7/27/25 : Phillies Minor Leagues : week in review (7/21- 7/27)

Written by Steve Potter

Spotlight Hitter of the week :

Dominican Summer League catcher Anderson Araujo (Phillies Red) went 5 for 13 (.385) and scored five runs for the week. The seventeen year old was signed on 1/15/25 from Barquisimeto, Venezuela and he’s had a very solid first professional season.  Anderson was selected to the DSL National League All-Star team. For the year he’s posted a .282/.380/.567 slash line and a .944 OPS in 129 plate appearances with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs and 20 RBIs. He’s drawn 14 walks and has stolen 8 bases. Defensively he’s caught 17 games and played 15 at first base, behind the dish he’s thrown out 12 of 44 (27 %) base stealers. When I’ve watched the video feeds of DSL games and he’s catching what stands out is his passion to encourage his pitchers, a take charge approach and a vocal leadership.

Spotlight Pitchers of the Week :

Twenty two year old RH Andrew Painter (LHV) - 6 IP, 2 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 4 K’s - 76 pitches - 44 strikes - a very good outing on Thursday, had one rough inning (4th) in which he was tagged for a two run HR (on a good curve ball that the hitter went down and got) by rehabbing Ryan Mountcastle - velocity held upper 90’s throughout - mix was good, was more Painter like tonight - when Andrew is at his best execution means thinking about it and not just throwing - he’s always been a precision planner which leads to pitch placement. His bullpens when I watched in the past were so precise he would tell the catcher where to put the glove and then would hit it - saw that more tonight in regards to quality pitches - especially impressed in the fifth inning when he bounced back from a rough fourth - to me was his best outing of the year in that regard.

Twenty three year old RH Gabriel Barbosa (JS) - 7.2 IP, 4 R - 2 earned, 6 H, 1 BB, 6 K’s - 87 pitches - 62 strikes - was really good once again - lowers his ERA with JS to 1.16  - all in the month of July - four starts - 23.1 IP, 3 ER, 15 H, 6 BB, 18 K’s. Gabriel was acquired in the 2024 minor league rule 5 draft from the Yankees organization marking the second consecutive year he moved organizations after the Yankees selected him from the Rockies in the 2023 minor league rule 5 draft.

International League (AAA) : Lehigh Valley (14-12, 60-40)

The IronPigs went 5-1 hosting Norfolk (Orioles affiliate). Keaton Anthony hit his first home run as an IronPig on Tuesday, RH Nabil Crismatt pitched six innings (one run). Oscar Mercado had three hits (two singles & HR) with four RBIs and Garrett Stubbs had three hits (singles) and two RBIs on Wednesday as LHV scored 14 runs on 16 hits. RH Andrew Painter pitched six innings (two runs - one hit) on Thursday in what was his longest and best outing of the season. Keaton Anthony had two hits (singles) and two RBIs on Friday. Peyton Henry had three hits (singles) and two RBIs on Saturday, RHP David Robertson made his initial appearance with a scoreless inning of work allowing three hits. Cal Stevenson had two hits (single & HR) on Sunday.

Cal Stevenson went 7 for 17 (.412) in the series with two home runs and five RBIs with five walks (.545 OBP). Gabriel Rincones Jr 6 for 15 (.400) with eight runs scored, two home runs and five RBIs with six walks (.571 OBP), Justin Crawford 7 for 19 (.368) with a home run.  Oscar Mercado was 7 for 19 (.368) with a home run and six RBIs, Payton Henry 4 for 11 (.364), Garrett Stubbs 5 for 14 (.357), Keaton Anthony 7 for 25 (.280) and Donovan Walton 6 for 22 (.273).

Eastern League (AA) : Reading (11-16, 36-58)

Reading was 1-5 hosting Binghamton (Mets affiliate). RH Estibenzon Jimenez pitched six innings (three runs) on Tuesday.  Felix Reyes had two hits (single & double) on Wednesday. Aidan Miller singled, walked and stole two bases on Thursday. Felix Reyes had three hits (two singles & HR), walked, scored twice and had two RBIs on Friday. RH Eiberson Castellano returned from the IL (was placed on it 5/29/25) to pitch an inning (one run) on Saturday. Caleb Ricketts had two hits (single & HR) and Hendry Mendez hit three singles on Sunday.

Hendry Mendez went 8 for 21 (.381) with four walks (.500 OBP) in the series. Felix Reyes was 7 for 20 (.350) with a home run. Nick Dunn was 6 for 19 (.316) and Alex Binelas 5 for 16 (.313).

South Atlantic League  (High A) : Jersey Shore (14-15, 39-53)

The BlueClaws were 4-2 hosting Wilmington (Nationals affiliate). Three relievers - RH Paxton Thompson (1.1 innings), LH Wesley Moore (one perfect IP) and RH Andrew Baker (one perfect IP) threw shutout ball in relief on Tuesday. RH Gabriel Barbosa pitched seven and two thirds  innings on Thursday allowing just two earned runs. LH Mavis Graves pitched 5.1 innings

(one unearned run, two hits) in game one of a Saturday twin bill, Eduardo Tait had two hits (single & double) in the game. Center fielder Devin Saltiban hit two home runs during the week.  RHP Andrew Baker made two scoreless appearances (two IP) in relief. Eduardo Tait had three hits (single & two doubles) with two RBIs and Avery Owusu-Asiedu also had three hits (single & two doubles) and a walk on Sunday.

Bryson Ware was 3 for 10 (.300) in three games played.  Eduardo Tait went 6 for 22 (.273) with three doubles and four RBIs in his first week at the High A level. Avery Owusu-Asiedu had four hits, three walks and six runs scored in 19 PA’s (.389 OBP).

Florida State League (Low A)  : Clearwater (13-15, 49-45)

The Threshers went 2-0 hosting Bradenton (Pirates affiliate) Tuesday thru Thursday and then 3-0 hosting Tampa (Yankees affiliate) Friday thru Sunday. Alirio Ferrebus had two hits (singles) including a walk-off game winner in the tenth inning on Tuesday. Dante Nori had two hits (triple & HR) with a walk, two runs scored and three RBIs on Wednesday. RH Luke Gabrysh (4 IP, 1 H) and RH Ryan Dromboski (3 IP, 0 H) combined for a seven inning shutout win on Friday. Nikau Pouaka-Grego singled, homered, walked, drove in two runs and scored twice on Saturday, RHP Giuseppe Velasquez pitched 5.2 innings (one run). Six pitchers combined to hold Tampa to two runs in a Sunday afternoon win.

Alirio Ferrebus was 6 for 16 (.375) for the week with a double and six RBIs. John Spikerman went 5 for 16 (.313) with two walks and a HBP for a .421 OBP in 19 PA’s.  Dante Nori had three hits (double, triple, HR), four walks, four runs scored and a HBP for a .400 OBP in 20 PA’s.

Florida Complex League Phillies (16-42)

The FCL club went 0-3 during the week. RH Fernando Ramos (one hit) threw three scoreless frames of relief on Monday. Manolfi Jimenez had two hits (single & HR) on Tuesday. Their season concluded on Thursday - LH Camron Hill pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in a rehab assignment. Outfielder Manolfi Jimenez went 3 for 7 (.429) in two games before being promoted to the Threshers mid week. Catcher Angel Mata was 2 for 7 (.286) and infielder Adrian Garcia 3 for 11 (.273) for the week.

Dominican Summer League Phillies Red (17-22)

The Red club went 3-2 during the week. RH Enderson Jean pitched two scoreless innings in relief on Monday. RH Markos Sanchez threw two scoreless innings (three hits) in his pro debut on Tuesday. Anderson Araujo (two singles and triple) had three hits and three players had two hits apiece in a victory on Thursday and RH Enyel Garcia threw three scoreless innings (one hit). Josueth Quinonez had two hits (single & double) on Friday. RH Deiry Gonzalez pitched four innings on Saturday (one unearned run). Catcher Anderson Araujo went 5 for 13 (.385) and scored five runs for the week, catcher Santiago Prado was 3 for 8 (.375) and infielder Domingo Morla 4 for 14 (.286) with three RBIs.

Dominican Summer League Phillies White (12-26)

The White club went 2-3 during the week. Maylerson Casanova tripled, had two RBIs and scored twice on Monday. Roiner Cespede had two hits (singles) on Tuesday. LH Jorge Guzman pitched four and one third innings (one run) on Thursday. Rey Cruz had four hits (singles) and Michael Nieto had three hits (singles) and two RBIs on Friday. RH Eduardo Robles threw four scoreless innings in that game. Gabriel Azocar had two hits (singles), a walk and two RBIs on Saturday. RHP Cristhian Espinosa earned both wins during the week by pitching 4.1 innings in two appearances allowing just one run on one hit with no walks while striking out five batters. Catcher Rey Cruz was 5 for 12 (.417) with four runs scored for the week with three walks (.617 OBP) and stole three bases, catcher Gabriel Flores was also 5 for 12 (.417). Outfielder Dayber Cruceta went 4 for 12 (.333) with six walks (.579 OBP) and five runs scored. Catcher Gabriel Azocar was 4 for 9 (.444) in three games played.

Extra Extra !

In addition to the nightly minor league roundups appearing on my website and most social media outlets I wrote four extra spotlights this week - links below :

7/21/25 : A collection of photos of the new draftees and NDFA official signings : https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/7-21-25-official-signings

7/22/25 : Eduardo Tait’s promotion to Jersey Shore : https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/7-22-25-catcher-eduardo-tait-promoted-to-jersey-shore

7/24/25 : FCL Season Review : https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/7-24-25-2025-fcl-phillies-season-review

7/25/25 : Clearwater Complex PDC Activities : https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/7-25-25-clearwater-complex-pdc-player-development-center-activities

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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