2022-2023 Winter Ball - AFL Instructional, Latin America, Australia

andyb 2022-08-23 18:52:31 UTC #1

Instructional League runs 9/13 to 10/17.
Phillies will send up to 10 players to Australia this offseason. Mostly with Adelaide. Season starts November 10.
https://theabl.com.au/news/season-23-schedule-now-live/

Then usually up to 6 go to Arizona for the AFL. Season starts 10/3. Looks like Phillies players are going to Surprise this year (the team, but hopefully the performances also).

Latin American leagues usually start in mid-October to early November. No idea if the MLB organizational page will be updated this year (it was not last year).

Taudawg 2022-08-24 14:27:27 UTC #2

My hope is to see Hao Yu Lee in AFL. Don't know how likely that is being he is far from home. He missed some time with injury and really want to see him face next level caliber pitching.

Marcus Lee Sang is also on my AFL wish list.

Austinfan 2022-08-24 15:38:50 UTC #3

Only 3 week gap between FCL season and FIL.
I presume the players simply stay in the same places they currently live.
Wonder if they have coaches giving individual instruction before FIL opens?
Or they just give them a chance to go home, see their families (a lot are 18-19 years old)?

andyb 2022-09-12 22:59:43 UTC #4

First report on instructionals which start this week. A little more informal than in the past with the different minor league stop dates. Assume the end of A ball frees the Clearwater complex for this and they want to get most of this done before winter ball and while players are still in shape.

andyb 2022-09-13 19:20:26 UTC #5

DSL players brought stateside: Luis Gomez, Fernando Ortega, Danyony Pulido, Jesus Querales, Jonh Henriquez, Pedro Reyes, Saul Teran, Marco Soto, Jorge Garcia, Dariam Gutierrez, Raylin Heredia https://t.co/GtcWaKsBQH
— Matt Winkelman ( @Matt_Winkelman ) September 13, 2022

Full roster in link.

andyb 2022-09-16 18:35:17 UTC #6

More updates. Also on Phuture Phillies Jim mentioned a new Dominican prospect named Jonh Henriquez who is 22 and walked up to camp and asked for a tryout. Then hit triple digits. Reportedly sits 95-97. Darium Guttierez is a kid we signed from Cuba for $20K that seems to have some power upside (though is already 20). And a Gavin Tonkel sighting on an actual field.

Meanwhile, over in Arizona this looks like an actual roster even though I have not seen the press release. Surprise.

Phillies players are:
Pitchers: Taylor Lehman, Francisco Morales, Dominc Pipkin, Brett Schulze
Hitters: Dalton Guthrie, Carlos De La Cruz, Jhailyn Ortiz, Johan Rojas

Rojas is a bit of a surprise since he is probably good enough to get some time in the Dominican League if he wanted to.

Edit - these are official (except maybe Guthrie who is of course in the majors now at least until Castellanos is back.

Austinfan 2022-09-16 20:55:03 UTC #7

Pipkin looked like a lost cause until the last month or so, wonder if they revamped his mechanics and it took a while for him to adjust?

They must like Lehman, he's a 26 year old UDFA but after TJ surgery seemed to have picked up a couple MPH up to 95 to go with a plus slider and changeup.

andyb 2022-09-19 18:43:23 UTC #8

Previews from Steve Potter. I guess Cristian Hernandez is going instead of Pipkin. Rule 5 decision for him though I can't imagine he is ready for the majors so unlikely he goes on the 40 or is in any danger of being selected. Possible that the Phillies will send both also. Some teams had up to 10 names listed and I assume there will be lots and lots of pitchers there on innings limits.

allentown 2022-09-19 20:47:55 UTC #9

And just like that, Pipkin is gone.

andyb 2022-10-01 15:29:56 UTC #10

Arizona starts Monday, but NPG helping out New Zealand in the WBC qualifiers.

That is a bad, bad man @__nikau__ smashed a two run homer for @BaseballNZ at the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. @PhilsPlayerDev #ABL23 pic.twitter.com/2pXjKemm3x
— Adelaide Giants Baseball Club ( @AdelaideGiants ) September 30, 2022

Assume he'll be among the 10 players at Adelaide for the ABL season.

And NPG is on the initial roster. Wingrove too. Most imports are not announced yet as the ABL does a local series first.
https://adelaidegiants.com.au/news/giantsspringtraining/

fish 2022-10-03 15:13:35 UTC #11

Definitely a guy they better not "Curtis Mead" in a trade. Recently turned 18. He's a lot like Lee- compact, but strong and hits the ball hard. I wouldn't be surprised to see him become a top 10 system prospect next year- Lakewood ballpark offense lag not withstanding.

andyb 2022-10-03 15:24:28 UTC #12

He gets to play with Curtis Mead this season, so hopefully something will rub off. Though I wonder if Mead only makes a token appearance because the Rays probably want him to get some rest. NPG will get to hit in Clearwater first which is more neutral than Jersey Shore, so hopefully he can put up some decent numbers in the first half.

andyb 2022-10-03 16:16:23 UTC #13

Happy Arizona opening day:

andyb 2022-10-03 22:21:24 UTC #14

Rojas 3-4, BB, SB today playing CF though batting 9th. Morales 1.1 IP scoreless (1 H, 0 BB, 2 K).

Rojas helping Morales out defensively here:

Robbery!

No. 5 @Phillies prospect Johan Rojas hits a sprint speed of 29 FT/second on this grab. pic.twitter.com/f49TyDktYr
— MLB Pipeline ( @MLBPipeline ) October 3, 2022

andyb 2022-10-06 17:45:58 UTC #15

Rojas 5-13 after 3 games and drawing some attention. There is really no way that soft liner he hits straight to the CF should be a double. Check out the video at the top of the story.

andyb 2022-10-11 13:06:26 UTC #16

Rojas continues to do well in Arizona and all the relievers are unscored upon so far:

Rojas 8-19, 2 2B, 2 BB, 1 K, 3 SB
De La Cruz 2-6, 3B
Ortiz 0-8, 4 BB, 3 K

Lehman 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Morales 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Schulze 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K
Hernandez 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0K

Mexico starts today. Dominican on the 15th and Venezuela next week. Australia and Puerto Rico in November.

fish 2022-10-12 02:56:52 UTC #17

Phillies proposed 300 million in upgrades for the Clearwater complex- remember when that kind of money could build a new ballpark?

Great for them if it happens, but that seems like a tough sell. what would you guess the Phils offer to contribute- 60 million?

At least the plan includes dormitories. Though if I were a player “apartments” would be a more appealing option.

zambonir 2022-10-12 03:36:46 UTC #18

I'm not a big fan of public funding but somehow don't really care if Clearwater/Florida does it. (I mean, I hate when people say that sort of thing about Texas but I bet Scientology gets plenty of breaks so why not the Phillies?

Maybe the Phillies could offer to replace the education funding the state is pulling.

andyb 2022-10-13 20:06:56 UTC #19

Some sad news from the minors:

Corey Phelan has passed away at the age of 20. Gone way too soon. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones at this time. pic.twitter.com/rhP9gpeBJV
— Milb Central ( @milb_central ) October 13, 2022

julio 2022-10-13 20:24:08 UTC #20

Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Corey had been on the “full-season injured list.” Truly sad. RIP.