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.
Seems unimportant to write this posting this week given what happened Saturday to Daniel Brito but he always seems to enjoy the weekly summaries and the accompanying photos so with that in mind I’ll go ahead with the article.
Lehigh Valley ( Overall Record 34-41,2-1 during the past week) - next series @ home vs Buffalo ( Blue Jays Affiliate ) ...
1B Darick Hall - went 3 for 8 ( .375 ) in two games and finished the month of July with a .314/.402/.529 slash line equating to a .933 OPS. He went 22 for 70 with 6 doubles, 3 home runs and 12 RBIs … much more in line with his career numbers.
OF/1B/3B Matt Vierling - went 5 for 12 ( .417 ) during the week. Matt is continuing to add to his versatility defensively as well seeing time at both infield corners in addition to the outfield.
OF Jorge Bonifacio - went 4 for 9 ( .444 ) during the week and has a current 5 game hitting streak ( 6 for 15 - .400 ). In the month of July between Reading and Lehigh Valley he had 7 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs and 13 RBIs. He also drew 13 walks and played very solid defensively in both right and center fields.
Strong Pitching :
LH David Parkinson - pitched 5 1/3 innings on 7/28 allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk, he struck out 4 batters.
LH Tyler Alexander - he went 5 innings on 7/30 - 1 R, 4 H, 4 BB, 3 K’s … in three of his five outings since joining the team he’s yielded just one run over 16 2/3 innings. Overall he’s tossed 22 innings ( 4.50 ERA ) and has a 2-2 record.
Reading ( Overall Record 30-48, 1-5 during the past week) - next series @ Richmond ( Giants Affiliate ) ...
UTL Matt Kroon - went 7 for 17 ( .412 ) for the week after being promoted from Jersey Shore on 7/22. He had two doubles and a triple with four RBIs. Matt ( 2018 18th round draft pick - Oklahoma State ) has worked his way back from an early season injury … he was out of action from May 11th to July 12th
1B Luke Miller - went 6 for 16 ( .375 ) for the week with a double, home run and three RBIs. On the season Luke now has 11 home runs in 195 AB’s …
OF Jhailyn Ortiz - went 7 for 21 ( .333 ) for the week between Jersey Shore and Reading. He was promoted to Reading on 7/31 and went 3 for 8 in his first two games at the AAA level with a home run. He’s now hit 20 home runs with 49 RBIs for the season. Jhailyn hit 13 home runs and drove in 25 runs during the month of July.
OF Grenny Cumana - went 6 for 20 ( .300 ) for the week. Since returning to Reading he’s hitting .333 ( 18 for 54 ) and has provided a veteran presence and stable defense in the outfield.
Strong Pitching :
RH James McArthur - threw 4 scoreless innings on 7/29 - 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K’s … in his last two appearances he’s tossed 7 shutout frames - 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K’s … the 24 year old 2018 12th round draft selection returned to action on 7/11 after a 21 day layoff. Glad to see him back.
RH Austin Ross - had two scoreless outings ( 7/28 & 7/30 ) throwing a total of 3 innings - 0 H, 3 BB, 3 K’s … Austin has appeared in 25 games this season, the 26 year old 2018 35th round draft selection also pitched in Australia in 2020 in winter ball.
Jersey Shore ( Overall Record 36-42, 4-2 during the past week) - next series @ home vs Aberdeen ( Orioles Affiliate ) ...
3B McCarthy Tatum - went 7 for 18 ( .389 ) for the week with two home runs. He was transferred to the JS roster on 7/27 from Reading. McCarthy was the club’s 10th round draft choice in the 2019 draft from Fresno State.
Strong Pitching :
LH Ethan Lindow - had an outstanding outing on Friday night tossing a seven inning complete game shutout … 4 H, 0 BB, 7 K’s. For the month of July he went 3-1 with an ERA of 1.55 in five games ( 4 starts ) accumulating 29 IP and posting 24 K’s against 5 walks. He hasn’t given up an earned run in his last 24 innings pitched and hasn’t been scored upon in 22 consecutive frames. After a slow start to the season at Reading and a subsequent transfer to Jersey Shore Ethan is back to the form that earned him the Paul Owens Award in 2019. His ERA at JS is 2.15 in 50 1/3 IP with a WHIP of 1.03.
RH Victor Vargas - was promoted to JS from Clearwater and showed he belonged by going 6 shutout innings on 7/31 … 3 H, 4 BB, 6 K’s. That follows another scoreless effort on 7/25 for AAA Lehigh Valley where he pitched five innings allowing just 2 hits and 2 walks. Victor has an overall ERA of 2.97 in 15 games ( CW/JS/LHV ) in 60 2/3 IP with 63 K’s and only 18 walks. He’s a pitcher who goes right after hitters much in the way two big leaguers he admires ( Max Scherzer & Jack Flanagan ) do.
LH Jhordany Mezquita - had his best outing of the season on 7/28 going 4 2/3 innings of shutout relief allowing just 4 hits and one hit batter while striking out 7 batters. This season has been an inconsistent one for the 23 year old 2017 8th round draft choice. Perhaps this last outing gets him back on track to the form he showed in 2019 when posting a 3.97 ERA in 95 1/3 IP.
LH Erik Miller - threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings on 7/28 albeit his command was off a bit off. The encouraging part of the showing was his velocity which was in the upper nineties and the ability to pitch out of jams. Erik was sidelined early in the year with shoulder discomfort and is continuing to gain innings, started on the backfields of the Complex in the FCL, then with Clearwater and now this past week in Jersey Shore. The 23 year old 2019 4th round draft choice has the ability to reach the highest level in the rung, good to see him being able to pitch again uninhibited by pain.
RH Tom Sutera - pitched three scoreless innings on 8/1 allowing just one hit. That follows a three inning scoreless outing on 7/25. In Tom’s last three appearances ( 8 1/3 IP ) he’s yielded just one run on 6 hits and 2 walks with 5 K’s
Clearwater ( Overall Record 37-37, 2-1 during the past week) - next series @ home vs Bradenton ( Pirates Affiliate ) … only played three games - final three games of the series postponed because of Covid
Strong Pitching :
RH Rodolfo Sanchez - tossed 4 scoreless/hitless innings on 7/27 with 4 K’s - the 21 year old has been inconsistent but when he shines he really shines 🤓. Earlier this month he struck out 10 batters in a 3 1/3 inning stint. Rodolfo features three pitches, a four seam FB ( 91-94 mph ), slider ( 80-84 mph ) and changeup ( 85-86 mph ).
LH Samuel Aldegheri - the 19 year old had another strong performance on 7/29 going 4 shutout innings ( 1 H, 2 BB, 5 K’s ). In five outings during the month of July ( 2 in the FCL, 3 with the Threshers ) he yielded just a run in 14 IP ( 1.50 ERA ) allowing 8 hits and 5 walks while striking out 22 batters. He’s yet to allow a run as a Thresher. Samuel features a five pitch mix ( four seam FB - 92-94 mph, sinker - 91-93 mph, curve, slider and change up ) with the curveball being the primary off speed.
RH Victor Lopez - the 21 year old threw three scoreless innings on 7/29 ( 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K’s ) in his Threshers debut. In five July appearances ( 4 in the FCL ) he posted a 0.00 ERA in 7 1/3 IP - 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K’s all in relief. He features a FB ( four seam, sinker, cutter ) that sits in the 90-94 range, a changeup, slider and curve. He was signed in March of 2019 as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic.
Florida Complex Phillies ( Overall Record 10-6, 1-0 during the past week)
For the second week in a row the club was only able to play one complete game … hopefully things get back on track next week.
LH Gabriel Cotto was very good on the hill in the one game the team completed, quick fast ball and an off speed delivery that continually produced swings and misses. It’s the best we’ve seen him perform as he went five scoreless innings allowing only 2 hits. He did fight command a bit with 4 walks but worked his way out of the self imposed jams and ended up with 10 K’s which is a career high. Very nice outing for the 21 year old from Puerto Rico.
Dominican Summer League :
Phillies White : ( Overall Record 8-5, 3-1 during the past week)
Catcher Jackie Pertuz ( 18 years old ) went 5 for 8 in five games including a three hit game on 7/30. He was signed on 7/2/19 and is from Colombia
OF Albert Rodriquez ( 18 years old ) went 5 for 15 during the week with 3 doubles and 6 RBIs. He was signed on 11/25/19 and is from the Dominican Republic.
Strong Pitching :
RH Jaydenn Estanista had two scoreless outings ( 7/26 & 7/31 ) totaling 8 IP, 4 H, 6 BB, 6 K’s - he was signed on 11/8/19 and is from Curaçao
Phillies Red : ( Overall Record 6-7,4-1 during the past week)
SS Diego Gonzalez ( 18 years old ) was 6 for 11 during the week including a 5 hit game on 7/29. He was signed on 7/2/19 and is from Venezuela.
C/1B Adony Mejia ( 20 years old ) was 5 for 9 during the week including a 4 hit game on 7/29 … he’s hitting .435 in 23 AB’s so far for the season. Adony was signed on 12/7/18 and is from the Dominican Republic
Catcher Rickardo Perez ( 17 years old ) went 5 for 9 for the week and is hitting .300 in 30 AB’s for the season. He was signed on 6/8/21 and is from Venezuela.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️