7/15/25 : The All-Star Break

As major leaguers take their traditional in-season break for the All-Star festivities so do the minor leaguers. There used to be mid season minor league All-Star games as well however that discontinued after the Pandemic occurred and now it’s a straight break of three days (7/15 to 7/17) for every player assigned to an affiliate.

The short season FCL and DSL teams continue to play over the break however all four affiliates take time off. In anticipation of the break I asked Phillies minor leaguers the following questions :

1. At the upcoming “mid season” break from 7/15 to 7/17 you all get three days off - will you be going home for a few days or just hanging out at your housing unit till play resumes?

1. The professional baseball season is a battle of endurance - what is most difficult in playing six days a week? Conversely what do you enjoy the most about it?

1. What have you learned thus far this season and what areas of your game do you want to focus on to finish the year?

Here are a few of the responses I got back :

RHP Daniel Harper - Lehigh Valley

“I’ll be going home to spend time with my family, should be a good reset. Six days a week is nice in regards to travel, you’re able to get settled in to your hotel and get a routine going. However, the downside is that you’re facing the same team six times in a row. Hitters start to learn how we attack them the second half of the week and vice versa. My season has been much shorter than usual because of my injury rehab stint. I think the biggest thing for me going forward is to let the game come to me.”

RHP Estibenzon Jimenez - Reading

“Good morning Mr. Steve!!  I will spend the three days with my roommates in Reading and also to reflect a little on all the good and the bad that has happened this season. I really enjoy every game regardless of whether I am pitching or another teammate is. I love the game, baseball is my passion since my childhood. The most difficult thing during the season for me is not being with my family day to day but I put my mind into my work to reach my objective.”

RHP Tommy McCollum - Reading

“I’m heading down to Georgia to be with my fiancé!  I’ve learned to just stay committed to the process while surrendering to the results. Most difficult is just the long days but I enjoy being with the guys.“

LHP Andrew Walling - Reading

“It’s a lot on the body to hop on two flights to go home for really only a day of true off time, so I’m staying in town. We will be returning Thursday evening for a small tune up workout before play resumes Friday after the break. I will just be hanging around in the housing until we get back to it. Most difficult about six days a week is keeping the body prepared at all times. Recovery routines become the top priority along with the regular skill training so it’s a balance each guy has to master for them specifically.

This year I’ve learned that the best thing I can do is be present. Take it day by day and continue to build on the work I put in day in and day out. Trust in myself to compete when the time comes. My focus to finish the year is continuing my attack plan and staying in that zone. Work ahead of hitters and let my stuff play through the zone.”

SS Aidan Miller - Reading

“I’ll be going back to Florida for a few days to hang out with family and see my animals. The biggest thing about playing six days a week is developing a good routine that keeps you on the field. Staying disciplined in the weight room and with my diet. Never letting a bad day the day before affect the next day. The biggest thing I’ve learned this year is being consistent and trying to impact the game as much as I can. Being a winning player.“

RHP Andrew Baker - Jersey Shore

“I’ll be staying for the all star break. Nothing is difficult to me about playing six days a week. I enjoy it and when you love baseball you wanna play as much as you can so you can continue to get better. We’ve focused on getting back in the zone. My in zone numbers are the best they’ve been and want to continue to do that for the rest of the year.”

RHP Ethan Chenault - Jersey Shore

“I plan to head home for the all star break and spend time with my family for a few days. The most difficult part is staying consistent in your work everyday and having the discipline when you don’t want to. I love that I get to play the game I love everyday and chase getting better and try to master the things I’m doing day in and day out. I’ve learned a lot about parts of my game, trying to be consistent with my work and having a plan everyday to continue to progress in what I do and who I am. I just want to continue to learn about how to take care of business the right way as a professional and master everything that I’m doing.“

RHP Aaron Combs - Jersey Shore (on IL rehab assignment in Clearwater at Complex)

“Hey Steve, I’m gonna be in Clearwater the whole time. Playing six days a week is a lot, it’s taught me to take advantage of the time I get off and make sure I’m going to be ready. I’ve learned a lot about my own routine and how to figure out how to fix things in season.“

LHP Mavis Graves - Jersey Shore

“I’ll be hanging out in New Jersey for all star break. Six days a week can have a lot of wear and tear on the body and I can only imagine what it feels like being a position player and playing six games a week. I enjoy it though because we get to play the game of baseball that much and it’s also just fun to watch. This year so far has been a big year for development for me, I’ve had ups and downs and one of my main goals in the first half was to get my routines down and I feel like I’ve come a long way with them. For the rest of the year I want to build consistent starts and start dominating hitters.”

RHP Alex McFarlane - Jersey Shore

“I will spend the all star break in Lakewood. As a starter I only pitch once a week so for me the only battle is getting my body ready for each start when I go out there. I enjoy getting to develop each day and build on something from each outing. I want to finish the year strong. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season which forced me to evaluate myself better after success and failure. I want to focus on staying consistent time in and time out.”

LHP Wesley Moore - Jersey Shore

“For Allstar break I will be at staying at the housing units until play resumes. Taking off a day or two and using it as a reset.

The most difficult part about our baseball schedule is the work it takes to feel your best everyday. Health is the most important thing and to stay on the field it takes a lot of self-awareness and attention to detail in your daily routines on and off the field. I enjoy the chase to get better everyday. Always looking to find ways I can approve and make adjustments to be consistent as possible. I have learned a lot about the way my body works and how it moves down the mound. Learned a lot about my pre game routines and how they have helped me progress in season. I want to focus on consistency and going out and competing.”

RHP Braydon Tucker - Jersey Shore

“I will be going home for just two of those days during all-star break. The thing I enjoy the most about playing six days a week is having the resources around me to deal with any possible problems or challenges that may come up throughout a season. I enjoy being around the teammates during the season at the field and having road trips. I have learned bits and pieces throughout the year but the main focus has been execution of pitches in two strike counts.”

Catcher Luis Caicuto - Jersey Shore

“For the all star break I will use the days to rest and spend time with my wife. I feel that the thing to keep in mind about playing six games a week is the mentality baseball is a game of failure, if you can control your mind and emotions everything will be a little easier. It’s the sport I love and enjoy it from the beginning of the day until it ends, sharing with my teammates, learning new things every day is the most fun of all this.“

OF Jordan Viars - Jersey Shore

“I’ll be going home, difficulty playing so much is the need to do maintenance work off the field but it’s also great because you’re back at it the next day, I’ve learned a lot about how my body wants to move athletically and  want to improve on my hitting.“

RHP Ryan Dromboski - Clearwater

“Hey Steve! I am going home for the all star break. I think it’s a little easier for me because I am a starter. But the biggest thing I’ve realized is throwing will catch up to you if you don’t treat/rest your body. Because of six games, you can sometimes get complacent and your week will not be as good as you hope. What I enjoy about it though, is that those six nights I get to go out and play/watch the sport I love. I have learned a lot but the biggest thing is that attacking the zone and limiting the walks will create a lot of success in each outing. To finish the year I am going to focus on staying the course and working on my mentality and breathing while making each pitch just a little better.”

LHP Kevin Warunek - Clearwater

“I will likely be staying at my housing. I was fortunate to have family visit a few weeks ago, and I wanted to keep my rhythm of being in the Florida heat.  The challenge of playing six days a week like you said is the endurance. Coming from a college season of a little over fifty games, the workload that comes with a professional season is far different. With that, I’d say the most enjoyable part is being around the guys battling it out on the field. Day in and day out grinding, playing the game we all grew up around. Going back to the endurance of the season, I’ve learned a lot about how to keep myself on the field. Learning and observing what works for me whether that be in the weight room, my throwing program, or even the mental performance aspect.”

LHP AJ Wilson - Clearwater

“I’ll be traveling back home to North Carolina to see family. Most difficult to play is definitely Sunday’s, what I enjoy most is being out in the bullpen with my guys. What I’ve learned so far is not to be so hung up on short term, instead look at the long term.”

Catcher Alirio Ferrebus - Clearwater

“I personally will stay in Clearwater and enjoy it, the best thing about all that happens to me daily is that every moment is another opportunity. Not only do the game results tell you how well you are doing but you learn in how you take each thing, it is resilience. I try to make a difference in every opportunity and to take advantage of it, enjoy even the bad games. For me, in the bad games I learn who I really am, being a prospect at a young age delivers many things, especially knowing how to control what you can in each occasion. If it is not my best moment I always remember something that motivates me day by day, In the storm God is my refuge!”

Utility Raider Tello - Clearwater

“Hey Steve! For the all star break I’m going to stay here at the housing as it is only three days so my family and girlfriend will be here for next week’s slate of games going into the all star break. I will be able to see everybody without having to pack anything at all!  The most difficult part of playing six games a week isn’t the endurance needed but instead the mentality needed to keep pushing forward when you are struggling whether it be for a couple games a week or even longer. I need to work on my ability to work counts and really get the pitch that I am supposed to hit, instead of trying to make contact for contacts sake.”

Outfielder Dante Nori - Clearwater

“I will be going home. Honestly I wouldn’t say there is a difficult part of playing six times a week. I think that it is a positive. You get four or five at bats everyday to continue to get better and even after a bad game you can be back out the next day and play. I’ve learned that it’s a jog and not a sprint. Everyday you have to find a way to help your team win. If it isn’t with your bat then help with your glove. Or your speed as well. I would say just getting used to the adjustments being made throughout the year and attacking those challenges.“

Outfielder Griffin Burkholder - FCL Phillies assignment from Clearwater

“I wouldn’t say there are too many difficulties that come with playing almost every day during the week other than just the wear and tear on your body going out there everyday. But we have such good resources for recovery and preparation that we can have a couple hard games and still wake up refreshed and ready to do it all again. I enjoy the grind of it and just having the opportunity to play baseball everyday there is nothing better, we are truly blessed.  I’ve learned a lot so far this season about a bunch of things from how to take care of my body to be able to play everyday to my approach at the plate against different pitchers. To finish the year I am really focusing on obviously being on the field as much as possible and finishing the year healthy and also sticking to my approach at the plate and producing quality at bats.”

Thanks to the fellas for their responses!

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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