9/3/26 : Paul Owens Award

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 UTL Otto Kemp & RHP Griff McGarry were the award recipients.

The Phillies single A teams end their regular season this week on 9/6/26, AA Reading concludes next week on 9/13/26 and AAA Lehigh Valley the following week on 9/20/26.

I’ve been writing about Phillies Player Development since the beginning of 2015,(twelve years 😳), during that time amongst the twenty-one recipients of the award seventeen have or are currently playing in the major leagues - seven award winners from those years are still members of the Phillies organization (Johan Rojas, Orion Kerkering, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, Justin Crawford, Otto Kemp and Andrew Painter).

Here’s my list of fellas who likely are in the running for this year’s Paul Owens Awards.

Pitcher of the Year :

RH Alex McFarlane - Lehigh Valley/Reading - 25 years old - 2022 4th round draft selection - University of Miami - before his promotion to the big leagues on 8/11 Alex was having an outstanding minor league season. The majority of the year was spent at Reading, he was promoted to Lehigh Valley on 7/25. His combined minor league stats show a 1.83 ERA in 36 appearances - 39.1 IP with 12 saves, 55 K’s, 20 walks and a .176 BAA - in four appearances (4.1 IP) with Lehigh Valley he yielded no runs and just one hit while striking out 8 and walking 2, a WHIP of 0.69 and BAA of .077 - hands down the winner of this year’s award in my opinion.

RH Estibenzon Jimenez - Reading - 24 years old - signed as an international free agent 11/27/19 - San Felipe, Venezuela - began the season on the IL with shoulder discomfort- made a total of four rehab appearances with the FCL Phillies, Clearwater and Jersey Shore before returning to Reading on 6/4. His overall numbers to date this year - 7-0 record, 1.91 ERA in 32 appearances totaling 42.1 IP, seven saves, 48 K’s, 18 walks, .204 BAA. At Reading he’s appeared in 25 games (28.2 IP) with a 2.20 ERA, 33 K’s, 11 walks and a .221 BAA. Very solid season.

RH Keegan Batka - Jersey Shore/Clearwater - 24 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent - 7/22/25 - Davenport - began the season with the Clearwater Threshers, promoted to Jersey Shore 5/13. His combined numbers to date for his first full season of professional baseball - 2.20 ERA - 33 appearances - 49 IP, 64 K’s, 22 walks, 0.98 WHIP and .154 BAA. At Jersey Shore he has posted a 2.95 ERA in 23 games (36.2 IP) with a 1.01 WHIP, .165 BAA, 46 K’s and 16 walks. Has shown the ability to pitch one or two innings per appearance and multiple times within the week, an impressive first full season!

RH Cody Bowker - Reading/Jersey Shore - 22 years old - 2025 3rd round draft pick  - Vanderbilt - to date he’s made 23 appearances (21 starts) covering 90.1 IP with a 4.28 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, .197 BAA, 122 K’s and 29 walks. Was promoted to Reading on 8/18 - in three starts there has a 2.40 ERA (15 IP) with 15 K’s and 2 walks, 0.87 WHIP and .196 BAA. Has progressed throughout the season and is finishing strong, won the August Pitcher of the Month Award.

RH Christian McGowan - Reading - 26 years old - 2021 7th round draft pick - Eastern Oklahoma  State  - began the season on the IL after missing 2025 due to shoulder surgery - activated with Reading on 5/3 as a reliever and has pitched very well - to date has a 2.90 ERA in 35 appearances (40.1 IP), 43 K’s, 16 walks. Power sinker pitcher who’s had a strong bounce-back year.

RH Brad Pacheco - Clearwater - 21 years old - signed as international free agent 5/18/23 - Venezuela - to date has made 23 appearances (21 starts) in his first year assigned to full season play - in 101.1 IP - 4.00 ERA, 111 K’s and 22 walks - is a strike thrower who’s also has a  power arm arsenal - unforced free and natural motion, easy heat. Solid debut into full year play.

RH Tanner Gresham - Jersey Shore/Clearwater - 24 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent - 8/13/24  - USMC - first season of action after military service - has been solid all year - promoted to Jersey Shore from Clearwater on 6/16 - combined totals for the year - 4.12 ERA in 23 appearances (22 starts) in 94 IP with 99 K’s and 49 walks. Great competitor with above average stuff - very good first year of pro baseball.

RH Gage Wood - Clearwater - 22 years old - 2025 1st round draft pick - Arkansas - began the year in Clearwater - promoted to Reading 5/18 - combined totals - 4.40 ERA in 23 starts (86 IP) with 124 K’s, 28 walks. Has an elite fastball - promising first full year of pro ball.

LH Adam Seminaris - Reading - 27 years old - signed as a free agent 11/18/25 - has performed admirably making 24 starts (128.1 IP) with a 11-8 record, 3.86 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 151 K’s and 30 walks - has been the anchor of Reading’s rotation.

Position Player of the Year :

OF- Francisco Renteria - DSL Phillies - 17 years old - signed as an international free agent 1/15/26 - Venezuela - had an outstanding initial pro season and was named the Dominican Summer League MVP and the league’s top MLB prospect. He put up crazy numbers - .379/.470/.682 slash line and 1.152 OPS in 236 plate appearances with 9 doubles, 9 triples, 11 home runs, 55 RBIs, 65 runs, 24 stolen bases  and 135 total bases placing him at or near the top in multiple league leader categories. Assistant GM Preston Mattingly told me “Renteria has a chance to be special. Rare combination of elite tools and makeup.” His first season of eye popping numbers surely reinforces that opinion.

SS Bryan Rincon - Reading - 22 years old - 2022 14th round draft pick - Shaler Area HS - Pittsburgh, PA - has posted the best offensive numbers of his career - .265/.406/.500 slash line and .906 OPS in 495 plate appearances with 23 doubles, 2 triples, 22 home runs, 58 RBIs, 84 runs scored and 28 stolen bases - 198 total bases - amongst league leaders in multiple categories. A breakout season for the slick fielding shortstop.

OF - Raylin Heredia  - Reading - 22 years old - international free agent - 2/2/21 - Dominican Republic - is having a league MVP type season - .280/.316/.470 slash line and .786 OPS in 540 plate appearances with 32 doubles, 21 home runs, 68 RBIs, 79 runs scored, 142 hits, 23 stolen bases and 239 total bases placing him at or near the top in multiple league leader categories. Also has played strong defense in right field with nine outfield assists.

1B/3B - Alex Binelas  - Lehigh Valley/Reading - 26 years old - signed as minor league free agent 5/26/25 - was promoted to Lehigh Valley on 8/31. In 118 total games he’s recorded a .267/.381/.505 slash line and .886 OPS in 486 plate appearances - 15 doubles, 2 triples, 26 home runs, 78 RBIs, 73 runs scored and 206 total bases. When promoted was amongst or at the top of the Eastern League in multiple categories making him a viable league MVP candidate.

C/1B - Alirio Ferrebus - Jersey Shore/Clearwater - 20 years old - signed as an international free agent 1/15/23 - Venezuela - had a breakout season with Clearwater - promoted to Jersey Shore on 8/7 but finishes the year on the IL with shoulder discomfort. His combined numbers for the year - .310/.363/.493 slash line and .856 OPS in 328 plate appearances with 21 doubles, 11 home runs, 58 RBIs, 41 runs scored and 145 total bases. Was amongst the Florida State League leaders in multiple categories when promoted.

1B/OF Felix Reyes - Lehigh Valley - 25 years old - signed as an international free agent - 2/22/20 - Bani, Dominican Republic - was hit on the wrist with a pitch on 8/14 which resulted in a fracture ending his season. In 85 games with the IronPigs he recorded a .287/.318/.511 slash line and an .829 OPS with 59 runs scored, 17 doubles, 21 home runs, 70 RBIs and 182 total bases in a season where he also made his major league debut.

This year’s monthly award winners :

April :

Hitters - Alex Binelas (REA)

Pitcher - Gage Wood (Clearwater)

May :

Hitters - Griffin Burkholder (Clearwater)

Pitchers - Alex McFarlane (Reading) & Ramon Marquez  (Clearwater)

June :

Hitters - Francisco Renteria (DSL Phillies)

Pitchers - Marty Gair (Clearwater)

July :

Hitters - Juan Parra (DSL Phillies)

Pitchers - Alex McFarlane (Reading)

August :

Hitters - Bryan Rincon (Reading)

Pitchers - Cody Bowker (Reading/Jersey Shore)

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