Each Monday this year for the Phillies minor league full season affiliates is a scheduled off day. They get to re-charge from a six day run of games before starting on another stretch the next day.
Here’s a review of the past week with a spot light on players from each team who had good, even great numbers and performances.
Lehigh Valley ( Overall Record 26-33, 3-2 during the past week - next series @ Trenton ( Blue Jays affiliate ) ... they are 33-24 overall
1B Darick Hall - went 3 for 11 during the week with 4 walks. In the month of July he’s hitting .360 ( 9 for 25 ) and has a hit in 8 of his last 11 games played.
IF Nick Maton - went 5 for 16 ( .313 ) during the week before being promoted again to the Phillies on Sunday.
C Rafael Marchan - went 5 for 15 ( .333 ) for the week, had to leave the game on Saturday after being hit by a pitch. The young man can play at the big league level, proves it every time he’s given the chance.
UTL Dalton Guthrie - went 5 for 14 ( .357 ) for the week. He’s hitting .357 for the month of July so far in nine games going 13 for 28. Dalton has been super versatile on defense this year, always could play the infield at a superlative manner and has now added the outfield as well.
OF Mickey Moniak - was 5 for 18 ( .278 ) for the week but his defense is what shined, he made two defensive web gems in center field tracking down fly balls where he had to run a very long ways to get them and then making spectacular catches.
Strong Pitching :
LH Tyler Alexander - was excellent on the hill for the Iron Pigs as a starter on Sunday, he doesn’t throw hard, if he hit 90 mph I missed it but he mixed pitches, hit locations and made the ball move. Really nice job for the 29 year old … 6 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K’s. Signed as a free agent after pitching in an Independent League.
RH Mark Appel - On July 7th he went 5 scoreless innings - 1 H, 4 BB, 6 K’s … in three starts with LHV he’s pitched 11 2/3 innings allowing 2 runs and 4 hits … 11 K’s but also 12 walks. That’s a 1.54 ERA for his three starts.
Reading ( Overall Record 26-34, 4-2 during the past week)- next series @ home vs Portland ( Red Sox affiliate ) ... they are 34-23 overall
OF Jorge Bonifacio - the veteran team mentor continues to hit … this week he went 7 for 20 ( .350 ) with a home run and three RBIs. Since he signed with the Phillies on May 25th he’s been the Jake Fox type of steadying influence on his younger teammates. For the season Jorge is hitting .271 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs in 140 AB’s
OF Josh Stephen - continues on a super hot streak going 8 for 16 this week ( .500 ). He is hitting .444 for the month of July ( 12 for 27 ) and since June 23rd he’s 22 for 56 ( .393 ) with 4 home runs and 13 RBIs and produced a hit in 14 of the 16 games he played over that span with multiple hits in six of them. The 23 year old has found his swing and is on a tear !
UTL Arquimedes Gamboa - went 6 for 15 ( .400 ) in six games with a double, triple, home run and three RBIs. He’s played SS, 3B and CF this season converting from being primarily a shortstop thru most of his career.
Strong Pitching :
RH Victor Santos - had another strong outing on 7/9 going 6 innings allowing 1 run on 5 hits … in his two starts @ Reading in July thus far he’s pitched 11 2/3 innings allowing 2 runs ( 1.54 ERA ) striking out 8 batters and walking just two. His WHIP in the two games is 0.86. For the season between Jersey Shore and Reading he’s 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA in 12 games ( 36 IP ) with 37 K’s and just 8 walks … WHIP of 1.00. The 20 year old has had an outstanding year thus far.
RH Francisco Morales - made his fourth consecutive solid start - 5 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K’s … he’s went 20 2/3 innings over that stretch with a 1.74 ERA and has recorded 29 K’s against 7 walks. For the month of July he’s posted a 1.64 ERA in 11 IP with 12 K’s and a 0.91 WHIP. We knew it was coming, just a matter of confidence, a better pitch sequence and command. Francisco has all the tools to be a big leaguer, the 21 year old took his lumps earlier in the season but that’s also part of the learning experience, the young man can handle both the adversity and the good times … that’s excellent.
RH Jack Perkins - made two starts during the week and pitched 6 strong innings on both on 7/6 and 7/11 … allowing only 2 runs on 10 hits and 3 walks. In six starts with Reading he’s posted a 3.09 ERA in 32 IP with 26 K’s & 8 BB.
LH Nick Lackney - threw three shutout innings on 7/7 allowing just one walk. For the season he’s 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA in 17 games ( Clearwater/Jersey Shore/Reading ) in 27 IP.
Jersey Shore ( Overall Record 25-34, 3-3 during the past week)- next series @ Brooklyn ( Mets affiliate ) ... they are 19-39 overall
C Logan O’Hoppe - no one is wielding a hotter bat than the very talented 21 year old. He went 12 for 27 ( .444 ) for the week including 4 multi hit games and a four hit game on 7/8. He had a 10 game hitting streak that ended on Sunday ( 17 for 40 - .425 ) with 4 home runs and 12 RBIs. He’s now hitting .279 on the season in 201 AB’s with 10 doubles, a triple, 9 home runs and 34 RBIs.
OF Keaton Greenwalt - the 23 year old had an excellent week going 10 for 22 ( . 454 ) including three multi hit games ( two with three hits ). He had a six game hitting streak ( 12 for 22 ) from 7/3 to 7/9 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs.
1B/3B DJ Stewart - another great week for the 22 year old slugger … he went
8 for 23 ( .349 ) … For the combined season between Clearwater and JS he’s hitting .311 with 8 home runs and 33 RBIs. Just having a very solid and consistent year. Good looking young hitter.
1B/C Vito Friscia - a very productive week going 8 for 19 ( .421 ) with a home run and 5 RBIs - 11 game hitting streak ( 14 for 34 - .382 ). The 24 year old is hitting .282 for the season in 124 AB’s with 3 home runs and 20 RBIs. He’s been rock solid defensively at first base as well with a .994 fielding percentage.
Strong Pitching :
RH Kevin Gowdy - tossed 6 shutout innings on 7/6 allowing just 3 hits and a walk while striking out 6 batters. LH Manuel Silva went 3 1/3 scoreless on Sunday and RH Carlo Reyes struck out all six batters he faced on Sunday.
RH Aidan Anderson threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings this week, he hasn’t allowed a run in his last six outings ( 10 1/3 IP ) yielding just two walks and punching out 9 batters over that span. He’s posted a 2.86 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 22 IP ( 14 games ) combined this season with Clearwater and Jersey Shore.
LH Ethan Lindow - strong outing on 7/10 …. 6 IP, 1 unearned R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K’s. The persistent strike thrower made quality pitches in this outing and used his full arsenal to keep the opposing batters off balance. A really good bounceback performance from his last start.
LH Erubiel Armenta made his JS debut on 7/10 and threw two scoring frames - 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K … the power arm 21 year old from Mexico has appeared in 5 games between Clearwater and JS and has excelled. In 8 2/3 IP he’s posted 20 K’s, a 0.00 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. The young man is built like Aroldis Chapman and comes at hitters with the same vigor. Fastball has been in the 93-96 range. One to keep an eye out for.
Clearwater ( Overall Record 31-28, 2-3 during the past week) - next series @ home vs Dunedin ( Blue Jays affiliate ) ... they are 23-36 overall
UTL Nicolas Torres - had his best offensive week of the season going 8 for 22 ( .364 ) with a double, triple and three RBIs. The 21 year old has been a versatile defender this season having played 1B,2B,SS,3B, LF and RF for the Threshers. He is an excellent defender at all the positions … this week the bat shined as well …3 hit game on 7/7 and two knocks on 7/10.
OF Johan Rojas - another productive week for the 20 year old as he went 8 for 22 ( .364 ) with 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 9 RBIs. He had two 3 RBI games on 7/9 and 7/10. Johan is just a fun player to watch, he’s an excellent outfielder, gets to balls in centerfield with ease and has the knack for the spectacular catch as well. His energy and love of playing baseball shines thru each and every game. Joe Girardi said in spring training that he has a chance to be a special player, when you watch him perform on a consistent basis that certainly is evident.
OF Jadiel Sanchez had a strong first full week of action with the Threshers, he debuted with them on 7/2. Jadiel went 5 for 17 ( .294 ) with two doubles. The 20 year old was the club’s 12th round draft selection in the 2019 draft out of Arroyo, Puerto Rico.
Strong Pitching :
RH Mick Abel was dominant in his start on 7/9 - 5 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 4 BB, 8 K’s. He’s been focused on specific game plans in his outings designed to develop his repertoire of pitches. This week an emphasis on the curve ball and cutter was evident and Mick showed that both can be very good pitches. The 19 year old has a world of talent and is also a great student of the game. He now has posted 58 K’s in just 38 1/3 IP.
RH Cristian Hernandez - had another strong outing on 7/8 going 4 2/3 innings … 1 R, 1 H, 6 BB, 3 K’s. Cristian focused on his secondary offerings as well and is another young arm who has a very good mix of pitches. The 20 year old has a 3.02 ERA for the season in 47 2/3 IP with 63 K’s.
LH Gabriel Yanez - continued to excel in relief. The 21 year old tossed 3 1/3 scoreless frames this week and has a minuscule 0.76 ERA in 17 games ( 23 IP ) with 36 K’s … a 1.35 WHIP.
RH Victor Vargas & RH Eduar Segovia combined for a win on 7/10 … Vargas went five innings allowing just one hit and an unearned run, no walks while striking out four batters. Segovia allowed just one hit in three innings of work, no walks and punched out five batters. In two July outings the 20 year old Vargas has a 1.00 ERA in 9 IP, 4 H, 0 BB and 9 K’s … season ERA is now 2.78 in 45 1/3 IP. Segovia has a 2.25 ERA in 8 July IP with 11 K’s and 2 BB.
Florida Complex League - Phillies ( 3-5 ) - 0-3 during the past week
Strong Pitching :
LH Erik Miller - threw three scoreless innings against the Blue Jays in his second rehab appearance allowing just a walk while striking out one batter. Much better command than the first outing … continues to work his way back to full season play.
RH Sam Jacobsak - made his pro debut on 7/6 against the Yankees with a scoreless frame - 1 walk and 1 strikeout. We saw him firsthand on 7/10 against the Tigers and he impressed … two perfect innings with three strikeouts. The 23 year old from Northeastern was signed on 2/18/20 as an amateur free agent. Might be on a full season roster soon.
RH Josh Gessner & RH Jonas De La Cruz each threw two scoreless innings this week. De La Cruz struck out four batters in his outing. LH Corey Phelan made his pro debut on 7/10 with two shutout innings.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
Comments