9/2/25 : Paul Owens Award Nominees

Since 1986 the Phillies have honored the annual top position players and pitchers in their minor league system. The award is named in memory of Paul Owens, a Phillies legend who spent  48 years in the Phillies organization as a scout, farm director, general manager, manager and senior advisor.  Last year OF Justin Crawford & RHP Eiberson Castellano were the award recipients.

The Phillies single A teams end their regular season this week on 9/7/25, AA Reading concludes next week on 9/14/25 and AAA Lehigh Valley the following week on 9/21/25.

I’ve been writing about Phillies Player Development since the beginning of 2015,(eleven years 😳), during that time amongst the nineteen recipients of the award fourteen have or are currently playing in the major leagues - eight award winners from those years are still members of the Phillies organization (Johan Rojas, Orion Kerkering, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, Jean Cabrera, Justin Crawford, Eiberson Castellano and Andrew Painter).

Here’s my list of nominations for this year’s Paul Owens Awards.

Pitcher of the Year :

RH Saul Teran - Jersey Shore/Clearwater/Reading  - 23 years old - signed 2/2/21 - Caracas, Venezuela  - has posted a combined 4-1 record with a 1.26 ERA and 14 saves (15 chances) in 36 appearances (43 IP) with 52 K’s and 16 BB, a 1.05 WHIP and .196 BAA. Was promoted to Jersey Shore on 6/2/25 and made a cameo appearance with Reading when they needed an arm on 7/6/25. In 15 games with Clearwater had a 1.00 ERA (18 IP) and 4 saves, with Jersey Shore has a 1.50 ERA in 20 games (24 IP) with 10 saves and threw a scoreless inning in his sole appearance with Reading. He features a put away slider, his four seam fastball velocity sits 91 to 94 mph and he also throws a sinker. No one has been more consistently good in 2025 than Saul.

RH Jean Cabrera - Reading - 23 years old - signed 7/2/19 - Maracay, Venezuela - has recorded a 3.83 ERA in 24 starts (127 IP) with 120 K’s and 56 BB, .209 BAA and 1.20 WHIP. Very consistent throughout the entire season - previously won the Paul Owens Award in 2021 while pitching in the Dominican Summer League.  He generally uses a sinker/slider/change up combination with the fastball in the 94 to 96 mph range.

RH Griff McGarry - Reading - 26 years old - 2021 5th round draft selection - University of Virginia - has posted a 3.65 ERA in 15 starts with Reading (61.2 IP) with 85 K’s and 39 BB - a .183 BAA - was on the IL from 4/21 to 6/19 with elbow discomfort. Had a great start to the season in April (0.00 ERA in 3 starts - 12 IP with 16 K’s) and a solid August (3.00 ERA in 27 IP - 44 K’s). When he’s consistent with command and zone control he’s very good - throws a four seamer (95-97 mph) and cutter mixing in a slider and changeup.

RH Braydon Tucker  - Reading/Jersey Shore - 26  years old - signed as a free agent 7/19/23 - Lipscomb University - has a 3.32 ERA in 21 games (14 starts) covering 95 IP with 66 K’s and 25 BB - a 1.09 WHIP. Was promoted to Reading on 8/19/25 - made 19 appearances (12 starts) with a 3.19 ERA in 84.2 IP at Jersey Shore - had outstanding months of July and August - 8 starts -  47.1 IP - 1.52 ERA with 29 K’s and 11 walks. His sinker generally sits 90-93 mph, also has a split finger change up, curve and slider.

LH Mavis Graves - Jersey Shore - 21 years old - 2022 6th round draft selection - Eastside HS, Taylors, South Carolina -  has posted a 4.41 ERA in 21 starts (81.2 IP) with 103 K’s and 51 BB. The month of April was a rough start to his season (10.32 ERA in 11.1 IP) but he was much better thereafter and outstanding in the months of July and August (9 starts - 37.1 IP - 1.92 ERA - 45 K’s - 20 BB). Discounting April he has posted a 3.45 ERA in his other 17 starts covering 70.1 IP.

RH Ryan Dromboski - Jersey Shore/Clearwater - 22 years old - signed 8/1/24 UDFA - University of Pennsylvania - has a 2.87 ERA in 21 games (12 starts) covering 75.1 IP with 69 K’s and 24 BB. He was promoted to Jersey Shore on 8/6/25 - pitched in 17 games (9 starts) in Clearwater with a 2.63 ERA over 54.2 IP with 53 K’s and 19 BB. He features a low to mid nineties sinker along with a slider and changeup.

RH Danyony Pulido - Clearwater/FCL - 22 years old - signed 2/2/21 - Caracas, Venezuela - has appeared in 20 games with CW with a 1.27 ERA (28.1 IP) with 33 K’s and 17 walks - 1.02 WHIP - began the year on the IL with shoulder discomfort - pitched 6 games in the FCL on rehab assignment - 0.90 ERA in 10 IP. Has an over powering fastball (95-98 mph) along with a slider/curve, cutter and change up.

RH Tommy McCollum  - Reading/Jersey Shore - 26 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent 7/20/21 - Wingate University, NC - has recorded a 2.57 ERA in 40 combined appearances (49 IP) with 11 saves - 54 K’s, 12 BB, a 0.98 WHIP and .202 BAA.  Began the season with Jersey Shore and was promoted to Reading on 5/1/25 - appeared in 7 games (8 IP) with Jersey Shore with a 1.13 ERA, with Reading he has made 33 appearances ( 41 IP) with a 2.85 ERA and 8 saves - 1.02 WHIP, 44 K’s, 9 BB - outstanding months of April, May and June - 22 appearances (30 IP) with a 1.20 ERA and 9 saves. Features a heavy fastball that generally sits in the 94-96 mph range and a splitter.

RH Jose Peña Jr - Jersey Shore/Clearwater - 22 years old - 2021 6th round draft pick - Tampa Prep HS, Tampa, FL - has a 1.62 ERA in 32 appearances (20 with CW - 0.71 ERA in 25.1 IP) in 39 IP with 37 K’s and 13 BB, a 1.00 WHIP and .191 BAA - is used frequently as a rally killer inheriting runners on base - has a power curve/slider that is a swing and miss pitch, gets great movement and spin - it is an out maker that compliments a 92-96 mph fastball. Was promoted to Jersey Shore 6/24/25.

RH Brandon Beckel - Jersey Shore/Reading - 23 years old - 2023 12th round draft selection - Texas Tech - has a 3.58 ERA in 27 appearances (six starts) in 73 IP with 65 K’s and 28 BB. All but one of his games were at Jersey Shore (3.17 ERA in 71 IP). Has performed most of the season as a very steady bulk reliever - had outstanding months of April (2.03 ERA - 13.1 IP), May (1.88 ERA in 14.1 IP) and August (2.00 ERA in 18 IP).

RH Luke Gabrysh - Jersey Shore/Clearwater - 22 years old - 2024 15th round draft pick - St. Joseph’s University - has a 3.44 ERA in 20 games (18 starts) in 73.1 IP with 58 K’s and 30 BB. Was promoted to Jersey Shore on 8/16/25 - posted a 3.08 ERA in 17 appearances (16 starts) with Clearwater in 61.1 IP. Luke has five pitch mix with a high spin slider, his four seam fastball and sinker both sit consistently at 92-95 mph.

RH Alex McFarlane - Jersey Shore - 24 years old - 2022 4th round draft selection - University of Miami - has posted a 4.72 ERA in 24 appearances - 18 starts (74.1 IP) with 74 K’s and 40 BB. The initial three months of the season were not good statistically as he was re-learning how to pitch coming back from TJ surgery but he was outstanding in the months of July and August (11 appearances - 28.1 IP - 2.22 ERA - 30 K’s - 12 BB). He was part of a combined no hitter on 7/2/25 against Wilmington throwing five no hit no run frames in that contest. In fact he had a 10 inning consecutive no hit, no run inning streak in his starts from 6/25 and 7/2 with 13 K’s. Alex throws his four seam fastball in the upper nineties and has a sinker, slider and splitter as well.

RH Ryan Degges - Clearwater - 22 years old - 2024 17th round draft pick - UNC Charlotte - has a 3.86 ERA in 21 games (17 starts) with 77 IP - 70 K’s and 47 BB. He features a mid nineties four seam fastball that touched upper nineties along with a sweeper and change-up.

RH Ramon Marquez - Clearwater/FCL Phillies - 19 years old - signed as an international free agent 1/15/25 - Mexico - went 3-3 with a 4.42 ERA in 14 appearances (12 starts) totaling 55 IP with 72 K’s and 17 BB in his first season of professional baseball. He’s a prototype pitcher in that he truly knows how to pitch, has decent velocity (92 to 94 mph) coupled with strong secondaries, particularly his change up.

RH Deiry Gonzalez - DSL Phillies Red - 17 years old - signed as a free agent 1/15/25 - San Cristobal, Dominican Republic - in his first pro season was named a league all-star - 2-0 record with a 1.13 ERA in 10 starts (40 IP) with 34 K’s and 8 BB, a 0.95 WHIP and .213 BAA. He was generally in the 90-92 range with his fastball and has also shown a slider, change up and curve.

Position Player of the Year :

OF Justin Crawford - Lehigh Valley - 21 years old - 2022 1st round draft selection - Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, NV - has a .336/.411/.456 slash line and .867 OPS in 496 PA’s with 85 runs, 145 hits, 197 total bases, 23 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs, 47 RBIs, 56 BB and 45 stolen bases. He is in the top ten rankings in the International League for the year for Runs (1st),Hits (1st), Triples, SB,  BA (1st), total bases and OBP.

OF/1B/3B Felix Reyes - Reading - 24 years old -signed as an international free agent 2/22/20 - Bani, Dominican Republic - has a .332/.365/.559 slash line and .924 OPS in 348 PA’s with 56 runs, 107 hits, 180 total bases, 28 doubles, 3 triples, 13 home runs, 50 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. He is in the top ten rankings in the Eastern League for the year for  Runs,Hits, Doubles, HR’s, Total Bases, BA (1st), OBP, SLG (1st) and OPS (1st).

3B/1B/LF Otto Kemp - Lehigh Valley - 25 years old - signed as NDFA 8/1/22 - Point Loma Nazarene, CA - has a .315/.417/.581 slash line and .998 OPS in 321 PA’s with 59 runs, 84 hits, 155 total bases, 24 doubles, 15 home runs, 64 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.  Played in 46 major league games as well with 7 doubles, 4 home runs and 17 RBIs.

1B Keaton Anthony - Lehigh Valley/Reading - 24 years old - signed 7/18/23 - UDFA - University of Iowa - has a .323/.378/.484 slash line and .862 OPS in 348 PA’s with 37 runs, 102 hits, 153 total bases, 31 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs, 39 RBIs and 26 BB. Was promoted to Lehigh Valley on 6/11/25.

SS Aidan Miller - Reading - 21 years old - 2023 1st round draft selection - Mitchell HS - New Port Richey, FL - has a .251/.369/.417 slash line and .786 OPS in 461 PA’s with 65 runs, 97 hits, 161 total bases, 24 doubles, 2 triples, 12 home runs, 39 RBIs, 64 BB and 50 stolen bases. He is in the top ten rankings in the Eastern League for the year for AB’s, Runs,Doubles, BB, SB (1st), OBP and OPS.

OF Dante Nori - Jersey Shore/Clearwater - 20 years old - 2024 1st round draft selection - Northville HS, Michigan - has a .273/.374/.387 slash line and .761 OPS in 461 PA’s with 68 runs, 122 hits, 173 total bases, 17 doubles, 11 triples, 4 home runs, 45 RBIs, 72 BB and 48 stolen bases. He is in the top ten rankings in the Florida State League for the year for AB’s, Runs, Hits, Triples, RBI’s, BB, SB, BA, OBP and OPS. Was promoted to Jersey Shore on 8/26/25

2B Aroon Escobar - Jersey Shore/Clearwater - 20 years old - signed 1/15/22 - Caracas, VZ - has a .273/.363/.418 slash line and .781 OPS in 493 PA’s with 75 runs, 115 hits, 176 total bases, 13 doubles, 3 triples, 14 home runs, 60 RBIs, 50 BB and 22 stolen bases. Was promoted to Jersey Shore on 7/8/25

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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