8/17/25 : Phillies Minor Leagues : week in review (8/11- 8/17)
- Steve Potter
- 1 minute ago
- 9 min read
Written by Steve Potter
Spotlight Hitters of the week :
Justin Crawford went 10 for 26 (.385) during the week with two doubles, a triple and seven runs scored and has an twelve game hitting streak in which he’s 18 for 45 (.400) with two doubles, a home run, nine RBIs, six stolen bases and fifteen runs scored. The mercurial twenty-one year old is now hitting .333 in 390 AB’s for the season with a .414 OBP in 452 plate appearances with 22 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs, 39 stolen bases and 76 runs scored. Of his 128 hits, 28 have been pulled - he’s hitting over .340 on balls to the pull side while hitting over .500 (with 61 hits) on balls hit the other away.
Aroon Escobar (Jersey Shore) went 9 for 20 (.450) during the week and has a 7 game hitting streak (12 for 27 - .444) with a home run and five RBIs. The twenty year old has posted a .272/.333/.360 slash line in 129 plate appearances with Jersey Shore since being promoted on 7/8/25 from Clearwater and is hitting .281/.364/.424 overall with a .788 OPS in 445 PA’s with 13 doubles, 3 triples, 12 home runs and 55 RBIs - he’s also stolen 19 bases. Aroon has played very well as a defender at second base including having a very quick exchange on the bag on double play opportunities.
Two Reading hitters had strong weeks - Felix Reyes continues to mash going 10 for 26 (.385) with five doubles, a home run and seven RBI, he scored seven runs. On the season the 24 year old is hitting .327/.361/.567 with a .928 OPS with 24 doubles, 3 triples, 12 home runs and 44 RBIs in 299 PA’s. Catcher Caleb Ricketts went 9 for 21 (.429) for the week with 2 home runs, six runs scored and seven RBIs. He’s been limited in play this season due to an extended stay on the IL (mid April to mid June) with lower back issues.
Spotlight Pitcher of the Week :
RH Griff McGarry (Reading) struck out 12 batters in six scoreless innings on Wednesday allowing just two hits and one walk, he retired in order the last fifteen batters he faced (11 by strikeout). The now 26 year old was selected in the 5th round of the 2021 draft from the University of Virginia. In his last two outings he’s struck out 23 batters over 11 innings of work and also has a 1.80 ERA in three August starts (15 IP) with 27 strikeouts and just four walks, a 0.73 WHIP and a .140 BAA. Griff got off to an electric start this season posting a 0.00 ERA in his first three April outings over 12 innings but then went on the IL with elbow discomfort from 4/21 to 5/29 - after three rehab appearances with Clearwater he returned to the Reading rotation on 6/19. In twelve starts with Reading (49.2 IP) this season he’s posted a 3.44 ERA with 68 K’s and 29 walks with a .162 BAA. The stuff has long been major league caliber, when he’s square to the dish thru his delivery he can command the zone and dominate.
RH Braydon Tucker (Jersey Shore) pitched six scoreless innings on Sunday (3 H, 1 BB, 6 K’s - 93 pitches - 60 strikes). In his last three outings (all in August) he had pitched 18 innings (0 R, 10 H, 6 BB, 9 K’s) with an 0.88 WHIP - he has been outstanding! Braydon is 26 years old and was signed as a non-drafted free agent on 7/19/23 from Lipscomb University - on the season he’s posted a 3.19 ERA in 19 games (12 starts) in 84.2 IP with a 1.06 WHIP and .223 BAA with a 66% strike percentage. A very solid pitcher who just gets batters out 🤓👏👀.
Three Clearwater pitchers combined for a no-hit/no run 2-0 win on Friday - LH Angel Liranzo (four innings - 2 BB, 2 K’s, LH AJ Wilson -1 BB, 3 K’s and LH Erik Ritchie - 1 BB, 2 K’s). Luke Davis caught the game and center fielder Nate Humphreys made a tremendous long running and diving catch to rob a hit and end the seventh inning! He literally caught the ball on the dive 👀👏. - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/8-16-25-clearwater-no-hitter
International League (AAA) : Lehigh Valley (21-24, 67-52)
The IronPigs went 2-4 visiting Buffalo (Blue Jays affiliate).
At Bat :
On Wednesday Justin Crawford had two hits (single & double) with a stolen base, three RBIs and a run scored - Alec Bohm and Robert Moore each hit two run home runs. Christian Arroyo had two hits (single & double), walked twice and had four RBIs on Thursday. Alec Bohm had two hits (single & triple) in Thursday’s game. Justin Crawford had three hits (two singles & double), stole a base and scored three runs on Saturday. On Sunday Justin Crawford (single & double) and Johan Rojas (single & triple) each had two hits - Crawford stole his 39th base of the season. Rafael Lantigua also had two hits (singles) and walked twice.
Justin Crawford went 10 for 26 (.385) during the week with two doubles, a triple and seven runs scored and has an twelve game hitting streak in which he’s 18 for 45 (.400) with two doubles, a home run, nine RBIs, six stolen bases and fifteen runs scored. Johan Rojas went 3 for 8 (.375) in two games played with a double. Donovan Walton was 6 for 18 (.333) with three doubles, four RBIs and four walks. Luis Verdugo was 5 for 16 (.313) with two doubles and five runs scored.
On The Hill :
RH Aaron Nola pitched 5.2 innings (two runs, four hits) on Tuesday striking out eleven batters. Five relievers (Daniel Harper, Josh Walker, Jose Alvarado, Lou Trivino & Phil Bickford) pitched scoreless baseball over five innings on Wednesday in a victory. The bullpen pitched four scoreless innings on Saturday including perfect innings by RH Daniel Harper and LH Josh Walker.
LH Jose Alvarado made three scoreless relief appearances (3 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 1 K) during the series. RH Daniel Harper made two scoreless appearances as did right handers Michael Mercado, Devin Sweet and Lou Trivino along with LH Nolan Hoffman (two innings each).
Eastern League (AA) : Reading (19-26, 44-68)
Reading was 1-5 hosting Akron (Guardians affiliate).
At Bat :
Caleb Ricketts had four hits (three singles & HR) with three RBIs and two runs scored on Tuesday. He had two more hits (single & HR) walked and posted two RBIs on Wednesday. On Thursday Paul McIntosh had three hits (single & two home runs) with four RBIs and scored twice. Aidan Miller had two hits (single & double) with a walk and RBI. Erick Brito had two hits (double & HR) with two RBIs and two runs scored. Felix Reyes had three hits (single & two doubles). On Friday Aidan Miller had two hits (single & HR), walked and scored twice - he also stole a base. Felix Reyes had three hits (single & two doubles), scored three runs and had an RBI on Saturday. Leandro Pineda had two hits (triple & HR) with three RBIs on Sunday.
Caleb Ricketts was 9 for 21 (.429) for the week with 2 home runs, six runs scored and seven RBIs. Felix Reyes went 10 for 26 (.385) with five doubles, a home run and seven RBI, he scored seven runs. Leandro Pineda was 5 for 15 (.333) with five walks (.545 OBP in 22 PA’s), Nick Dunn 6 for 19 (.316) and Paul McIntosh - 6 for 19 (.316) with two home runs and five RBIs.
On The Hill :
RH Griff McGarry pitched six scoreless innings (two hits, twelve strikeouts) on Wednesday - he retired the last fifteen batters he faced in order.
South Atlantic League (High A) : Jersey Shore (27-20, 52-58)
The BlueClaws were 3-3 visiting Wilmington (Nationals affiliate).
At Bat :
Aroon Escobar had two hits (singles) on Tuesday. In Thursday’s doubleheader he had three hits (singles), a walk and three stolen bases. Kehden Hettiger delivered two hits (single & double), scored twice and posted two RBIs on Thursday. On Friday
Aroon Escobar had two hits (singles) and posted two RBIs, Trent Farquhar had two hits (single & double) and Raylin Heredia had two hits (single & double). Aroon Escobar and Kodey Shojinaga each had two hits (singles) on Saturday. On Sunday Devin Saltiban, Jose Rodriquez and Jose Colmenares each had two hits (singles). Kehden Hettiger also had two hits (single & double).
Aroon Escobar went 9 for 20 (.450) in the series and has a seven game hitting streak going (12 for 27 - .444) with a home run and five RBIs. Kodey Shojinaga was 4 for 10 (.400), Jose Rodriquez 4 for 12 (.333), John Spikerman 6 for 19 (.316) with 3 walks (.409 OBP in 22 PA’s) and Kehden Hettiger 6 for 20 (.300) with three doubles and five RBIs.
On The Hill :
RH Brandon Beckel pitched four scoreless innings (three hits) on Thursday, RH Alex McFarlane pitched out of the bullpen (one scoreless frame - one hit) and LH Cristhian Tortosa pitched 2.1 scoreless/hitless innings to close out a win - his fastball consistently touched 97 mph. RH Jake Eddington threw three scoreless innings (two hits) in relief on Friday which was followed by two scoreless frames from RH Titan Kennedy-Hayes (one hit, five K’s). RH Braydon Tucker pitched six innings on Sunday (0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K’s - 93 pitches - 60 strikes - his last three outings - 18 IP, 0 R, 10 H, 6 BB, 9 K’s - 0.88 WHIP - he has been outstanding! RH Alex McFarlane pitched two more scoreless frames out of the bullpen on Sunday allowing just a walk.
Titan Kennedy-Hayes (3 IP) and Alex McFarlane (3 IP) made two scoreless relief appearances during the week.
Florida State League (Low A) : Clearwater (27-19, 63-49)
The Threshers went 4-2 hosting Lakeland (Tigers affiliate).
At Bat :
Nate Humphreys had two hits (single & double) and three RBIs on Tuesday. On Thursday Robert Phelps hit a three run double. Luke Davis singled, walked twice, scored two runs and had two RBIs. Dante Nori singled, walked twice, scored a run and posted an RBI. On Friday Dante Nori had two hits (singles), a walk and two stolen bases and Raider Tello singled and homered, knocking in two runs. Raider Tello had three hits (two singles & double), walked and scored twice on Saturday. On Sunday Dante Nori had two hits (double & triple) while Jonathan Hogart and Matt Ferrara each hit their first professional home runs.
Tyler Pettorini was 5 for 11 (.455) with 3 walks (.563 OBP in 16 PA’s) in the series. Raider Tello went 7 for 18 (.389) with 2 walks (.450 OBP in 20 PA’s)
On The Hill :
RH Ramon Marquez pitched five innings (one run, three hits) on Wednesday. RH Orlando Gonzalez closed out Thursday’s win with a scoreless inning, since moving to the back end of the bullpen his fastball has consistently been in the 95-96 mph zone. Three pitchers combined for a no-hit/no run 2-0 win on Friday - LH Angel Liranzo - four innings - 2 BB, 2 K’s, LH AJ Wilson -1 BB, 3 K’s and LH Erik Ritchie - 1 BB, 2 K’s. Luke Davis caught the game and center fielder Nate Humphreys made a tremendous long running and diving catch to rob a hit and end the seventh inning and save the no-hitter! He literally caught the ball on the dive 👀👏. RH Josbel Garcia pitched 3.2 scoreless innings (four hits) in relief on Sunday.
Right handed relievers Luis Avila (4 IP) and Orlando Rodriquez (1.2 IP) each made two scoreless relief appearances in the series.
Dominican Summer League Phillies Red (25-29)
The Red club went 2-3 during the week.
At Bat :
Anderson Araujo and Jonathan Alcantara each had two hits (singles) on Monday. Eduardo Guillen had two hits (singles) on Tuesday. Anderson Navas had three hits (singles) on Thursday. Domingo Morla had two hits (singles) as did Winifer Castillo (single & triple) on Friday. Anderson Arajua and Santiago Prado each doubled on Saturday.
On The Hill :
LH Aneury Montilla pitched five scoreless innings (four hits) on Monday. RH Deiry Gonzalez yielded one unearned run in three innings of work on Friday. Reliever RH Rainy Mota made two scoreless appearances during the week (four innings, two hits, one walk, four strikeouts).
Dominican Summer League Phillies White (13-40)
The White club went 0-5 during the week.
At Bat :
Dayber Cruceta had two hits (singles) on Monday. Romeli Espinosa, Rey Cruz and Rafael Oropeza each had two hits (singles) on Thursday. On Friday Dayber Cruceta had three hits (two singles & double). Gabriel Azocar had two hits (single & double) on Saturday.
Dayber Cruceta went 6 for 10 (.600) for the week with a double and two walks (.667 OBP in 12 PA’s). Gabriel Azocar was 3 for 8 (.375).
On The Hill :
RH Gustavo De La Cruz pitched 1.1 scoreless innings (one hit) in relief on Friday. RH Yael Arias pitched two scoreless innings (one hit, four K’s) in relief on Saturday. RH Albertt Medina pitched 1.1 scoreless innings (one hit) in relief on Saturday.
Extra Extra !
In addition to the nightly minor league roundups appearing on my website and most social media outlets I wrote five extra spotlights this week - links below :
8/11/25 : Clearwater Complex PDC (Player Development Center) activities - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/8-11-25-clearwater-complex-pdc-player-development-center-activities
8/11/25 : Phillies Minor League Statistical Leaders - Offense - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/8-11-25-phillies-minor-league-statistical-leaders-offense
8/11/25 : Phillies Minor League Statistical Leaders - Pitching - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/8-11-25-phillies-minor-league-statistical-leaders-pitching
8/12/25 : News and Notes - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/8-12-25-news-and-notes
8/16/25 : Clearwater No Hitter! - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/8-16-25-clearwater-no-hitter
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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