Minor League Games - Wednesday, June 27, 2018

[kikutaro]

Scranton/WB RailRiders (37-39) @ Lehigh Valley IronPigs (45-32) 7:05 pm | Gameday
Justus Sheffield (1-3, 2.82) vs. Drew Anderson (5-2, 3.35)

Final
Lehigh Valley 4, Scranton/WB 2

Notable

Dean Anna 3-4, R, SB
Collin Cowgill 2-4, R
Mitch Walding 0-2, R, 2 BB, K
Joey Meneses 1-4, 2 RBI, K
Trevor Plouffe 0-2, R, 2 BB

Drew Anderson (W, 5-2), 7.0 IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 4K, game score: 56
Brandon Leibrandt (H, 2), 1.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K
Pedro Beato (S, 21), 1.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K

Erie SeaWolves (35-41) @ Reading Fightin Phils (34-43) 7:15 pm | Gameday
Liarvis Breto (2-0, 1.98) vs. Connor Seabold (0-1, 15.00)

Final
Erie 8, Reading 5

Notable

Malquin Canelo 2-5, R
Drew Stankiewicz 1-5, R, 4 K
Austin Listi 2-3, R, 4 RBI, HR, BB, K
Jan Hernandez 1-4, R, 2B, 2 K
Jiandido Tromp 1-4, 2B, K
Cord Sandberg 2-4, R, RBI

Connor Seabold (L, 0-1), 3.0 IP, 8H, 5R, 5ER, 2BB, 3K, game score: 20
Ranfi Casimiro 2.0 IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 1K
Josh Tols 2.1 IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 4K

Clearwater Threshers (38-36) @ Daytona Tortugas (40-32) 10:35 am | Gameday
N/A vs. N/A

Final
Clearwater 5, Daytona 4

Notable

Arquimedes Gamboa 0-3, R, RBI, BB, 3 K
Adam Haseley 2-4, BB, K
Jose Pujols 2-4, BB
Mickey Moniak 2-5, RBI, 2 K
Kyle Martin 1-4, R, BB
Luke Williams 2-3, 2 R, 2B, BB
Grenny Cumana 1-4, R, 3 RBI, HR, K
Raul Rivas 2-4, K

Alejandro Requena 6.0 IP, 5H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 7K, game score: 70
Addison Russ (W, 2-0), 2.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K

Hagerstown Suns (28-46) @ Lakewood BlueClaws (45-30) 7:05 pm | Gameday
Andrew Lee (2-2, 4.81) vs. Will Stewart (6-0, 1.17)

Final
Lakewood 4, Hagerstown 3

Notable

Jake Scheiner 0-2, R, BB, 2 K, CS
Rodolfo Duran 2-3, 2 R, RBI, HR, BB, K
Daniel Brito 1-3, 2 RBI, BB
Quincy Nieporte 1-3, RBI, 2B, BB
Josh Stephen 1-4, 2 K

Will Stewart 5.0 IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 3K, game score: 62
Luis Carrasco (BS, 2)(W, 2-0), 3.0 IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 3K
Julian Garcia (S, 1), 1.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K

Williamsport Crosscutters - Off

GCL Tigers East (4-4) @ GCL Phillies East (4-4) 12:00 pm | Gameday
N/A vs. N/A

Final
GCL Phillies East 2, GCL Tigers East 0

Notable

Julio Francisco 2-4, SB
Carlos Oropeza 1-2, R, 2B
Jack Zoellner 1-3, 3B, BB, K
Jake Holmes 1-3, BB, K
Carlos De La Cruz 1-3, BB, K
Jose Mercado 2-4, R, RBI, HR

Dominic Pipkin 2.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 3K, game score: 53
Justin Miller (W, 1-1), 4.0 IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 3BB, 3K
Daniel Vilchez (H, 1), 1.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0K
Will Hibbs (S, 1), 2.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K

GCL Phillies West (3-4) @ GCL Braves (4-4) 12:00 pm | Gameday
N/A vs. N/A

Final
GCL Phillies West 6, GCL Braves 5

Notable

Yerwin Trejo 1-3, R, BB
Matt Kroon 3-4, BB, 2 SB, CS
Greg Pickett 0-5, RBI, 2 K
D.J. Stewart 2-5, 2 R
Nick Matera 2-4, R
Logan O'Hoppe 2-4, 2 RBI
Corbin Williams 2-5, RBI, 2 K

Eudiver Avendano 3.0 IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 1K, game score: 34
Austin Ross 2.0 IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K
Adam Cox 2.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 1K
Sati Santa Cruz (W, 1-0), 1.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 2BB, 1K
Jose Conopoima (S, 1), 1.0 IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 0K

DSL Phillies Red (7-15) @ DSL Rockies (9-13) 10:30 am | Gameday
N/A vs. N/A

Final
DSL Rockies 6, DSL Phillies Red 1

Notable

Wilfredo Flores 2-4, SB
Wilson Valdez 1-2, 3B

Cristian Hernandez (L, 0-3), 4.0 IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 4BB, 2K, game score: 44
Cristofer Cruz 2.1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 2BB, 3K

DSL Cubs2 (7-14) @ DSL Phillies White (10-11) 10:30 am | Gameday
N/A vs. N/A

Final
DSL Phillies White 1, DSL Cubs2 0

Notable

Luiggi Mujica 0-3, 2 K
Mani Boekhoudt 0-3, 2 K
Oscar Gonzalez 1-2, BB, K
Raymond Mora 1-3, R, 2B
Ellian Rondon 2-2, BB, CS

Luis Gomez (W, 1-0), 5.0 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 3K, game score: 71
Alexis Herrera (H, 1), 3.0 IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 5K
Andy Reyes (S, 1), 1.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 0K

(click on the start time for box scores)

[schooldoc]

RHP Alejandro Requena off the DL (after a couple GCL rehab starts) and pitching for CLW.

RHP Connor Seabold to Reading, little more than a year after being drafted.

[Squire]

GCL East Lineup with some interesting stuff:

1. CF Julio Francisco
2. 2B Dalton Guthrie - I forgot he was hurt
3. C Jesse Wilkening - first start?
4. 1B Jack Zoellner
5. 3B Jake Holmes
6. RF Ben Aklinski
7. DH Carlos De La Cruz
   8 LF James Smith - UDFA
8. SS Jose Mercado

SP RHP Dominic Pipkin - debut

[California_Dreamin]

It was mentioned yesterday that both Bohm and Zack Green went out after being hit by pitches. Worth noting that Jan Hernandez went out about 5-6 days ago and has not returned. Tough time for these key guys to get hurt, all are hitting well and are guys we have been following. Any updates on the 3...julio, PC, schooldoc, Squire?

[Austinfan]

I'm convinced there had to be major changes in their hitting instruction, because too many players who looked like total flops have turned it around this season:

Pujols, last ten games, .400 with 7BB/12K in 43 PA. This is a guy who was a wild swinger who struggled to make contact, now up to .317 - OPS has steadily risen from .739, .887 to .996 in June. 7BB/63K first two months, 14BB/27K in June. Keep this up and he'll be in Reading sometime in July. Still only 22 and the arrow is pointing straight up.

Luke Williams - I thought he was totally worthless after showing no improvement for 3 years. First two months, same futility as his entire career, then June .346/.370/.654/1.024 - wow! More aggressive at the plate, only 2BB in 80 PA, but also only 7K.

Grenny Cumana, another undersized LA IF, no bat, all glove, Until he came off the DL, Only 47 AB, but 1.044 OPS - crazy stat line, 0 BB, 1 K.

You have some others, Jan Hernandez, Green, et al.
Some haven't worked, Randolph, Pullin, but overall a heck of a track record so far.

[teabag259]

Moniak and Haseley with 2 hits apiece today. Haseley should be ready for a jump to Reading soon.

[California_Dreamin]

Couple of young centerfielders in the GCL are worth watching. Julio Francisco and Corbin Williams, both 20 years of age and very quick, seem like reasonable prospects. Francisco hit will in the DSL last year and the Phils thought enough of him to start him at Williamsport [where he homered] and Williams is off to a great start and apparently has displayed outstanding speed both offensively and defensively [Jim at PP mentioned him as quite impressive].

Waaaay early but recent draftees are almost all off to solid starts. This could eventually turn out to have been a very good draft. And don't look now but Haseley sits at .299 now with two triples this week [a bit of a power surge hopefully.]

[phillychuck]

I think Nick Matera and, especially, Matt Kroon need to move up to a level where they are challenged. They are both over-age for GCL and are hitting well to exceptionally.

Lancaster, Henriquez, Guzman, and Gonzalez are already competing for SS/3B/2B ABs at WMPT with Azuaje getting thrown in the mix occasionally (andO'Brien) so there's not much room unless they move one of them (Lancaster?) to Lakewood. And Maton and Scheiner block the left side of the infield for the 'Claws.

I think it's Kilome tonight for the Fightins.

[kmc1019]

Low OBP and little power Haseley may in fact see Reading this year.

Meanwhile 19 year old Angels OF Jo Adell - drafted 1 pick after Haseley - has emerged as one of the top 5 or 10 prospects in baseball. Sure would be nice to have a baby Mike Trout in our system:

Jo Adell Stats & Scouting Report - Baseball America

[teabag259]

In hindsight it certainly would be great to have Adell. But as I recall there were huge questions about Adell’s ability to make consistent contact. There was a lot of swing and miss in his game. That’s why he dropped.

[kmc1019]

We cannot dismiss repeated misses on 1st round picks to hindsight. Not that Haseley is a bust but there must be some organizational reflection and change after Randolph-Moniak-Haseley. Passing on Jo Adell could haunt for a decade.

[phillychuck]

Looking at our picks, and paying attention to the best guys taken within 4 picks following gives a good comparison: (Fangraphs rank in parentheses)

Randolph's year:
Tyler Stephenson--good hitting catcher in A+ now, 120-ish OPS+
Josh Naylor--up and down 1b/OF is playing well in AA right now. 115-ish OPS+, 140 now.
Garrett Whitley--120-ish OPS+ OF in A ball
Koby Allard (hon mention)--3.00-ish ERA pitcher now in AAA, a top prospect.

This was a pretty awful swing and miss by the Phils.

Moniak's year:
Nick Senzel (7)--good hitting 3B in AAA--top prospect, now injured
Ian Anderson (45)--3.20 ish ERA pitcher in A+ ball, a good prospect
Riley Pint--pitcher struggling in A-ball, now injured
Corey Ray--average OF now in AA, not a top prospect

Moniak is arguably better than Pint and Ray, much worse than Senzel and Anderson

Finally Haseley's year:
Keston Hiura (24)--top-flight 150 OPS+ second base prospect-in AA
Jo Adell (66)--top prospect, previously discussed, in high-A
Jake Burger--solid 3B prospect in low-A for the White Sox
Shane Baz--ineffective pitcher still in rookie ball

Haseley is better than Burger and Baz, much worse than Hiura and Adell. Adell looks like a top-10 prospect at this point, and Hiura could be close except for the 2B positional discount.

The Braves have picked close to us a couple of times and have done very well. I think we need to re-evaluate our first-round approach. We do much better in the following rounds.

It's upsetting that Senzel, Anderson, Hiura, Adell, and Allard are all in the top 130 or so, with 4 of them in the top 100. TBF, Haseley is in some top 100 lists as well.

[phillychuck]

I think it's Kilome tonight for the Fightins.

Nope--Seabold!

[schooldoc]

The Reading debut for Seabold did not go well.

[schooldoc]

This was mentioned the other night and I think it's worth noticing/repeating...

Amidst all the talk about the Phils' bullpen needs, you can tell they are auditioning a lot of guys (particularly LHP's) for late-inning roles at the upper levels. One of the newer candidates they seem to be looking at is Brandon Leibrandt. He was used each of the last two nights in the 8th inning of close games--a role I'm not sure we've ever seen him in before in the Phils' system. Starter, yes. Long man, yes. But never lefty set-up guy.

Something to keep an eye on, I think, as the trade deadline approaches. Can the Phils find someone in-house that they like enough to cause them not to look outside?

[zambonir]

Great point. I mean, this has been gospel around these parts for a long time. That a guy in the minors can be in your bullpen or on your bench just as easily (and just as well) as a vet. Given how Tommy Hunter is pitching (and how Pat Neshek isn't pitching) I'm certainly not keen on a big deadline trade for "proven" relief help. But it really depends how serious you are about October, vs. how serious you are about developing. I wonder if they willl try out a few of these guys before and after the all-star break just to see where they are at - 40-man space is scarce, however.

[LoneStarPhan]

The GM has to be actively engaged and looking for help. Depending on how the Phillies are doing and on the price tag on certain players, he may make some deals. I don't think this is the season to pay a hefty price for a player that will become a free agent in October.

I do expect them to make a strong run on a couple free agents during the off season and probably work a trade or two as well.

[schooldoc]

Although there may still be a bullpen piece in the minors that can help, I really don't see that bench piece at AAA right now. Plouffe is probably the best candidate for now. That's where I think Klentak is going to need to go outside the organization to add.

[tom81]

You could get Roman Quinn for the bench in about a month.

[julio]

You could get Roman Quinn for the bench in about a month.

Assuming he doesn't hurt himself getting out of bed, that is.