7/24/26 : Pitching Highlights

Almost as if on cue with the trade deadline fast approaching there’s been some strong pitching performances this week in the Phillies minor league system.

Lehigh Valley :

On Tuesday (7/21) RH Andrew Painter posted a line of 5 IP, 2 R, 7 H, 1 BB, 8 K’s throwing 87 pitches, 64 for strikes. His first four innings were scoreless as he retired 9 of the first 11 batters faced, he gave up a double and single to start the fourth but pitched out of it striking out two of the next three batters he faced. In the fifth inning two runs scored as he yielded four hits (three singles & double) and a sacrifice fly. His

fastball average was 97 mph and he threw 41 four seam fastballs - 24 swings - 7 misses (29 %) - also predominantly threw a sweeper (32 pitches) with auxiliary offerings of a sinker (9 pitches) and slider (5 pitches). An overall good outing with the exception of seemingly hitting a bit of a wall in the fifth yet pitching thru it. In his three appearances with the IronPigs he’s had two decent results going eleven innings yielding three runs and one clunker going 2.2 innings and being tagged for seven runs.

Wednesday (7/23) RH Chuck King pitched a gem going a career high in innings - 8 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 5 K’s - 83 pitches - 62 strikes - he’s now 7-4 for LHV on the season - this was the best outing of his career - he threw 32 four seamers averaging 95 mph, 27 sliders, 16 change ups, 6 curves and 2 sinkers. The differential between the fast ball and change up was 11 mph. His fastball sat consistently at 95 mph thru the entire eight innings and he threw 79% first pitch strikes. The stuff plays - in outings when he struggles it’s been command oriented. In his last 8 starts (42.2 IP) he has a 3.37 ERA - that includes a blowup outing on 7/2 (seven runs in 4 IP) - take that one out and in the other seven games (38.2 IP) he’s posted a 2.09 ERA 👀. Chuckie had an outstanding month of June posting a 1.69 ERA in four appearances (21.1 IP) with 18 K’s and 5 walks. He’s generally pitched well all season however in two of his 15 IronPigs appearances he’s been blown up getting tagged for 13 of the 34 earned runs he’s yielded this season in just those two games (6 IP total) - in his other 13 appearances he’s posted a 2.75 ERA in 68.2 IP. In spring camp that happened as well - he had three solid outing in the Grapefruit League but got blown up for ten runs in 1.2 innings against the Tigers. The 28 year old had given up baseball after college at the age of 23 transitioning to a sports science roll but then decided to play again and was signed by the Phillies in 2024 at the age of 26 - he has since worked his way to just one level below the majors.

Reading :

It’s been a year of uncharacteristic struggles for 24 year old RH Jean Cabrera as he lost his spot on the 40 man roster when designated for assignment on 7/5/26 after poor results at both LHV (9.32 ERA in 7 starts - 28 IP) and Reading (8.42 ERA in his previous 9 appearances over 22 IP) but things clicked this Tuesday for Jean as he posted six scoreless frames yielding just four hits and one walk while striking out four batters. Since returning to the organization after being designated he’s made two strong appearances (8 scoreless innings). It’s hopefully a return to form for the workmanlike hurler who was previously ranked as one of the organization’s top prospects. Jean features a two and four seamer (generally 94-96 mph), sweeper and what has been in year’s past a plus changeup along with a cutter. A return to basics in his last two outings has been key.

Jersey Shore :

Twenty year old Ramon Marquez was outstanding on Friday (7/24) going five scoreless frames - 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 10 K’s - he once again had on display an outstanding changeup and overall tremendous pitch command - his fastball sat 95 mph and touched 96 mph. In five starts with Jersey Shore he’s posted a 1.80 ERA (25 IP) with 39 K’s 😳 and just 7 walks. On the game broadcast Greg Giombarrese said it’s the best changeup he’s seen at Jersey Shore since RH Sixto Sanchez pitched there.  After spending time in extended spring camp with a slow build up from shoulder discomfort he’s been excellent - in 11 overall appearances (Clearwater & Jersey Shore) he has recorded a 1.83 ERA (54 IP) with 86 K’s and just 18 walks - has an 0.81 WHIP.  Ramon was promoted to Jersey Shore on 6/16/26. Has always shown an outstanding changeup and a really good slider with a fastball that’s bumped up this season to the mid nineties. Ramon has become a high value asset that should only be used in a high value trade exchange. His innings pitched last year were capped at 55 - this season 80 to 100 IP seems likely. Kid has the tools, approach, moxie and acumen to become a strong big league starter.

RH Cody Bowker pitched five innings on Wednesday (7/22) - 2 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 8 K’s - 70 pitches - 49 strikes. The 22 year old (2025 3rd round draft choice - Vanderbilt) is in his first full pro season. After making 12 appearances (ten starts) with Clearwater he was promoted to Jersey Shore on 6/16/26. In five starts with the BlueClaws he’s posted a 3.13 ERA in 23 IP with a tremendous K/BB ratio of 27 K’s to just 4 walks and a WHIP of 0.91.  He’s went five innings in each of his last three starts posting a 3.00 ERA with 18 K’s and just 2 walks. Cody is on target to throw close to 100 IP this summer with 62.2 logged thus far.  He throws the baseball from a low arm slot and generates a lot of carry - he’s sneaky quick with the heater generally in the 92-94 range but touching slightly higher with a cutter, slider and changeup as secondaries. Is having a very solid season.

Clearwater :

LH Cade Obermueller (22 years old - 2025 2nd round draft choice - Iowa) went four scoreless innings on Friday (7/25) - 0 H, 2 BB, 5 K’s - 70 pitches - 47 strikes. He’s quietly put up strong numbers thus far this season - in 11 starts he has posted a 2.78 ERA in 35.2 IP with 55 K’s and 18 walks. Cade  was slowed by an illness early in the year and didn’t make his pro debut till 5/23/26. He also delivers from a low arm slot with a four-seam fastball that sits 92-94 mph but has reached upper nineties with a big breaking slider, sinker and changeup. He’s calm and collected on the bump - gets after it in a workmanlike manner.

RH Mathew Fisher (20 years old - 2025 7th round draft choice - Memorial HS - Evansville, IN) - he pitched four innings on Wednesday (7/22) - 1 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K’s - 65 pitches - 44 strikes. He’s very athletic with a 6’3” frame to build strength - currently his fastball sits in the 90-93 range with room for growth but the curve is an out maker with big break, he also throws a sinker, slider, change up and cutter.  He began the season on the backfields in the FCL making six starts there before being bumped to Clearwater on 6/15/26 and since making 5 starts with the Threshers (3.60 ERA in 20 IP - 20 K’s - 5 walks). A first year target of 60 to 70 innings seems likely. It’s the curve that’s a knee buckler - Nola like break to it as a modern day comparison however for us old timers that remember Bert Blyleven it has that kind of movement.

RH Sean Youngerman (22 years old, 2025 4th round draft choice) pitched four scoreless frames on Tuesday (7/21) allowing 2 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts - he threw 64 pitches - 41 strikes. He’s had a very good month of July posting a 2.77 ERA in three starts (13 IP). It’s otherwise been a somewhat inconsistent season for him with three outings (9.2 IP - 16 earned runs) inflating his season ERA to 5.47 in 52.2 IP - in his other 12 appearances he’s posted a solid 3.34 ERA in 43 innings. He’s on target to get between 80 and 100 IP this season it seems. Sean features a 91-94 mph fastball that touches 96 along with a slider, changeup and cutter.

RH Brad Pacheco (21 years old) threw five innings on Thursday - 2 R, 5 H, 0 BB, 4 K’s - 66 pitches - 44 strikes. In the month of July he’s made three starts recording a 1.13 ERA in 16 IP with 18 K’s and just one walk 👀.  He’s posted a 4.05 ERA overall in 17 appearances (15 starts) totaling 73.1 IP with 78 K’s and a minuscule 15 walks. The young man has a power arsenal with a fastball consistently in the 94-98 mph range which he couples with a slider, sinker, change up and new this year, a splitter.  The slider has been his best secondary but the splitter is becoming very effective as well. He’s a strike thrower with plus stuff who’s on target to get to 100 innings this season - we first saw the young Venezuelan on the backfields where he would often pop 100 mph (still flashes that) - has a chance to become a very good hurler in the show as he continues to progress - just sayin.

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