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Writer's pictureSteve Potter

6/20/24 : Minor League Roundup - Clearwater wins 1st half championship!

International League ( AAA ) - Lehigh Valley 9 (32-38) Norfolk 7 (35-37)

Allentown, PA - Coca-Cola Park


Summary :


Daniel Johnson hit a home run for Norfolk in the first inning.  A double and two singles scored another run.


Johan Rojas singled in the bottom of the first inning, he stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error.  Ruben Cardenas scored him with a single but was then picked off first base. Weston Wilson homered.


A walk, double, single and double scored three runs for Norfolk in the 4th inning.


Connor Norby hit a two run home run for Norfolk in the 6th inning.


Cody Roberts doubled in the bottom of the 6th inning, Cal Stevenson singled and Jim Haley walked.  Scott Kingery singled to score two runs.


Johan Rojas walked in the seventh inning and scored when Ruben Cardenas reached on a throwing error by Norfolk’s third baseman.  Buddy Kennedy singled and Weston Wilson walked. Cal Stevenson hit a sacrifice fly to score a run. Scott Kingery singled to score a run.


Johan Rojas homered over the right field wall in the bottom of the 8th inning.  Buddy Kennedy singled and Weston Wilson doubled to score him.


At Bat : 9 R, 15 H, 4 BB, 9 K’s


Johan Rojas had four hits (home run to right field and three singles - bunt, line drive and hard grounder) and a walk, scored three runs and stole a base.  Cody Roberts doubled twice.  Ruben Cardenas, Buddy Kennedy and Scott Kingery (three RBIs) each had two hits (singles).  Weston Wilson doubled, homered and walked - two RBIs.


On The Hill :  7 R, 14 H, 2 BB, 7 K’s


Ricardo Pinto pitched four innings - 5 R, 10 H, 1 BB, 5 K’s - 89 pitches - 53 strikes.  David Buchanan pitched three innings - 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K - 37 pitches - 24 strikes.  Yunior Marte pitched an inning - 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K’s - 5 pitches - 5 strikes. Nick Nelson finished - 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K - 14 pitches - 9 strikes.


Collision :


Center fielder Johan Rojas and right fielder Ruben Cardenas collided attempting to catch a fly ball, Johan was down for a bit before recovering.


Did Ya Know 🧐 :


Johan Rojas made his IronPigs debut on Tuesday night, collecting a hit and RBI while making a diving catch in centerfield. A former top-100 prospect, Rojas jumped from double-A Reading to the Phillies last season, skipping the 'Pigs altogether. - Media Notes


Eastern League ( AA ) - New Hampshire (30-35) Reading (28-37) - PPD - Rain

Manchester, NH - Delta Dental Stadium


South Atlantic League ( High A )  - Brooklyn 2 (33-33) Jersey Shore 1 (38-28)

Brooklyn, NY - Maimonides Park


Summary :


Brooklyn scored two runs in the second on three doubles.


Erick Brito singled in the sixth inning stole second base and scored on a single by William Bergolla.


On The Hill : 2 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 15 K’s


Sam Aldegheri pitched five innings - 2 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 9 K’s - 85 pitches - 53 strikes.   Eatibenzon Jimenez pitched two scoreless frames - 1 H, 4 K’s - 21 pitches - 16 strikes.   Mason Ronan pitched an inning - 0 R, 0 H, 1 HB, 1 BB, 2 K’s - 23 pitches - 10 strikes.


At Bat : 1 R, 4 H, 4 BB, 11 K’s


Jordan Dissin doubled and walked twice.  William Bergolla singled, walked and had an RBI.


Notes :


The home plate umpire had to leave the game after being hit in the neck, the game was finished with just one umpire calling the whole field.  Greensboro won their game against Hudson Valley 4-2 to claim the South Atlantic League North Division first half crown.  Jersey Shore finishes one game behind.


Did Ya Know 🧐 :


Entering today the BlueClaws have won 10 of their last 12 (including four in a row overall and six in a row on the

road) but remained a half-game back of Greensboro with one game left in the first half.  The BlueClaws were 3.5 games

back of Greensboro entering their game on June 6th but won the last four games from the Grasshoppers to move into

first place entering last Tuesday. - Media Notes


Florida State League ( Low A )  - Clearwater 4 (43-23) Jupiter 0 (36-30) - first half champions!

Jupiter, FL - Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium


Summary :


Avery Owusu-Asiedu singled in the 6th inning with two outs and scored on a double by Jordan Viars.


Keaton Anthony and Raylin Heredia singled in the seventh inning - Jared Thomas singled to score Anthony.  Diego Gonzalez doubled to score two runs!


Clearwater wins their second consecutive Florida State League first half championship !!!


On The Hill : 0 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 13 K’s


Luke Russo pitched very well - 5.1 innings - 0 R, 4 H, 1 HB, 1 BB, 5 K’s - 59 pitches - 37 strikes. Jose Pena Jr was clutch - he pitched 1.2 scoreless innings - 1 H, 0 BB, 4 K’s - stranded two of two inherited runners 🔥.  Saul Teran dominated to close it - 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 HB, 0 BB, 4 K’s - 27 pitches - 17 strikes.


At Bat : 4 R, 7 BB, 0 BB, 14 K’s


Diego Gonzalez (two RBIs) and Jordan Viars doubled.


Defensive Gem :


Right fielder Raylin Heredia threw a runner out at the plate in the 5th inning attempting to tag and score on a sacrifice fly.  It was an inning ending double play.


Notes :


With the win Clearwater finishes the first half 1/2 game ahead of Lakeland in the North Division to clinch a season end playoff berth.


Did Ya Know 🧐 :


Last night Mavis Graves tied his career highs in innings pitched (6.0) and strikeouts (10) for the third time this season. Jonathan Petit earned his first save as a Thresher. It was his first save since 2022 when he pitched in the FCL. Clearwater earned their fifth shutout win of the season. - Media Notes


Florida Complex League - Yankees 3 (21-13) Phillies 2 (18-15) - seven innings

Baycare Ballpark


Summary :


The fellas got to play in the stadium today.


In the fourth inning the Yankees scored a run on three singles.


Jerffson Pena just missed a home run  in the 5th inning as the ball hit off the top of the right center field fence and bounced back in, he got a double. Nolan Beltran walked, Jorge Garcia was hit by a pitch.  Starlyn Caba and Juan Villavicencio each walked which forced in two runs.


With two outs in the top of the sixth inning a walk and double scored a run for the Yankees - on the scoring play the ball was hit to the left field wall, the Yankees runner was waved home coming all the way around the bags from first base  - left fielder Jorge Garcia hit shortstop Starlyn Caba in medium left who then unleashed a rocket to home plate that got to catcher Eduardo Tait on one hop and would have been in time to nail the runner but Eduardo couldn’t come up with the catch as the ball skipped past him, the runner scored.  One batter later a single scored what turned out to be the game winning run.


On The Hill : 3 R, 8 H, 3 BB, 7 K’s


Danyony Pulido started and pitched four innings - 1 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 4 K’s.  Wilmer Blanco went two innings - 2 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K’s.

Alexis De La Cruz pitched an inning - 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K’s


At Bat : 2 R, 4 H, 6 BB, 10 K’s


Juan Villavicencio had two hits (singles) and a walk plus an RBI.  Yemal Flores and Jerffson Pena each doubled.  Starlyn Caba walked three times and stole his 26th base of the season.


Other Notes :


I did something this morning I used to do quite often - go to the complex and watch practice.  I wasn’t disappointed, the energy generated by this group is incredible, even in practice.  Skipper Shawn Williams has a ton of energy himself and the players he has this year not only feed of that but increment it!   In one of the drills balls were shot out of the pitching machine upwards for fly balls - the target was third baseman Nolan Beltran but the ball carried into medium left field - rather than give up on the play Beltran went full tilt after it and caught it over the shoulder!  Had to stand up and clap for that one - it’s plays like that when no one is watching that reflect desire and character - good stuff.  Was also impressed later in full squad drills - simulated situations - Coach Williams hit a couple balls into the left field gap - on two separate plays the relay went to shortstop Starlyn Caba.  He has a canon for an arm and is very accurate on relays to the bags and plate - each time he threw a seed to home plate and hit the catcher’s glove all the way in the air - as mentioned above he did the same in the game today but put it there on one hop.  Must also mention that infielder Juan Villavicencio also has a very strong arm - he’s been playing second base but has the toolset of a shortstop.


Dominican Summer League - Rangers Red 12 (9-4) Phillies Red 0 (4-7)

Phillies Complex - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic


Summary :


The Rangers scored three in the second inning on a hit batter and three doubles.  They plated two in the sixth on a single, double, sacrifice fly and fielding error.  In the seventh they posted seven runs on seven walks and two singles.


On The Hill :  12 R, 11 H, 11 BB, 8 K’s


Yael Arias went two innings - 3 R, 4 H, 3 HB, 0 BB, 2 K’s.  Alexander De Los Santospitched four innings - 2 R - 1 earned, 3 H, 3 BB, 4 K’s. Gregory Lebron didn’t retire a batter - he faced six - 6 R, 1 H, 5 BB.  Darling Reyes went three innings - 1 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K’s.


At Bat : 0 R, 5 H, 4 BB, 12 K’s


Jalvin Arias and Meylin De Leon each had two hits (singles).


Dominican Summer League - Phillies White 2 (4-8) Twins 0 (5-8) - seven innings

Twins Complex - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic


Summary :


Yhoan Escalona singled in the second inning, stole second base and scored on a single by Victor Cardoza.


Jose Familia singled in the sixth inning, went to second when Jaeden Calderon was hit by a pitch, to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.


On The Hill :  0 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K’s


Richard Reyes pitched two innings - 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K.   Eliecer Bata went five innings - 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K’s.


At Bat : 2 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 10 K’s


Yhoan Escalona and Jose Familia each singled and scored a run.


System Transactions :


Lehigh Valley : RHP Ricardo Pinto reinstated from the Development List.  INF Esteban Quiroz placed on the Development List. RHP Luis Ortiz (PHI) returned from rehab assignment with right elbow discomfort.


Jersey Shore : LHP Benony Robles reinstated from the Injured List. 


Clearwater : RHP Jaydenn Estanista has been transferred to the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.  RHP Jonh Henriquez has been returned from his minor league rehab assignment, reinstated from the 60-Day IL, and transferred from the Jersey Shore BlueClaws to the Clearwater Threshers.


Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️





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