9/12/25 : News and Notes
- Steve Potter
- 1 minute ago
- 6 min read
Otto Kemp shines :
Just a year ago around this time Otto Kemp was getting congrats for being named as one of the Phillies selections to play in the 2024 Arizona Fall League - last night he belted a clutch two run home run and an RBI double in the Phillies 6-4 comeback win against the Mets. In total this season between AAA level Lehigh Valley and the Phillies he’s posted 32 doubles, 22 home runs, 15 stolen bases and 89 RBIs with a .285 batting average in 442 AB’s. That’s some damn good production at two of the highest levels of pro baseball - not bad for a guy who can’t hit off-speed pitches 😳 (as previously opined by the great Keith Law). I’ve been touting him for his bat ever since he signed with the Phillies as an non-drafted free agent in 2022 and while no one is ever completely right about player projections I’m rarely wrong 😂 - just sayin.
They come in droves :
For the third consecutive regular season home attendance for the Phillies has eclipsed the three million mark. Winning brings interest and interest brings energy. The upcoming playoff crowds are electric - they stand for virtually the entire game, cheer and energize the team and have created a much more positive image of what it is to be a Phillies fan. There are still those amongst the audiences who choose to show often unnecessary disdain for on field failures but they are in the minority of the attendees. Philly fans come in droves when the team plays quality baseball, that’s a testament of support and a recognition of winning ballgames.
Living at the top of the mountain :
Amongst qualified hitters in the various affiliated minor leagues Felix Reyes (.337) and Justin Crawford (.334) currently have the second and fourth highest batting averages in total (Luis Campusano of El Paso (AAA) is at .339 and Cody Freeman of Round Rock (AAA) is at .336). Reyes is going to win the AA level Eastern League batting title and Crawford currently leads the AAA level International League (Bryan Torres of Memphis and Nick Solak of Indianapolis are closing in - each is at .328). At least to me it’s very impressive to have two of the overall top four batting average hitters playing in the same organization - a shining light on both player procurement and development. Justin is presently on the IL recovery from a concussion suffered in a collision with Otto Kemp and Felix has three more games left in his AA season.
Thresher’s Season ends :
The Clearwater Threshers season came to an end with last night’s 7-5 divisional playoff loss to Lakeland (Tigers affiliate). It was the third consecutive Florida State League playoff appearance for Clearwater. The Threshers were the only Phillies affiliate to make the playoffs this summer. Baseball activities at the Complex are now presently limited to the fellas doing rehab work. At some point in October a group of players from the Lehigh Valley roster will likely convene in Clearwater for what is known as “Stay Ready” camp and also additional invited players will return to CW in October at some point for post season minor league High Performance Camp which is dedicated to strength and conditioning work.
Stateside Minor League Rehab Players at work in Clearwater : 27
1B Keaton Anthony - LHV - 7 Day IL - 8/3/25 - ankle
OF TJayy Walton - CW - 7 Day IL - 8/19/25
INF Robert Phelps - CW - 7 Day IL - 8/22/25
OF Marcus Lee Sang - REA - 60 Day IL - 4/17/25 - ankle surgery - now hitting in live BP sessions
RHP Marcus Morgan - CW - 60 Day IL - 6/3/25 - original IL - 5/16/25 - now throwing live BP sessions
RHP Luke Russo - REA - 60 Day IL - 7/18/25 - original IL - 5/31/25 - now throwing live BP sessions
SS Bryan Rincon - JS - 60 Day IL - 8/7/25 - hamate bone
OF Griffin Burkholder - CW - 60 Day IL - 8/3/25 - hamstring
INF Brady Day - CW - 60 Day IL - 8/1/25 - broken finger
INF Juan Villavicencio - CW - 60 Day IL - 8/8/25 - broken wrist
C Alirio Ferrebus - CW - 60 Day IL - 8/16/25
RHP Marty Gair - CW - 60 Day IL - 8/30/25
1B Carson Taylor - LHV - Full Season IL - 4/12/25 - labrum surgery
RHP Naoel Mejia - FCL - Full Season IL - 5/15/25 - TJ surgery
RHP Moises Chace - REA - Full season IL - 5/15/25 - TJ surgery
LHP Kleyderve Andrade - CW - Full Season IL -5/29/25 - TJ surgery
RHP Kyler Carmack - CW - Full Season IL - 5/29/25 - TJ surgery
RHP Wen Hui Pan - REA - Full Season IL - 5/29/25 - TJ surgery
RHP Tegan Cain - CW - Full Season IL - 5/29/25 - TJ surgery - now throwing side bullpens
RHP Christian McGowan - Reading - Full Season IL - 5/29/25 - labrum surgery
LHP Braeden Fausnaught - REA - Full Season IL - 7/18/25 - original IL - 6/19/25 - TJ surgery
RHP Micah Ottenbreit - JS - Full Season IL - 7/18/25 - original IL -5/20/25 - TJ surgery
RHP Alex Rao - JS - Full Season IL 8/16 - 60 day - 3/24/25 - TJ surgery June, 2024 - now throwing live BP’s
RHP Ethan Chenault - JS - Full Season IL - 8/30/25 - TJ surgery
RHP Paxton Thompson - JS - 7 day IL - 8/19/25
OF Carter Mathison - CW - 7 Day IL - 9/5/25
RHP Sean Youngerman - FCL
2025 Phillies Minor League Stolen Base Leaders : new single season organization records - 5 players with 40 or more SB - 9 players with 30 or more SB.
Aidan Miller - LHV/REA - 55
Dante Nori - REA/JS/CW - 51
Justin Crawford - LHV - 46
Carson DeMartini - REA/JS - 45
Bryan Rincon - JS - 40
Oscar Mercado - LHV - 39
Avery Owusu-Asiedu - JS/CW - 33
Dylan Campbell - REA/JS - 33
John Spikerman - JS/CW - 30
Former Phillies Notes :
Starlyn Caba (Marlins) and Hendry Mendez (Twins) were selected by their respective organizations to participate in the Arizona Fall League. Caba will be part of the Mesa Solar Sox and Mendez will play for the Peoria Javelinas.
Mendez posted a combined .294/.390/.427 slash line and .827 OPS in 476 plate appearances with 15 doubles, 10 home runs and 61 RBIs with AA level Reading and Wichita this summer. He was traded to Minnesota on 7/31/25 along with RHP Geremy Villoria for OF Harrison Bader.
Caba posted a .222/.335/.278 slash line in 231 plate appearances this summer for Low A level Jupiter, he spent April 22nd thru June 24th on the Injured List. He was traded to Miami on 12/22/24 along with OF Emaarion Boyd for LHP Jesus Luzardo and C Paul McIntosh.
Catcher Eduardo Tait (Twins) hit two doubles for the Cedar Rapids Kernels last night in their High A level Midwest League divisional playoff 5-3 win over Beloit. The best of three series is tied at a game apiece. Tait hit a combined .253 this summer in 486 plate appearances between Clearwater, Jersey Shore and Cedar Rapids with 32 doubles, 14 home runs and 71 RBIs in 112 games played. He was traded to Minnesota on 7/30/25 along with RHP Mick Abel for RHP Jhoan Duran.
The acquisitions of Luzardo, Duran and Bader have made huge import to the Phillies success but gotta give quality to get quality and the younger fellas that were developed by the Phillies Player Development group enabled those trades to be made with the work they put in to bring the talent forward to trade. I truly believe that Caba, Tait and Mendez will all three play in the major leagues with Abel already there - that’s good stuff and a fair trade all around.
Just A Feeling :
The Phillies are going to be the 2025 World Series Champions
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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