6/2/25 : The Minor League stretch to the Mid Point and beyond

With the end of the first half of the minor league seasons quickly approaching (6/19 is the anticipated end date for the two A level leagues & 6/22 for AA & AAA) here’s a look around from my perspective at where things stand in Phillies player development and what moves might occur for the upcoming second half.  I will break the narrative into two articles - this one on the AAA/AA levels and the second on High/Low A and the Complex Leagues.

Triple A Lehigh Valley IronPigs : 41-16 (.719) - first place in the International League

At the AAA level there are only two teams per league (International & Pacific Coast) that advance to the year end tournament in September that is held in Las Vegas to both determine each league champion and the overall AAA crown. As is the case at every minor league level the playoff spots are awarded to the first and second half split season best records. Currently Lehigh Valley holds a seven game lead over Jacksonville for the International League first half title. The IronPigs have first half series remaining with Charlotte, Worcester and Rochester with 12 of the 18 games at home.

It’s rare that an AAA level roster remains virtually intact over an extended period like the IronPigs have thus far. The daily lineup has been very stable (Cal Stevenson went up to the majors for a bit) and with the exception of Mick Abel, Daniel Robert, Max Lazar and Brett de Geus serving stints in the big leagues of various lengths along with the addition of Andrew Painter to the Lehigh Valley staff in May and a couple veteran free agent signings the pitching corps has also been relatively the same.

Offensive standouts have been many led by Otto Kemp, Justin Crawford, Buddy Kennedy, Christian Arroyo, Garrett Stubbs and a very solid under the radar year thus far by Oscar Mercado. Gabriel Rincones Jr has had some big moments as well as times of struggle but the young man is a gamer who posts everyday and I’m confident in his abilities that he will put up numbers. Barring trades or replacement needs at the big league level this core likely stays for the course of the remaining season. Matt Kroon is on his way back from an early season injury and others like Rodolfo Castro, Erick Brito, Cal Stevenson, Payton Henry and Rafael Lantigua also seem likely to stay the year as contributors.

Young pitching standouts Mick Abel and Andrew Painter will rejoin or join the Phillies at some point. Mick will go back up this week and at the least start Thursday in Toronto and likely next week against the Cubs. Andrew has pitched well but he’s not the precision version of himself we saw pre TJ just yet, I’m confident that comes in time but also believe that a mid to late July time frame for the show is likely the truest/best target. There are also veteran options on staff with Alan Rangel, Kyle Tyler and Nabil Crismatt (recently put on the IL) as stabilizers in the starting rotation. The bullpen has been more than solid with multiple veteran hurlers available along with Seth Johnson who’s finding his way as a reliever and is now up with the big club for a stint to show what he can do. There are likely to be auditions over the next few weeks to determine if fellas like Lucas Sims or Josh Walker might be pieces to the big league puzzle in addition to the other veteran reserve corps that already exists with Lehigh Valley - the organization has done a great job identifying and signing depth pieces but credit is equally due to skipper Anthony Contreras and his staff along with the players themselves for bonding and molding into a cohesive team that has truly excelled collectively - they are the only team in professional baseball at the moment with 40 or more wins and also have the top winning percentage at .719.  The Triple A level is generally not a development platform but rather a stay ready extension of the major league club. This year’s team is heavy on veteran presence but also has a core of rising prospects in the mix - good stuff.  Would be a nice reward to those who play the entirety of the year at this level to have a bonus trip to Las Vegas in September - a spot in the tournament is certainly within reach over the next three weeks of play.

Double A Reading Fightins : 18-31 (.367) - sixth place in the Eastern League Northwest Division

The first half division title is out of reach as Reading trails by 14.5 games with just three series left against Harrisburg, New Hampshire and Hartford - two of them at home. A look beyond the disappointing team record reveals some individual standouts that puts those players very much in line for future development plans.

Gold glove first baseman Keaton Anthony is second in the Eastern League amongst qualified players in batting average and is tied for the league leadership in doubles. As he’s done at every level in his brief two and a half year career to date Keaton continues to hit at a .300 plus clip with a high on base percentage and consistently drives the ball in the gaps for doubles. The twenty-three year old might make his way to LHV before year end and is certainly an early consideration for the Arizona Fall League (AFL).

Left fielder Hendry Mendez has also had a very good year thus far, the twenty one year old has been hitting at or near a .300 batting average pace all season and has shown more pop than he did last summer with Jersey Shore. His eye-hand coordination is excellent as is the ability to put the ball in play.  A full season at Reading seems the ticket with consideration for an AFL spot as well.  Shortstop Aidan Miller got off to a slow start in April but returned to form in May showing the batting stroke that has earned him a high regard. Defensively it’s been an inconsistent season so far however the skillset is evident - I believe he will have a big second half and be another one that I think could be destined for fall action in the AFL.

Two players whom I’ve always touted as under the radar hitters are Felix Reyes and Leandro Pineda. Felix hits the baseball as hard as anyone and is an RBI machine, he’s challenged defensively but will give ya all he’s got at whatever position he’s playing, the kid can rake. Leandro got off to a very poor start in April but like Aidan he’s bounced back to form in May, has a pure and pretty lefty swing with gap to gap pop, this is his seventh year in the organization so it’s free agency potentially at season end. Both are likely to be in the regular lineup mix at Reading to finish this year out. Robert Moore is a heady player who also is likely to be in the regular mix for the balance of the year. Cade Fergus seems to have a golden opportunity for regular playing time as the club’s center fielder, he has shown power but needs to now deliver consistency. The catching corps has been banged up and has also struggled but hopefully someone steps up to claim the primary role. Veteran hitters Seth Beer and Alex Binelas were signed as free agents this month to help bolster the offense.

Wil Crowe is a veteran pitcher recently signed to help solidify the staff, he’s a former major leaguer with Pittsburgh. Griff McGarry began the year on fire before an elbow issue sidelined him, he’s now on the way back and appeared in a game last week on rehab assignment in Clearwater. Daniel Harper is also returning - he also just began a rehab stint at Clearwater coming back from shoulder discomfort. Eiberson Castellano was also slowed after spending Spring Training with Minnesota as a Rule 5 draftee - the Twins were looking at him as a reliever, when he returned to the Phillies it seemed initial plans were to re-stretch him as a starter - shoulder pain prompted placement on the IL which is his current status, when he returns it’s now expected to be in a relievers role. All four could become higher level considerations with successful balance of the season efforts.

Relievers Tommy McCollum and Travis Kuhn both threw extremely well in May, each can cover two inning stints. I’ve always thought big Tommy has the skillset to reach the show, he had a slow ST camp, was assigned to Jersey Shore initially to refine control/command with a seemingly intentional reduction in velo to do so, threw well there and has continued so since bumping back up to Reading. If he continues to perform I’d hope he gets a shot at the AAA level to show what he can do firing the major league baseball. Kuhn is a big arm type who was released by Seattle at the end of ST, his performance thus far should have gotten folks interested.

Andrew Walling was slowed from the beginning of the year by shoulder issues, he’s recently back from a rehab stint with Jersey Shore - he has the ability to be a very important left handed bullpen cog as he was last season at High A. Tristan Garnett has been with the rehab team in Clearwater working back from an oblique - he threw a bullpen this past week and hopefully can return to a lefty anchor role in the Reading pen with an eye upwards in the not so distant future. Chuck King, Braeden Fausnaught and Jean Cabrera are all in search of consistency as starters, performance will dictate their ongoing roles. Luke Russo bumped up from Jersey Shore and also is in that mix. Unfortunately Marcus Lee Sang (ankle) and Moises Chace (Tommy John) suffered season ending injuries and now are in rehab mode looking to return for future seasons.

There are a few players at High A I’d expect to bump up in the second half - will discuss them in part two of this series.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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