6/24/25 : Second Half Minor League Transfers (ten)

The first full week of second half minor league action begins today and a few Phillies players will have new affiliates to play for.

Reading : 3

Dylan Campbell has had a very strong month of June for Jersey Shore posting a .323/.389/.516 slash line in 16 games (62 AB’s) with 6 doubles, 2 home runs, 9 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. The first couple months of the year were a struggle for the 22 year old outfielder/second baseman as he began the month of June with a .179 season batting average and a .265 OBP - he’s now pushed that up to .221 and .305 with his good month. It’s earned him a promotion to Reading where center field is open for claim.  Dylan was acquired in a trade with the Dodgers on 1/17/25.

Joining Dylan with a promotion assignment to Reading will be infielder Jose Rodriguez who will bump up from Clearwater. Jose was activated on 6/5/25 after serving a year long suspension for violating MLB’s rules on gambling. He played eleven games for Clearwater and posted a .273 batting average in 44 AB’s. The 24 year old was acquired from the White Sox on 4/5/24 for cash and played with Reading last season in 38 games before being suspended. He’s got a power stroke and should help provide the Fightins with a run producing bat while also being a defensive option at second base, shortstop or third base.

RHP Estibenzon Jimenez was promoted to Reading on Sunday from Jersey Shore and made his initial AA start. “Jimmy” had posted a 3.63 ERA in four starts (22.1 IP) for the BlueClaws in June - he struggled in his first Reading appearance on Sunday but nerves could have had something to do with that as well. He will take the ball without hesitation and gives Reading both a viable starting rotation and bulk relief option.

Jersey Shore : 3

RHP Jose Pena Jr has been promoted from Clearwater to Jersey Shore. Jose has a power curve/slider that is a swing and miss pitch - it is an out maker that compliments a 92-96 mph fastball. The PD pitching staff is very good at reinforcing the needed areas of work focus but it’s ultimately up to the players to embrace and deliver. I remember Jose often being frustrated as a teenager as to why he wasn’t being promoted (he spent three summers in the FCL) albeit the results didn’t warrant it at the time. He’s a highly energetic young man who wears his emotions on his sleeve. Our discussions were about how I saw big league talent in him but that he would need to be more dedicated, patient and willing to be coached for it to come out. A couple off-seasons ago he began to train in the Dominican with a personal trainer, the maturity that process helped deliver is becoming more evident by this year’s results at the ripe old age of twenty one 🤓.  He’s not only throwing strikes this season but quality ones and has become capable of handling the pressures of back end game situations. Great to see him developing the way he has  - I truly believe in what I told him a few years back and again just yesterday via text. Jose posted a 0.71 ERA and 0.71 WHIP as a back end reliever for Clearwater in 20 appearances (25.1 IP) with five saves, 23 K’s and 7 walks.  He rejoins Saul Teran in Jersey Shore as a back end of the game duo.

Outfielder Avery Owusu- Asiedu will join Jose as a new BlueClaw this week - Avery has been solid all season and has had a strong month of June posting a .293 batting average and .391 OBP in 19 games (58 ABs) with a home run and four RBIs - since May 1st he’s hit .290 in 124 AB’s with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs. Avery has shown marked improvement over last season in pitch recognition, swing reduction, bat to ball skills and patience - he had a total of 37 walks last summer and has 30 already this year.  He has outstanding speed and is a very good outfielder who’s likely to fill the BlueClaws center field role - he’s a big fella at 6’4” 230 but the 22 year old can fly. Avery has very much earned the promotion.

The third new Jersey Shore addition is outfielder Joel Dragoo - the 22 year old has struggled to find consistency in his first full pro season after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2024 draft but the tools are there. We’ve watched him in multiple practices and games - he’s punched out far too often this year for the swing he has and bat to ball ability.  Hopefully a bump up a notch gets him going - Kehden Hettiger has hit much better for Jersey Shore than he did at Clearwater - perhaps Joel will follow his example.

Clearwater : 4

LHP Tristan Garnett will begin a rehab assignment this week, he’s been on the 60 day IL rehabbing a spring camp oblique injury. Tristan has an over the top downhill delivery from a 6’6” frame and features an outstanding change up. He was a non-roster invitee to 2025 big league spring camp after pitching for Reading and LHV in 2024 as well as in the Arizona Fall League. I chatted with him the other day at the complex and he’s free of pain and ready to get back into competition. Eventually he will work his way back to the upper levels and is one who if he performs the way we’ve seen him capable of could push for big league consideration before the summer ends.

Shortstop Juan Villavicencio was slated to be the primary shortstop for Clearwater but was sidelined in spring camp with an injury and just recently completed rehab play in seven games with the FCL Phillies where he hit .286 in 21 AB’s. The 20 year old switch hitter is generally a solid defender and will now return to the Threshers where he finished the 2024 season. He should be a middle infield stabilizer as Clearwater has struggled to date this year at shortstop. Juan has decent pop as well from both sides of the dish.

Outfielder TJayy Walton was also slated to open the season with the Threshers as a regular in left field, a broken hamate bone late in spring camp sidelined that. The powerfully built twenty year old can crush the ball and send it into orbit, he’s gonna need to work on both pitch recognition and strikeout reduction to fully utilize his skills - in seven games of rehab work with the FCL Phillies he hit .306 in 36 AB’s but also punched out 15 times. The young man’s smile lights up the room and his confidence is a true asset - he now returns to the CW lineup to show the ability that enticed the Phillies to draft him in the 4th round of the 2023 draft from the IMG Academy.

Outfielder Manolfi Jimenez (20 years old) has been the FCL Phillies best hitter this season posting an outstanding .339/.359/.596 slash line and .955 OPS in 117 plate appearances with 11 doubles, 4 triples, 3 home runs and 17 RBIs. He’s also a very capable defender in all three outfield spots but has played primarily right field. This was his second year in the FCL - last summer he played in more of a part time role as a teenager yet was solid when he did play. The lefty hitter and thrower has consistently hit the ball hard this summer and definitely earned the bump up, should get regular playing time to show what he can do - the promotion is his first to a full season affiliate.

There very likely will be a few more roster movements during the week - for now these ten are the ones in effect. Congrats to all ten young men for their progressions.

Bonus Coverage 🤪 - my minor league stateside positional “prospect” depth chart - those who are currently actively playing or close to returning from the IL in minors :

Catcher : Eduardo Tait, Alirio Ferrebus, Caleb Ricketts

First Base : Keaton Anthony, Kehden Hettiger, Alex Binelas

Second Base : Aroon Escobar, Devin Saltiban, Adrian Garcia

Shortstop : Aidan Miller, Bryan Rincon, Juan Villavicencio

Third Base : Carson DeMartinj, Brady Day, Francisco Loreto

Left Field : Hendry Mendez, Felix Reyes, Avery Owusu Asiedu

Center Field : Justin Crawford, Dante Nori, Victor Cardoza, John Spikerman

Right Field : Gabriel Rincones Jr, Manolfi Jimenez, Griffin Burkholder, Raylin Heredia

Utility : Erick Brito, Robert Moore Jr, Dylan Campbell, Raider Tello

Starting Pitching : Andrew Painter, Jean Cabrera, Angel Liranzo, Ramon Marquez, Brad Pacheco, Casey Steward, Alex McFarlane, Ryan Degges, Ryan Dromboski, Juan Amarante, Chuck King

Relievers : Saul Teran, Tommy McCollum, Jose Pena Jr, Daniel Harper, Seth Johnson, Jaydenn Estanista, Tristin Garnett, Titan Hayes, Kevin Warunek, Brandon Beckel, Luis Avila, Marty Gair

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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