefully bolster the the offense in similar fashion that veterans Seth Beer and Alex Binelas have. It’s also anticipated that shortstop Aidan Miller returns to action. There will be an addition to the starting rotation at Reading as well this week that should also help. The Reading crew might just be an interesting team to watch in the second half with recently added Carson DeMartini playing alongside Miller on the left side of the infield. The team got off to a very slow start in April but has been closer to a .500 squad since - with the new additions and perhaps more to come they could be putting up more W’s going forward.

Jersey Shore and Clearwater will both finish the first half and open the second half this week. The BlueClaws have struggled at the dish collectively in the first half with perhaps some reinforcements coming for second half play. Clearwater clings to first half title hopes but Lakeland has a magic number of one to eliminate them. The rainy season is upon us in Florida so weather is always a factor with delays and postponements being each team’s dilemma to get games in.

On the backfields the FCL Phillies are a very young squad but there’s talent brewing - three young hurlers in particular catch scouting attention, Ramon Marquez, Brad Pacheco and Angel Liranzo.  It’s been fun to watch each progress thus far, before the summer concludes I anticipate they get a few innings with the Threshers as well. On the rehab side of things at the complex outfielders TJayy Walton, John Spikerman and Raylin Heredia have all recently been in the FCL Phillies lineup (including yesterday) on assignment - wouldn’t be surprised to see them back on full season rosters in the near future. LHP Tristan Garnett has also made good progress and will throw a live BP today which I hope to get there to watch - he’s coming back from a ST oblique issue, when he’s healthy Tristan has the ability to climb the ladder all the way to the top. Yesterday I met recently acquired RHP Ryan Cusick - he’s a big arm who was highly regarded coming out of the 2021 draft as the Braves first round selection from Wake Forest. The Braves traded him to Oakland as part of the 3/14/22 Matt Olson deal. Cusick has struggled throwing strikes and also commanding the zone when he does - he has been working at the complex in the lab, will throw a second side session today under the tutelage of the good people in the pitching lab to ascertain whether there are mechanical tweaks that can strengthen both. I think the Phillies development staff is very good and hopefully they can unleash the talent that young Mr. Cusick (he’s just 25 years old) possesses.  He could be very close to joining the LHV roster.  Others who have progressed to side sessions include lefties Camron Hill and Danny Wilkinson as well as RH Nate Karrafa.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

Photo by Cheryl Pursell

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