Each Monday this year for the Phillies minor league full season affiliates is a scheduled off day. For Reading, Jersey Shore, Clearwater and the FCL the season has now concluded. Lehigh Valley and the DSL Phillies will continue to play for a couple more weeks.
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.
Lehigh Valley ( Overall Record 52-66, 2-4 during the past week) - next series @ Buffalo
OF Adam Haseley - went 12 for 26 ( .462 ) with a home run and five RBIs out of the lead off spot in the order. Adam is hitting .317 ( 19 for 60 ) for the month of September to date.
C Rafael Marchan - went 8 for 21 ( .381 ) for the week with three doubles and two RBIs. It was the first week in a long while that the 22 year old was able to get consistent playing time in the minors as his season has been a shuttle back and forth with the big club.
UTL Arquimedes Gamboa - went 5 for 15 ( .333 ) … while his overall numbers aren’t spectacular Arquimedes has quietly had a solid season in a new role for him as a utility player. He’s played four different defensive positions this summer ( 2B, SS, 3B & CF ).
Strong Pitching :
LH Damon Jones - 9/14 - 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K’s - called up to Phillies 9/17
RH Mauricio Llovera - 9/19 - 4 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K’s
Reading ( Overall Record 48-65, 4-1 during the past week) - season is complete
SS Bryson Stott - went 6 for 15 ( .400 ) for the week. He will be in Philadelphia today to receive the Paul Owens Award as the 2021 minor league player of the year. Between Jersey Shore and Lehigh Valley Bryson put up very solid numbers … 102 games - .299/.386/.494 slash line in 385 AB’s with 26 doubles, 2 triples, 15 home runs and 46 RBIs. He also played solid defensively, primarily at SS but also saw action at both 2B and 3B.
OF Simon Muzziotti - went 5 for 16 ( .313 ) as he continued to make up for lost time this summer. He’s hitting .348 in 48 overall AB’s and would seem likely to join the Iron Pigs for the final two weeks of the season.
UTL Dalton Guthrie - went 7 for 21 ( .333 ) … Dalton is hitting .303 ( 10 for 33 ) for the month of September and has picked up where he left off after missing action from 7/29 to 8/26 with an injury. He’s had a very good season and is another player who very likely joins LHV to finish the year.
OF Josh Stephen - went 5 for 17 ( .294 ) with a double and home run. Josh pushed thru a disappointing season statistically but finished on a good note.
Strong Pitching :
RH Francisco Morales - 9/14 - 5 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 9 K’s
RH Hans Crouse - 9/19 - 6 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 9 K’s & LH David Parkinson - 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 5 K’s in 4-0 victory
LH Kyle Dohy - two appearances ( 9/14 & 9/17 ) - 2 2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 HB, 0 BB, 4 K’s - no runs allowed in 5 September appearances - 2 BB, 10 K’s
LH Brian Marconi - two appearances ( 9/14 & 9/17 ) - 2 saves - 2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 3 K’s - 15 saves in 16 opportunities
LH Erubiel Armenta - 9/17 - 2 scoreless innings in first AA appearance - 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s - 1.96 ERA in 16 2021 games ( CW/JS/REA ) with 49 K’s in 23 IP 😳
RH Austin Ross, RH Blake Brown & LH Zach Warren - 9/18 - each threw a scoreless and hitless inning of relief in a 5-2 win.
Jersey Shore ( Overall Record 56-62, 3-3 during the past week) - season is complete
UTL Nicolas Torres - went 6 for 20 (.300 ) for the week and finished up an outstanding month of September ( .356/.400/.407 - 21 for 59 ). After being promoted the 21 year old excelled at the High A level hitting .388/.429/.447 in 27 games ( 103 AB’s ). This summer he played every defensive position except pitcher and catcher.
OF Johan Rojas - went 7 for 23 ( .304 ) … Johan hit .344/.419/.563 in 17 games ( 64 AB’s ) with Jersey Shore after being promoted on 9/2/21. He finishes the year with 18 doubles, 4 triples, 11 home runs and 52 RBIs and a system leading 34 stolen bases. The 21 year old from the Dominican Republic is also an outstanding center fielder. Very, very bright future ahead for this young man.
Strong Pitching :
RH Victor Lopez - 9/14 - 3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 K’s - 2.10 ERA in 16 2021 games
( FCL/CW/JS ) - 25 2/3 IP - 1.01 WHIP
RH Victor Vargas - 9/15 - 6 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 0 BB, 5 K’s - corrected mechanics ( slowed down delivery ) and pitched like the Victor of earlier in the season 👍
RH Mark Potter - two appearances ( 9/15 & 9/17 ) - 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 3 K’s
LH Jhordany Mezquita - 9/19 - 6 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K’s
Clearwater ( Overall Record 52-64, 3-3 during the past week) - season is complete
2B/SS Jamari Baylor - went 5 for 17 ( .294 ) for the week. The 21 year old finishes up a decent first full summer of pro play with 11 doubles, a triple, 5 homers and 21 RBIs between the FCL and Clearwater ( promoted 9/2 ) in 145 AB’s … he can swing the bat, we expect to see him in Fall Instructs and next season full time in full season play.
2B/SS Casey Martin - went 5 for 16 ( .312 ) finishing up strong in his first season of pro ball.
Strong Pitching :
LH Matt Osterberg - 9/15 - 5 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K’s - 1.74 ERA in 8 games ( 20 2/3 IP ) with 24 K’s and 9 BB
LH Spencer Van Scoyoc - 9/15 - 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 4 K’s
RH Matt Russell - 9/16 - 4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 HB, 5 K’s
RH Rodolfo Sanchez - 9/16 - 4 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 HB, 1 BB, 8 K’s
RH Christian McGowen - 9/17 - 2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s
RH Cristian Hernandez ( 4 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K’s ), RH Konnor Ash ( 4 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K’s - 3rd W ) and LH Jared Wetherbee ( 1 perfect IP - 3rd save ) combined for a 4-1 victory on 9/18.
Florida Complex League : Phillies ( 26-14 ), 3-2 during the week - season is complete
INF Alexeis Azuaje - went 4 for 9 ( .444 ) … he hit three home runs and drove in six runs … the 19 year old finishes the FCL season with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs and posted a .400 batting average ( 18 for 45 ) with an out of this world OPS of 1.376 😳. We’ve liked his game since we saw him in Fall Instructs in 2019.
OF/1B Jordan Viars - hide two home runs and drove in 8 runs during the week, one tater was a grand slam 💪. Jordan gave us a glimpse of the raw power he possesses and run producing capabilities … 3 home runs and 18 RBIs in just 47 AB’s … he posted a .406 slugging percentage in 22 games. Will be fun watching the 18 year old grow and climb the ladder, easy power and quick hands.
INF Uziel Viloria - went 4 for 8 ( .500 ) for the week and hit .417 for the month of September in limited play. The 19 year old spent time with both the FCL Phillies and Clearwater Threshers in his first season of stateside play.
INF Hao Yu Lee - went 6 for 9 ( .667 ) with 2 triples, a home run and 3 RBIs. He posted a .364 batting average in 9 games ( 22 AB’s ) with 5 extra base hits … 1.213 OPS. The 18 year old can swing the bat, at least he showed us that in the brief glimpses we’ve seen thus far, looking forward to watching him in Fall Instructs and beyond.
Strong Pitching :
RH Andrew Painter - 9/17 - two scoreless innings ( 1 H, 5 K’s )
RH Micah Ottenbreit - 9/17 - two scoreless innings ( 0 H, 1 BB )
RH Andrew Baker - two appearances ( 9/15 & 9/18 ) - 2 scoreless frames - 4 K’s
RH Malik Binns - 9/18 - 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB
Dominican Summer League :
Phillies Red ( 28-19 ), 4-1 during the week
INF Diego Gonzalez - went 6 for 14 ( .429 ) … the 18 year old is hitting .282 ( 35 for 124 ) in his first season of DSL action.
Strong Pitching :
9/18 : Manuel Urias pitched three scoreless innings ( 2 H, 0 BB, 5 K’s ). Hermès Astudillo went 2 2/3 Innings ( 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K ) and Jesus Querales recorded his 7th save ( 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K )
9/17 : Ezequiel Ventura pitched four scoreless innings allowing just one hit.
9/16 : Joel Valdez and Douglas Mijares each pitched three scoreless innings, Diego Linares pitched two scoreless frames. Jesus Querales posted his sixth save.
9/13 : Manuel Urias pitched four scoreless innings ( 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K’s ). Danyony Pulido earned his third win of the season with 1 2/3 innings of relief.
Phillies White ( 28-18 ), 2-3 during the week
INF Erick Brito - went 5 for 13 ( .385 ) for the week … hitting .342 ( 41 for 120 ) for the season - 7th best in the league
INF Carlos Rondon - went 5 for 7 ( .714 ) for the week … he’s hitting .389 ( 7 for 18 ) for the month of September.
Strong Pitching :
9:16 : Jonathan Petit pitched four innings ( 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 5 K’s )
9/14 : Estibenzon Jimenez pitched 4 1/3 innings ( 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 5 K’s ) to earn the win.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
On a personal note I’ve decided to not publish the annual Phillies Minor League Digest going forward … just doesn’t seem to have a lot of interest. When I first started publishing the book six years ago Mr. MacPhail told me he wondered where it would go in a few years time … last year’s version “Life in the Minors” seems like a good place to end the series. Thanks to all the contributors that helped me publish six editions 👍.