Phillies Nation

Last year’s 2nd round draft pick of the Phillies, Harold Martinez has begun to get hot after a bit of a slow start to his 2012 regular season.

After beginning the season rehabbing his injured left hand and playing some games in extended spring training, Harold joined the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws on April 24th.  Through his first 16 games with Lakewood, Martinez was batting .213, but after a hot week, the Cuban born first baseman/third baseman has his average up to .272 against South Atlantic League pitching.

The 22-year-old righty hitter came over to the United States at a young age and has dreamed of playing professional baseball ever since.

Last year, in his first season of pro ball, Martinez, a University of Miami product, sported a .251 batting average with 2 homers and 31 RBI in 67 games for the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters of the NY-Penn League.

Recently, I spoke with Harold about his draft experience, his journey from Cuba to the U.S., playing for Lakewood and plenty more.  Check out the media player below to hear the full interview.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider.  You can check out more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

Infielder Stephen Malcolm joined the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws last weekend after a solid 6 weeks in extended spring training.  Thus far in South Atlantic League play, the 22-year-old Malcolm has gone 1-for-7 with a stolen base, but is slated to get playing time at both second base and shortstop.

An 8th round draft selection by the Phillies in 2010, Malcolm missed the entire 2011 season after he was sent home for disciplinary reasons in April.

In 2010, after signing as a pro, Malcolm posted a .253 batting average with 3 doubles and 10 RBI in 27 games with the Gulf Coast League Phillies.

Recently, I spoke with Stephen about his promotion, working closely with his manager, former Phillies All-Star Mickey Morandini, his feelings toward the Phillies’ brass and plenty more.  Check out the media player below to hear the full interview.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider.  You can read more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

The Phillies’ hottest two prospects this year are likely names that most fans have not heard of.  Recently, PhilliesNation.com readers have seen my features on right-handed pitcher Tyler Cloyd and first baseman Darin Ruf.  With both men having such tremendous success thus far in 2012, I thought it was worthwhile to review their output and bring to you their interview excerpts.

Reading Phillies first baseman Darin Ruf is ripping through Double-A Eastern League pitching this season.  In 32 games for the R-Phils, Ruf has posted a league leading .393 batting average with 6 HR and 26 RBI.

On a torrid pace recently, in his past 4 games, Ruf has gone 8-for-14 (.571 avg) with 3 walks, 3 doubles, 4 HR and 13 RBI.

The 20th round draft selection from 2009 spoke about his manager, Dusty Wathan, his own approach to the game, players that he looked up to in his younger days and more. Check out the media player below to hear from Darin.

Continue reading Interview Excerpts with Prospects Darin Ruf & Tyler Cloyd

Back with the Lakewood BlueClaws this season, Aaron Altherr is proving that he belongs in the Class A South Atlantic League.  Through 41 games with Lakewood last season, the Phillies’ 9th round draft selection from 2009 posted a .211 batting average with 6 doubles, 1 HR, 15 RBI and 12 steals.  He was then demoted to short-season Williamsport.  Thus far in 2012, through 27 games, the 21-year-old is sporting a .292 batting average with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR, 14 RBI and 10 stolen bases.

Ranked over the off-season as PhilliesNation’s #25 prospect, and even higher by some other outlets, Altherr has certainly shown flashes of serious skill and earned recognition for his tools on the field.

Recently, I spoke with Aaron about his improvements this year, his manager Mickey Morandini and more.  Check out the media player below to hear that full interview.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider.  You can check out more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

In the early going this season, one of the Phillies’ Baby Aces hasn’t been very sharp.  Through 5 starts with the Double-A Reading Phillies this season, Jonathan Pettibone has posted a 1-3 record with a 4.33 ERA and a .357 batting average against.  In addition, Pettibone’s strikeout to walk ratio (13:11, in 27 innings of work) is of concern.

Fresh off a solid season with Class A Advanced Clearwater in 2011, when he went 10-11 with a 2.96 ERA and a .248 batting average against while striking out 115 and walking just 34 in 161 innings, the expectations were high for the California native that ranked 9th on the PhilliesNation.com off-season prospect rankings.   Pettibone, a 6-foot-5-inch 200-pounder that was a 3rd round draft selection by the Phillies in 2008, isn’t worried.

I spoke with Jonathan last week about his less-than-ideal start, his progress along with battery mate Sebastian Valle, the fans in Reading, his pitch repertoire and plenty more.  Check out the media player below to hear that full interview.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider.  You can check out more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

Righty pitching prospect Trevor May continued with his exceptional 2012 campaign on Monday night, when he threw 7 innings for the Double-A Reading Phillies against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto affiliate), while allowing 2 earned runs, striking out 7 and allowing no walks.  The victory put May’s record at 5-0 on the season.  The effort raised May’s impressive ERA up to 2.40.

May, who stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs roughly 220 pounds, was the Phillies’ 4th round draft selection in 2008 and has been earning considerable recognition ever since.

The 2011 winner of the Paul Owens Award, an honor bestowed upon the top pitcher and the top offensive player in the Phillies developmental ranks each year, May really made an impact on the Florida State League.  In 27 starts last year, May posted a 10-8 record with a 3.63 ERA and 208 strike outs in 151 1/3 innings pitched.

Last week, I spoke with Trevor about his success, his rise up the minor league ladder with battery mate Sebastian Valle, the Reading community and much more..  Check out the media player below to hear the full interview.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider.  You can check out more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

Former catcher Dusty Wathan is in his first season as manager of the Double-A Reading Phillies.  With a group of young, talented prosects, Wathan has led his club to a 13-6 record thus far, which has the team sitting atop the Eastern League’s Eastern division in first place.

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 now 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 3 big league games in 2002.

This week, I sat down with Dusty to discuss the collection of well-regarded prospects that make up the R-Phils’ roster, including RHP Tyler Cloyd, second baseman Cesar Hernandez, catcher Sebastian Valle, outfielder Tyson Gillies and the trio of starting pitchers known as “The Baby Aces”.  Check out the media player below to hear the full interview.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider. You can read more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

Right-handed reliever Justin De Fratus has recovered from the elbow ailment that kept him out of action throughout all of spring training and has begun facing batters in minor league rehab appearances.  The Phillies’ 11th round draft pick from 2007 has been checking in, on a regular basis, and providing exclusive updates directly to the fans about his road back to action at the upper levels, throughout the past several weeks, right here on PhilliesNation.com.

De Fratus, 24, went 6-3 with 15 saves, a 2.99 ERA and 99 strike outs in 75 1/3 innings
in his time with Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley last year
before making his Major League debut in September and holding opponents
to a .083 batting average in 5 appearances.

This week, De Fratus, who has been on the disabled list for the Phillies since the season began, is back in action, appearing with the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers as he works his elbow into shape in somewhat of a delayed spring training.  This week, Justin shared his thoughts on his return to competition, his steps going forward, the Phillies’ struggling offense and more.  Read ahead for a full rundown of Justin’s exclusive comments.
On where he is with his progress right now and what is next…

After working to get myself prepared to throw in my first games of the year, I’ve thrown in two and everything’s going well.  I’m trying to get myself prepared for the season now…you know, being ready to pitch every day and that type of thing.

I threw in an extended spring training game on Thursday and I threw a scoreless inning for the Threshers (on Sunday). The cool thing about the game with Clearwater was that I had those first outing jitters and I missed that.  It was good to feel that. I’m happy with where I am. In the grand scheme of things, you’ve got to remember that this was essentially my second outing of spring training.  So, even though it’s April, I have to remind myself that I’m not going to be as sharp as I want to be.  I’m still trying to get a feel for the strike zone and everything.  I’m throwing strikes, but I’m not throwing it as aggressively as I normally would.  I’m getting into the flow.  No cause for concern, this is normal for the stage that I’m at right now.  Everything’s been completely positive right now.  I’m really happy with where I am. Continue reading De Fratus Checks In: Rehab Games, Struggling Offense & More

Left-handed pitcher Ethan Stewart was drafted considerably late (47th round, 2010) by the Phillies. At three levels in the developmental ranks, the 6-foot-6-inch 210-pounder has performed like a talent that was selected much earlier.

Last season in 13 combined starts with the Gulf Coast League Phillies and the short season Williamsport Crosscutters, Stewart posted a 5-4 record with a 3.39 ERA while striking out 60 batters and walking 27 in 63 2/3 innings pitched.

Thus far in 2012, Stewart, a native of British Columbia, is sporting a 0-1 record with a 1.10 ERA through three starts for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. He has also held opponents to a .172 batting average.

Last week I spent some time with Ethan, who spoke about his pitch repertoire, getting drafted, Twitter and plenty more. Check out the media player below to hear the full interview.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider.  You can check out more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.

Drafted in the 11th round last year out of West Boca Raton Community High School, shortstop Tyler Greene wasted no time signing with the Phillies, to begin his pro career. The righty hitting 19-year-old has been praised by those within the system for his athleticism and his quick bat.

In his first pro season in 2011, Greene posted a .276 batting average with 6 doubles, 4 RBI and 5 steals in 17 games for the Gulf Coast League Phillies.

Through 10 games this season with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, Greene is sporting a .206 average with 4 doubles, a homer and 4 RBI.

Recently, I spoke with Tyler about being drafted last year, about his manager Mickey Morandini, about the other Tyler Greene’s and more. Check out the media player below to listen to the full interview.

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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider. You can check out more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.