Phillies Nation

Australian pitcher Josh Warner began the 2013 season as a member of the starting rotation for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. Through six starts, the 20-year-old right-hander posted a 1-3 record along with a 7.50 ERA. Phillies brass decided to reassign Warner to extended spring training so he could make some adjustments to his delivery aimed at enhancing his deception toward hitters.

The Queensland native, who pitches for the Brisbane Bandits in the Australian Baseball League during the off-season, was signed by the Phils as an amateur free agent in 2010. Combined over the past two seasons, since making his affiliated pro debut, Warner has split his time with the Gulf Coast League Phillies, the Williamsport Crosscutters and Lakewood, posting a combined 7-13 record along with a 5.28 ERA.

Early this season I spoke with Josh for Phillies Nation TV, but the interview went unused on the television program. During the interview, Josh spoke about the growth of baseball down under, his time in the ABL and more. Check out the interview in the media player below and tune into Phillies Nation TV every Tuesday at 6 PM on The Comcast Network.

It’s time for the weekly rundown of minor league notes, taking a look at who is hot and who is not, from each team.  Stats and standing accurate through game action played on Saturday.

Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs (18-24, 4th place, North Division International League)-

Hot list…

Cody Asche with Reading in 2012

Third baseman Cody Asche has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 contests.  In his last 10 games, Asche is batting .326 with two doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI.  The 22-year-old was the Phillies’ 4th round pick in 2011 out of the University of Nebraska.

Cold list…

Joe Savery has allowed nine earned runs in one total inning over his last two appearances with the IronPigs.  Savery, whose season ERA in the International League sits at 5.87, sported a 0.63 mark this season prior to his most recent two appearances.

Lefty starter Adam Morgan has a 0-4 record along with an 8.33 ERA over his last five games.  The University of Alabama product was the Phillies’ 3rd round draft pick in 2011.  Morgan, a Georgia native, is 23-years-old. Continue reading Minors Notes: Who’s Hot, Who’s Cold & Venezuelan Summer League Begins

Right-handed hurler Nicholas Hanson was selected by the Phillies in the 16th round of last year’s draft.  The Golden West College product had a tough pro debut with the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters, where he sported a 2-3 record with a 7.00 ERA while averaging 5.8 K/9.  This year is a completely different story, however.  In nine outings, Hanson, 21, has tallied a 1-0 record along with a 2.94 ERA and a 7.48 K/9 mark.  Additionally, in his three starts since moving from the bullpen, the 6-foot-7, 210 pounder has allowed just one run.

Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Nic and he spoke about his success, his best friend who is also a player, his offerings on the mound and plenty more. Read ahead for that full interview.

- You’re on a hot streak now and doing very well as a starter after relieving to start the season.  What can you tell me about your early success this season?

I’m just kind of getting used to my new stuff.  I started throwing that sinker now and (pitching coach Aaron Fultz) has really been helping me and we’re watching video a little bit and I’m kind of getting used to my stuff.  That’s basically it, just going out there and learning every time.

- What’s your full pitching repertoire right now?

Right now, four-seam fastball, sinker, slider, change up. 

- You mentioned the new addition of a sinker.  Who initiated that?  How did that come about?

I used to throw it as a little kid.  It was the only way I knew how to throw a fastball, I’d kind of throw it differently than a regular two-seamer.  And I felt like I needed another pitch other than a four-season fastball.  My dad told me, toward the end of spring training, “Why don’t you throw that pitch?”  Continue reading PN Interview: RHP Prospect Nic Hanson

Former Phillies left-handed reliever Aaron Fultz now serves as the pitching coach for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. The Alabama native spent his first season as a pro coach, last year, with the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters.

During his playing career, Fultz’s best season was 2005, when he tallied a 4-0 record with a 2.24 ERA in 62 appearances for the Phils. Fultz also played in the big leagues with the Twins, the Rangers, the Giants and the Indians.

Early this season, PN’s minor league insider Jay Floyd interviewed Aaron for Phillies Nation TV. The 39-year-old spoke about his time with the Phillies, his transition into coaching and some of his pitching prospects. The segment went unused on the TV program, but we definitely wanted to bring it to the fans anyway. Check out the interview in the media player below and tune into Phillies Nation TV every Tuesday at 6 PM on The Comcast Network. The program also replays throughout the week, so check your listings.

In the latest rundown of developmental notes, we’ll take a glance at some top performers, several guys who aren’t doing too well, a couple sidelined prospects and a group of former Phillies minor leaguers…

The Hot List- 

Lakewood pitcher Nic Hanson

Lakewood righty Nic Hanson has not been scored upon in two outings (11 total innings) since moving from the BlueClaws’ bullpen to their starting rotation. A 16th round pick in last year’s draft out of Golden West College, Hanson, 21, has a 1-0 record with a save and a 3.38 ERA in eight games.

Class A Advanced Clearwater outfielder Cameron Perkins has been performing extremely well this month.  In 10 games, the 22-year-old has posted a .385 average with six doubles, a triple, a homer and six RBI.  Perkins was selected in the 6th round of the 2012 draft out of Purdue University.

Dominican hurler Gabriel Arias has looked great for the Clearwater Threshers, going 4-1 with a 1.25 ERA through nine outings (four starts).  The 23-year-old has regularly had his fastball clocked at 95 MPH over the past year.

Double-A Reading catcher Cameron Rupp, whose batting average had been as low as .211 this past week, decided to shave his goatee for a change of luck.  Since going bald faced, the 24-year-old has gone 5-for-12 with three home runs and five RBI in three contests.  Rupp was drafted out of the University of Texas in the 3rd round in 2010. Continue reading Minor League Notes: the Hot, the Cold, the Injured and the Departed

After dropping the first two games of the four-game series in Arizona, the Phillies bounced back on Saturday night and were victorious against the Diamondbacks by a score of  3-1.

Cliff Lee went seven shutout innings, striking out three and walking two in the process.  The veteran notched his 4th win of the season, after having won just one time in his previous five starts.

Jonathan Papelbon came on in the 8th to lock down a five-out save.  The Phils’ closer is perfect in six save opportunities this season.

Jimmy Rollins was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a steal to lead the offense while Ryan Howard went 0-for-5 and locked down a golden sombrero, striking out four times in the contest. Ben Revere also collected two hits and swiped a bag.

What’s next- Kyle Kendrick, who sports a 1.71 ERA in his last six starts, will try to close out the Phillies’ road trip with a win, as he takes on Brandon McCarthy, who has a 7.61 ERA in four home starts this year.

Seth Rosin, image- MiLB.com

Last summer, as part of the Hunter Pence trade, the Phillies acquired righty hurler Seth Rosin (Roe-ZEEN). Originally drafted in the 4th round in 2010 by San Francisco, Rosin had mainly been a reliever with the Giants’ Class A Advanced affiliate San Jose. Now throwing strictly as a starter, since joining the Phils’ organization, the University of Minnesota product, who stands six-foot-six and weighs around 250 pounds, has posted a 1-4 record with a 3.17 ERA while striking out 32 and walking seven in 45 1/3 innings.

Recently, I spoke with the 24-year-old about his transition to a new organization, his thoughts about Reading, Eastern League competition and plenty more. Read ahead for that full interview.

- Last year, at the time of the trade, how were you notified you had been dealt and what was your reaction?

I got a call from the Giants front office at about 8 o’clock in the morning, west coast time, letting me know I had to leave tomorrow to go to Florida, I was in a trade. So, I was just trying to get everything in order, get my car out to Florida, or whatever, all my clothes. I had a host family, so they were really helpful with that. I was just- I knew I had to get all my stuff in order to get over there. It was a good transition and the Phillies guys welcomed me, so it was a good transition.

- As rattling as that appears to be, from that description, is getting that news also exciting, because you know a team has just dealt an established player to get you?

Yeah. It’s a fresh start. All new coaches, everything, I’ve got to get to know everyone’s names and stuff like that. It’s a good start and I’m having a good time over here.
Continue reading PN Interview: RHP Prospect Seth Rosin

It’s our weekly rundown of notes from the minor leagues.  For the most part, I’ll serve up some quotes from Class A Lakewood manager Mickey Morandini, as I spoke with him on Sunday.

On his BlueClaws team, that sports a 9-20 record, as a whole:

“Even though the record’s not where we want it to be, we’re still seeing a lot of good out there, out of the young kids, so, that’s the main thing here, is getting these kids better and having them progress as best they can.”

On Australian right-hander Josh Warner (1-3 record, 7.50 ERA in six starts), who was demoted to extended spring training on Sunday:

“We just wanted to get Josh down there and get his confidence back.  We’re gonna make a few adjustments with where he’s standing on the rubber and things, so we just wanted him to go down there and work on that.

He’s only 20-years old.  He’s got a good breaking ball, a good change up.  He just got in a situation where he was leaving his fastball out over the plate.  And like I said, we’re gonna make some changes down there on the rubber, try to get a little more deception, especially against right-handers.  We like Josh a lot, he’s had a lot of success, he just went through a rough spell here, so we just thought is was best to get him back down there and work on a few things, then hopefully get him back up here.”  Continue reading Minor League Notebook: Morandini Quotes Galore

Cameron Rupp, image- Jay Floyd

In an organization stocked with catching talent, Cameron Rupp has, at times, been an afterthought.  That isn’t the case any longer, as the Phils’ 3rd round draft choice from 2010 has forced the team’s brass and scouts alike to take notice and hold him in consideration as a potential big league backstop candidate.

While Rupp’s numbers (.215 avg, two home runs, six RBI through 18 games) aren’t overly impressive thus far this season, it’s the overall effort, defensive skills and numbers from previous seasons that have the projected ceiling for the University of Texas product on the rise.

Rupp’s manager, Dusty Wathan, who had a 14-year playing career as a catcher, sees a great amount of potential in the six-foot-two 230-pounder and thinks that his future is bright, comparing him to the Phils’ current big league All-Star at the same position.

“Carlos Ruiz came here eight or nine years ago and wasn’t very touted and look where he is now.  He has been a big contributor and to the World Series. I just think, hopefully, Cameron Rupp can be in that same mold. A guy that wasn’t really touted, wasn’t really a big prospect and, you know, has just worked hard and put himself on the map,” Wathan asserted. Continue reading Catching Prospect Rupp on the Rise

Reading manager Dusty Wathan

In his second year with the team, former pro catcher Dusty Wathan has led the Double-A Reading Fightin Phillies to a 12-10 record thus far in the early going.

After his 14-year playing career, Wathan began the next leg of his career, managing, with the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters in the Phillies organization in 2008. Since then, the son of former Royals manager John Wathan has climbed up the Philadelphia developmental ranks, making stops with Class A Lakewood, Class A Advanced Clearwater and, of course, Reading.

As a player, Wathan was signed by Seattle in 1994 and went on to compete in the Florida, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Kansas City and Philadelphia organizations. With the Royals, Wathan appeared in three big league games in 2002.

This week, I sat down with Dusty to discuss the collection of well-regarded talent on his roster including top prospect Jesse Biddle, catcher Sebastian Valle, outfielders Anthony Hewitt and Zach Collier, plus plenty more. Read ahead for that full interview.

- Jesse Biddle is a guy that drives great interest from the fans at this point. Clearly, he’s always been very well touted, but the dominance he has shown with the strike outs and the batting average against, is that surprising at all to you?

Well, I don’t know about batting average against, but I know what his batting average is…he can swing the bat too! He’s been outstanding. He works as hard, if not harder, than any other starting pitcher I’ve ever seen. I mean, I tell these guys, you reap what you sow. And I’ll tell you what, he’s getting the rewards for it right now. He goes after it as hard as anybody and everything he gets is well deserved. He’s got the ability to go with the hard work. A lot of guys don’t have the ability that he has and he’s got the ability to throw four pitches and be a good major leaguer. Continue reading PN Interview: Reading Manager Dusty Wathan Talks 2013 Fightins