8/3/25 : Phillies Minor Leagues : week in review (7/28- 8/3)

Written by Steve Potter

Spotlight Hitters of the week :

Twenty four year old corner outfielder/infielder Felix Reyes (Reading) was 10 for 24 (.417) with three doubles, two home runs and five RBIs during the week, he had a four hit game on Saturday.  For the season in 240 plate appearances he’s posted a .315/.354/.568 slash line with a .922 OBP with 17 doubles, 3 triples, 11 home runs and 29 RBIs and has scored 36 runs. The exit velocity on balls in play off his bat is consistently amongst the leaders in the organization. He hits the baseball very hard.

Twenty four year old Keaton Anthony (Lehigh Valley) went 8 for 19 (.421) with two three hit games this week, he walked three times and posted a .500 OBP (11 for 22). He’s hitting .313/.374/.433 with a double and.807 OPS in 148 plate appearances with Lehigh Valley since being promoted from Reading on June 11th and .323/.378/.484 with an .862 OBP including 31 doubles and 6 home runs overall in 348 plate appearances at the AA/AAA levels. He’s also a gold glove winner at first base.

Twenty one year old Aidan Miller (Reading) was 7 for 19 (.368) this week with two doubles and three walks, he scored five runs (.455 OBP). Statistically it’s been a growing pains season for Aidan in 2025 as he’s got a .227/.347/.357 slash line in 366 plate appearances with 12 doubles and 8 home runs but he posts up every day he’s on the field and continues to learn his trade as one of the youngest players (just turned 21 on 6/9) at the AA level of play. This year he’s incorporated more speed into his game with 38 stolen bases (second highest in the Eastern League) - he had 23 last season combined at the A/AA levels.

Spotlight Pitchers of the Week :

Twenty one year old LH Mavis Graves (Jersey Shore) who was the club’s 6th round draft selection in 2022 from  Eastside HS in Taylors, South Carolina pitched five scoreless innings this week allowing just two hits in his start on Friday.  He’s coming off a strong month of July where he posted a 1.72 ERA in four starts (15.2 IP) with a 0.89 WHIP - 18 K’s and 4 walks - for the season has started 17 games with a 4.85 ERA (65  IP) with 80 K’s and 39 walks - he features  a five pitch mix - four seam fastball, two seamer/sinker, a cutter that’s basically a slider and curve ball that is more of a sweeper. Fastballs will  be in the 91-94 mph range. He told me at the mid season break that “this year has been a big year for development for me, I’ve had ups and downs and one of my main goals the first half was to get my routines down and I feel like I’ve came a long way with them. For the rest of the year I want to build consistent starts and start dominating hitters.”  In his last five starts he’s well on his way to accomplishing that goal.

Twenty two year old RH Andrew Painter (Lehigh Valley) pitched 6.1 innings in his start this week allowing just one run on seven hits, it was his second consecutive strong outing where he’s looked more “Painter like” with command and pitch movement. Still a work in progress to return to pre injury precision form in his TJ comeback season he’s now logged 79.1 innings in 18 starts with a 4.42 ERA posting 79 K’s and 26 walks. The original target of  between 130 to 140 IP for the season or thereabouts remains in play.

Seventeen year old RH Deiry Gonzalez (DSL Phillies Red) pitched five scoreless innings in his start on Saturday allowing just two hits. Gonzalez is considered by many as one of the top Phillies pitching prospects at the Dominican Academy this year. In eight starts he’s posted a 1.06 ERA in 34 IP with 31 K’s and 5 walks, a WHIP of 0.88.  His K/BB ratio is a very strong 6.2. He is generally in the 90-92 range with his fastball and has also shown a slider, change up and curve. Deiry had an outstanding month of June - in three starts he posted a 0.00 ERA in 13 IP with 13 K’s and 1 BB - a .196 BAA and 0.77 WHIP.  Has a tall frame with room to add strength so at least theoretically can add velocity as well. Will get consideration for 2026 stateside assignment. Was selected to the 2025 DSL All-Star game representing the National League. Deiry is from the Dominican Republic and was signed on 1/15/25.

International League (AAA) : Lehigh Valley (16-16, 62-44)

The IronPigs went 2-4 visiting Worcester (Red Sox affiliate). Keaton Anthony had three hits (single, double & HR) with a walk and two RBIs on Tuesday and RH Gabe Mosser pitched five innings (two runs). Payton Henry hit two home runs, walked and posted four RBIs on Wednesday - RH Andrew Painter pitched 6.1 innings (one run). RH Aaron Nola pitched three scoreless innings and RH Joe Ross pitched a scoreless frame in game one of a doubleheader on Friday - Justin Crawford had two hits (single & double) in the game. Rodolfo Castro had two hits (single & HR) with three RBIs on Saturday and RH Nabil Crismatt pitched six innings (two runs - one earned).

Keaton Anthony went 8 for 19 (.421) with two three hit games in the series, he walked three times and posted a .500 OBP (11 for 22). Payton Henry went 6 for 12 (.500) with 2 home runs, four RBIs and 3 runs scored. Garrett Stubbs was 4 for 11 (.364). Justin Crawford was 6 for 20 (.300) with a double and four walks - he posted a .417 OBP in 24 plate appearances.

Eastern League (AA) : Reading (13-20, 38-62)

Reading was 2-4 visiting Hartford (Rockies affiliate). Hendry Mendez hit a grand slam home run on Tuesday and RH Jean Cabrera pitched 5.2 innings (two runs, nine strikeouts). Felix Reyes had three hits (two singles & double) on Wednesday. Caleb Ricketts and Dylan Campbell each had three hits (singles) on Friday - RH Gabriel Barbosa made his AA level debut pitching three innings (one run). Aidan Miller had two hits (singles) and a walk, he stole a base, scored a run and drove in another in game one of a Saturday double header - Felix Reyes had four hits (two singles, double & two run HR), scored twice and had three RBIs in game two.  Dylan Campbell (singles) and Leandro Pineda (single & double) each had two hits on Sunday.

Felix Reyes was 10 for 24 (.417) with three doubles, two home runs and five RBIs in the series. Aidan Miller was 7 for 19 (.368) with two doubles and three walks, he scored five runs (.455 OBP). Carson DeMartini went 5 for 16 (.313) with a double, home run, five runs scored and five RBIs. Dylan Campbell was 9 for 24 (.375) with two doubles. Relievers Jack Dallas (3.1 IP) and Andrew Walling (2 IP) each made two scoreless appearances in the series.

South Atlantic League  (High A) : Jersey Shore (19-16, 44-54)

The BlueClaws were 5-1 visiting Brooklyn (Mets affiliate). Eduardo Tait, Bryan Rincon and Aroon Escobar each had two hits on Tuesday, Rincon and Escobar tripled - RH Sam Highfill pitched 5.2 innings (two runs - one earned) and RH Andrew Baker a perfect ninth inning to close out a win. Zach Arnold had three hits (singles), scored twice and posted two RBIs on Wednesday - RH Reese Dutton pitched five innings in relief (one run). Devin Saltiban had two hits (singles) on Thursday. Avery Owusu-Asiedu had two hits (double & HR) on Friday and LH Mavis Graves pitched five scoreless frames. Bryan Rincon had two hits (single & double), walked twice, stole a base and had two RBIs on Saturday. Jordan Dissin had three hits(single & two doubles) and walked once on Sunday and RH Braydon Tucker pitched six scoreless innings (four hits).

Bryan Rincon was 8 for 22 (.364) in the series with three doubles and a triple, he scored six runs and stole an incredible nine bases giving him a career high of 40 for the season - he walked four times and had a .462 OBP in 26 plate appearances. Raylin Heredia was 4 for 14 (.286) with three walks posting a .412 OBP in 18 plate appearances. Relievers Saul Teran (two games, three IP, no runs, one hit) and Cristhian Tortosa (five IP, ten strikeouts, one run) each made two solid appearances in the series.

Florida State League (Low A)  : Clearwater (18-17, 54-47)

The Threshers went 2-1 visiting Tampa (Yankees affiliate) Tuesday and Wednesday and 3-1 visiting Bradenton (Pirates affiliate) Friday thru Sunday.  Raider Tello had three hits (single & two doubles) as did TJayy Walton (two singles & double) on Tuesday, LH Kevin Warunek pitched three scoreless/hitless frames in relief in the extra inning victory. Dante Nori had three hits in game one of a double header on Wednesday - LH Zuher Yousef made his Threshers debut (3.2 IP - one run). The team swept a double header on Friday pitching two shutouts - RH Ryan Dromboski pitched 4.2 innings in game one - John Spikerman had two hits (singles) with an RBI and run scored. In game two RH Luke Gabrysh pitched five shutout innings and LH Cameron Hill went two scoreless frames in his Threshers debut - Tyler Pettorini had two hits (single & triple), scored two runs and had two RBIs. RH Giuseppe Velasquez pitched five scoreless innings (one hit allowed) on Saturday. Four pitchers combined for the third shutout of the week on Sunday with LH Juan Amarante going 4.2 innings and RH Orlando Gonzalez retiring four batters in order in 1.1 IP to close and post his first save.

Dante Nori was 8 for 22 (.364) during the week with a triple, seven runs scored and eight walks (.500 OBP in 32 PA’s). Raider Tello was 7 for 20 (.350) with three doubles, a home run and six RBIs, he walked five times and had a .580 OBP in 25 plate appearances. TJayy Walton was 8 for 25 (.320) with six runs scored, a double and triple along with five walks for a .433 OBP (30 PA’s). Luke Davis was 5 for 11 (.455) with a home run, three RBIs and four runs scored. Nikau Pouaka-Grego went 5 for 10 (.500) with a double and two walks in four games played. Relievers Danyony Pulido (3 IP) and Danny Wilkinson (2.2 IP) each made two scoreless appearances.

Dominican Summer League Phillies Red (20-24)

The Red club went 3-2 during the week. Anderson Navas had three hits (two singles & double) and two RBIs on Monday. Jalvin Arias had two hits (singles) and two walks on Tuesday. Anderson Araujo had three hits (singles) and two RBIs on Thursday. RH Henry Ramirez threw three scoreless innings in relief on Friday - Jonathan Alcantara hit his first professional home run.  Anderson Araujo hit two doubles and posted three RBIs on Saturday and RH Deiry Gonzalez pitched five scoreless innings.

Jalvin Arias went 5 for 12 (.417) for the week with a double and triple. Anderson Araujo was 5 for 16 (.313) with two doubles and five RBIs. Anderson Navas went 5 for 17 (.294) with three doubles, three runs scored and four RBIs.

Dominican Summer League Phillies White (13-30)

The White club went 1-4 during the week. Dayber Cruceta had two hits (single & double) and an RBI on Monday. RH Pedro Peralta pitched five innings (one run) on Tuesday. LH Jorge Guzman pitched five scoreless innings on Thursday. Michael Nieto had three hits on Friday (two singles and a double). RH Gabriel Martinez pitched two scoreless innings in relief on Saturday.

Michael Nieto was 5 for 13 (.385) during the week with two doubles, Dayber Cruceta went 4 for 12 (.333) and Gabriel Azocar 3 for 9 (.333).

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 :

7/28/25 - Former Phillies on Independent or Foreign League teams - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/7-28-25-former-phillies-players-on-independent-or-foreign-league-teams-update

7/31/25 - July Minor League Standouts - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/7-31-25-july-standouts-phillies-minor-leagues

8/1/25 - Trade Deadline After Thoughts - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/8-1-25-trade-deadline-after-thoughts

8/3/25 - Reviewing the DSL - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/8-3-25-reviewing-the-dsl

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

Note : I've partnered  with Fanatics on Phillies Merchandise - if you would like to help support my website and articles here's a link to order merchandise - I get a small commission on any sales - thanks for the support.

http://fanatics.93n6tx.net/NKjZkK