9/1/21 : August Standouts - Phillies Minor Leagues

The Phillies issue “Player of the Month” awards in three categories … Hitter, Defender and Pitcher. Below are a few nominations for the August awards … if ya wanna know 🤔🤓.

Hitter of the Month :

Month of May recipient : Bryson Stott

Month of June recipient : Matt Vierling

Month of July recipient : Jhailyn Ortiz & Daniel Brito

August :

IF Bryson Stott ( Reading ) - the 2019 1st round draft choice from UNLV had an outstanding month … .408 batting average ( 42 for 103 ), .447 OBP, .660 slugging percentage and 1.107 OPS 😳. He hit 9 doubles, 1 triple and 5 home runs and drove in 18 runs. By far the most productive month of his young pro career. Bryson is slashing .300/.388/.505 for the year with 25 doubles, 2 triples, 15 home runs and 45 RBIs between Jersey Shore and Reading in 94 games ( 357 AB’s ).

1B Darick Hall ( Lehigh Valley ) - has always been a run producer during his minor league career … he drove in a system leading 24 runs during the month of August. Darick clubbed 4 doubles and 6 home runs in August and posted a .382 OBP and .529 slugging percentage for a .911 OPS in 24 games. Thus far in his career Darick has posted 334 RBIs in 533 AB’s … he’s been the system leader in that category since being drafted in the 14th round of the 2016 draft from Dallas Baptist University.

UTL Nicolas Torres ( Jersey Shore ) - after being promoted from Clearwater on 8/14 he had a torrid start to his High A career for Jersey Shore … Nicolas went 19 for 44 ( .432 ) in 11 games with an OBP of .468 and an OPS of .968. The 21 year old from Puerto Cabello, Venezuela was signed on 7/2/16 and has had a steady career progression thus far … DSL/GCL/Short Season/Low A/ High A. He’s also become a versatile defender … playing seven defensive spots this summer. For the season he’s posted a solid .270/.360/.370 slash line in 80 games ( 270 AB’s ) for Clearwater and Jersey Shore.

2B/SS Luis Garcia ( Clearwater ) - went on a tear from August 20th to the 31st ending the month with an eleven game hitting streak ( 22 for 46 - .478 ) with 4 doubles, 2 triples and 4 home runs … he drove in 14 runs during the streak and had six multi hit games including a five hit game on 8/22. For the month he hit .309 ( 25 for 81 ) after returning from Covid restrictions on 8/6 … much of the Clearwater and FCL rosters were restricted due to multiple positive tests and contact tracing … Luis emerged from the unwanted time off focused and swinging the bat the best he has thus far in his young career, the 20 year old has always been noted as an elite defender … 16 doubles, 5 triples, 11 home runs and 42 RBIs this season showcases an emerging offensive game as well.

IF Erick Brito ( DSL Phillies White ) -had an outstanding month of August hitting .339 ( 19 for 56 ) while posting a .494 OBP … he drew an astounding 18 walks during the month. The 19 year old from Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela was signed as an amateur free agent on 11/29/18 … he played 21 games in the 2019 DSL season but has broken out this year … has posted a .317 batting average in 31 games ( 82 AB’s ) thus far this season.

Pitcher of the Month :

Month of May recipient : Bailey Falter

Month of June recipient : Victor Vargas & Adam Leverett

Month of July recipient : Ethan Lindow

I’ve been told that the organization has some very good hurlers in the Dominican Summer League and indeed there are August numbers to prove the point. Five pitchers’s numbers stood out to me during the month …

RH Jean Cabrera ( Phillies White ) - the 19 year old from Maracay, Venezuela is in his first year of DSL play after signing on 7/2/19 … during August he posted an incredible 0.41 ERA in 5 starts ( 22 IP ) with 25 K’s and an unbelievable 1 walk 🤓. His WHIP was 0.55 for the month and opponents hit just .149 against him. For the season he’s got a 1.09 ERA in 8 games ( 33 IP ) with 39 K’s and only 5 walks … a 0.79 WHIP

RH Manuel Urias ( Phillies Red ) - the 20 year old from Ahome, Sinaloa, Mexico recorded a minuscule 0.82 ERA in five August starts ( 22 IP ) striking out 27 batters and walking an amazingly low 2 batters. His August WHIP was 0.77 and opponents hit just .185 against him. I’ve only seen him pitch once in person but over the course of his three year DSL career he’s recorded 132 K’s and an incredibly low 22 walks in 149 1/3 IP … a 1.93 ERA and 0.94 WHIP 😳

LH Eiberson Castellano ( Phillies White ) - recorded a 0.00 ERA in 6 games ( 11 IP ). The reliever recorded 11 K’s and a 0.91 WHIP, opponents hit just .108 against him. The 20 year old from Maracaibo, Venezuela has a 0.96 ERA in 11 games this season ( 18 2/3 IP ) .. he was signed 7/2/18 and this is is his first season of DSL action.

RH Estibenzon Jimenez ( Phillies White ) - pitched as a reliever in five August contests ( 18 1/3 IP ) and recorded a 0.98 ERA and 0.75 WHIP … opponents hit just .145 against him. The 19 year old from San Felipe, Venezuela was signed 11/27/19, this year is his first in the DSL.

RH Javier Fuenmayor ( Phillies Red ) - the 18 year old from Maracaibo, Venezuela made five August starts and recorded a 1.66 ERA & 1.06 WHIP in 21 2/3 IP with 16 K’s and 5 walks.

Full season standouts :

LH Josh Hendrickson ( Reading ) - the 23 year old 2019 38th round draft selection from San Diego University posted a 2.77 ERA in 5 games ( 26 IP ) and a 1.00 WHIP with 27 K’s and just 6 walks … opponents hit just .215 against him. For the season he’s thrown a system leading 91 1/3 IP between Jersey Shore and Reading with a 3.45 ERA ( 90 K’s & 26 BB ). Josh has had a very solid season which definitely puts him in the running for this year’s Paul Owens Award.

RH James McArthur ( Reading ) - posted a 2.79 ERA in August in 4 games ( 19 1/3 IP ) striking out 26 batters while allowing six walks. During the month opponents hit .243 against him and he recorded a 1.24 WHIP. James is a high velocity hurler and was the clubs 12th round selection in the 2018 draft from Ole Miss.

RH Tyler McKay ( Jersey Shore ) - threw six perfect innings in his start on 8/14 and followed that with three more perfect frames to begin the game in his next start on 8/20. For the month he posted a 3.42 ERA in five games ( 23 2/3 IP ) with a 1.10 WHIP and a .235 opponents batting average against. In his last start of the month he threw seven shutout innings on 8/28 against Wilmington.

LH Jeff Singer ( Lehigh Valley ) - made 10 appearances during the month and posted a 2.93 ERA in 15 1/3 IP, he struck out 22 batters and walked 6 … opponents hit just .228 against him … WHIP for the month was 1.24 … in seven of his appearances he pitched scoreless baseball.

Defender of the Month :

Month of May recipient : Luke Williams

Month of June recipient : Madison Stokes

Month of July recipient : Arquimedes Gamboa

Two defenders in the Phillies system, to me, have stood out all season. They both have speed, soft hands and outstanding arms. They are also both mechanically smooth. Johan Rojas & Luis Garcia both get to baseballs that other fielders just can’t reach. Johan is a glider in center field who tracks fly balls effortlessly and relishes in making catches that seem impossible. Luis, at both shortstop and second base, makes the spectacular play seem almost routine, his footwork and reads are exemplary … outstanding first step. Both very deserving of defender of the month for August.

OF Johan Rojas ( Clearwater ) - 21 years old - six outfield assists - .975 fielding percentage

2B/SS Luis Garcia ( Clearwater ) - 20 years old - .969 career fielding percentage

Other excellent defenders to consider 🤔

1B Darick Hall ( Lehigh Valley ) - .997 fielding percentage this season - .993 career percentage

C Logan O’Hoppe ( Reading ) - .993 fielding percentage this season - .989 career percentage

OF Mickey Moniak ( Lehigh Valley ) - .982 fielding percentage this season in CF - .988 career percentage

Happy Day, Happy Baseball