Phillies Nation

Tyler Cloyd dominated in the minors last season thanks to a refined repertoire and top-level command. Running through Eastern League and International League competition, Cloyd reached the big leagues by season’s end and is in a position to potentially help the big club in the coming season.

An 18th round draft selection in 2008, Cloyd began his pro career that  year, posting a 7-4 record with a 3.91 ERA in 14 outings combined with  the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies and short-season Class A Williamsport. Since then, the 6-foot-3-inch  210-pounder has had winning records every season, while alternating  between starting and relief duties.

In 2009, splitting time between Class A Lakewood and Class A  Advanced Clearwater, Cloyd went 12-9 with a 3.54 ERA in 27 games (26  starts).  In 2010, Cloyd made 31 relief appearances and four starts for Clearwater, posting a 4-3 record with a  5.32 ERA.  He also made two appearances with Double-A Reading that year,  earning a 1-1 record with a 4.00 ERA.

Whether it’s as a starter or  pitching out of the bullpen, Cloyd has become comfortable taking the  mound in any role, as evidenced by his 2011 output.  Cloyd would go on  to appear in 31 games (22 starts) for Clearwater and Reading that year, collecting a 9-4 record, a 2.77 ERA and an 8.51 K/9 mark, which  proved to be a career best.  Following the season, Cloyd pitched in the  Arizona Fall League but wasn’t as sharp in a starting role there, 4 record with a 4.35 ERA. Continue reading Prospect Nation 2013: #22 RHP Tyler Cloyd

Last season with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, Kelly Dugan put together a solid season in which he batted .300 while slugging 12 homers and driving in 60 runs in 117 games as a 21-year-old in the South Atlantic League.  Primarily an outfielder, Dugan spent time at first base to assist with recovery from leg and ankle issues during the early portion of the season.

Overall, in his minor league career, Dugan has posted a .292 batting average in 237 games.  He was the Phillies’ top draft selection back in 2009 (2nd round) out of Notre Dame High School in California.

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Kelly about his off-season workout routine, what his film director dad Dennis has in store for the movie-going public and plenty more.  Read ahead to check out that full interview.

- What is your workout routine like lately and how much time off from hitting do you take during the off-season?

I took about a month and a half off.  I pretty much follow the program that the Phillies have set in place.  I have a trainer and I follow the program.  And I have a (batting) cage at my house and I’ve been working with an ex-Dodger, Reggie Smith.  We’ve been hitting together here in the off-season.  I regularly have some other minor league players over, Cody Decker and Jeremy Rodriguez, they come over here at the house and we take some hacks.

- So, you’re working with players from others organizations.  Are those guys you’ve played with in high school or against in the pro’s?

Well, Jeremy played at my rival high school, Crespi High School, out here in California.  Jeff Suppan used to play there. And we’re all hitting with Reggie and getting things going right now. Continue reading Off-season Q&A: Dugan Readying For 2013

2012 Eastern League All-Star Castro was a notable omission from the Phils' 40-man roster this year. Photo by: Ian Riccaboni

Yesterday, the Phillies added outfielder Zach Collier and right-handed pitchers Ethan Martin, Trevor May, and Jonathan Pettibone to their 40-man roster, protecting them from other teams selecting them in the Rule 5 Draft. The Phillies now have 38 players on the 40-man roster.

Players generally become Rule 5 Draft eligible when not on the 40-man roster and they meet the following condition: a player was signed at age 18 or younger and has accrued five years of Minor League service OR a player was signed at age 19 or older and has accrued four years of Minor League service. Not every player eligible can be protected and every player who meets the above criteria is eligible to be drafted by any other Major League team with room on their own 40-man roster. That team, however, must keep the selected player on their Major League roster for the entire season or either forfeit the player back to the team he was selected from or work out a deal to keep the player and thus demote the player.

The Phillies have had hits, misses, and players claimed from them in the Rule 5 draft. The Phillies have hit big twice in the Rule 5, with Dave Hollins in 1989 and Shane Victorino in 2005. They did OK with David Herndon in 2009′s Rule 5 but swung and missed badly in 2010′s Rule 5. Last year, the Cubs plucked Lendy Castillo from the Phils and kept him on their roster the entire year. Castillo, 23, pitched in just 13 games and posted 7.88 ERA. For a more extensive history of the Phillies and Rule 5, check out this article by Robert Cowie from Phillies Nation.

This year, there were a few notable omissions from being added to the 40-man. Let’s take a look:

Continue reading Three Phils’ Prospects Vulnerable to Rule 5 Selection

On Saturday, the Peoria Javelinas won the Arizona Fall League championship in a winner-take-all one-game match up with Salt River, following a season in which the club posted a league-best 19-13 record.

Peoria, which was made up of prospect from the Phillies, Reds, Twins, Padres and Mariners, featured many highly regarded prospects.  Phils minor league outfielder Zach Collier was among them and was a certainly key contributor all throughout the five-week long season.  In 19 games, the 22-year-old California native posted a .371 batting average with four doubles, three triples, 10 RBI and three steals.

Collier, who began the 2012 regular season serving a 50-game suspension following a positive test for a banned substance in 2011, has had a slow rise in the developmental ranks after he was selected by the Phillies in the supplemental first round on the 2008 draft out of Chino Hills High School (CA).  Along with missing time this year, Collier sat out the entire 2010 season following an injury to the hamate bone in his right hand, a left quadriceps issue and surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right wrist.

This past week, prior to the AFL title game, I had the opportunity to interview Zach about his time in the AFL, bouncing back from the suspension, his manager Dusty Wathan, his future and plenty more.

- I think this is something I asked you about in 2011, after your injuries, but, coming off your suspension and time missed in 2012, did you feel a greater sense of urgency to make an impact and post some solid offensive numbers?

I felt the need to perform well, of course, but I didn’t want to put pressure on myself like I have in the past. Continue reading PN Interview: OF Prospect Zach Collier, AFL Edition

Through 10 outings with the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, righty reliever Tyler Knigge has posted a 1-1 record with a 7.50 ERA, while striking out 10 batters and walking five over 12 innings.

Knigge, a 12th round draft selection by the Phillies in 2010, took great strides during the regular season, as he tallied a 4-1 record, nine saves and a 0.60 ERA in 34 outings for Class A Advanced Clearwater, en route to becoming a Florida State League All-Star.  He then earned a promotion to Double A, where he tallied a 2.92 ERA with no decisions and two saves in 21 appearances.  Additionally, Knigge, who sports a fastball that has been clocked at 97 MPH, averaged 9.09 K/9 at the two levels this season.

This week, Tyler offered his thoughts on his troublesome AFL stats, his close relationship with top Phils prospect Jesse Biddle, his intentions for the near future and plenty more.  Read ahead for that full interview.

- Taking a look at your stats out there, through 8 games, your ERA sits at 10.00. What would you attribute the difficult stretch there to, compared to your tremendous regular season with the Threshers and R-Phils?

After coming off the season I had, I was ready for the AFL. When I got here, I quickly realized that these hitters are the best of the best. I can’t just beat them all with my fastball. They can hit a 97 mph heater no problem. I’m having to learn to pitch my slider in fastball counts and keep the hitters off balance.

Going through my struggles here is only going to push me harder than ever before. I will rise to the occasion and push myself harder. This experience will not be wasted, but it will be used more as a knowledge base builder to reach my ultimate goal which is the big leagues. Continue reading PN Interview: Tyler Knigge, AFL Edition

It’s time for another edition of our off-season league updates. Each week, we’ll take a tour around the globe for a look at Phillies talents participating in various autumn and winter action.

Arizona Fall League (all Phillies talent plays for Peoria)-

Catching prospect Tommy Joseph (pictured left) is batting .152 with a double and an RBI in 10 games. The 21-year-old participated in Saturday’s AFL Rising Stars Game, and went 1-for-2 in the contest.  Joseph was acquired by the Phillies in the Hunter Pence trade last July.

Third baseman Cody Asche also played in the Rising Stars Game, going 0-for-2.  The 22-year-old has posted a .271 average with seven doubles, a homer and seven RBI through 17 games in the AFL. The University of Nebraska product was the Phils’ 4th round draft pick last year.

Outfielder Zach Collier has tallied a .295 batting average with three doubles, two triples and seven RBI through 13 games. The lefty hitting Collier was a supplemental round draft choice in 2008 out of high school. Collier, who began the regular season serving a suspension for banned substances, posted a .269/.333/.399 line in 78 games with Class A Advanced Clearwater in 2012.

Kyle Simon, has a 2-2 record with a 9.00 ERA through five starts. The righty, who was acquired in the Jim Thome trade from Baltimore, posted a 1.36 ERA through 20 regular season appearances after joining the Phillies organization in 2012. Continue reading Weekly Off-season League Updates, 11/4/12

Rosters for the Arizona Fall League’s All-Star type showcase were announced on Wednesday with two Phillies prospects among the talents involved.  Third baseman Cody Asche (pictured) and catcher Tommy Joseph will represent their Javelinas club in the seventh annual Rising Stars Game, which will be televised on MLB Network this coming Saturday, November 3rd at 8 PM eastern time.

Asche, the Phillies’ 4th round draft selection in 2011, was a fast mover upward in the developmental ranks this year. After beginning his first full pro season with Class A Advanced Clearwater, Asche was promoted to Double-A Reading in June.

Altogether in 130 regular season games at the two levels, Asche, who recently offered his thoughts on his time in the AFL, launched 12 home runs with 72 RBI and an .849 OPS.  In 15 games with Peoria in the AFL, Asche, a University of Nebraska product, has tallied a .259 average with one home run and seven RBI.

Joseph, who was acquired from San Francisco in the Hunter Pence trade this past summer, has struggled a bit in AFL play, batting .172 with no home runs and one RBI in nine games played. Continue reading Minor League Notebook: AFL Rising Stars, R-Phils’ Rebranding & More

Through six relief appearances in the Arizona Fall League righty hurler Colby Shreve has posted a 1..35 ERA while holding opponents to a .167 average.

At three levels during the 2012 regular season, the 24-year-old College of Southern Nevada product tallied a 6-3 record with a 3.69 ERA and a 7.38 K/9 mark.  A slight adjustment to his arm angle this year helped the 6-foot-5 210-pounder to upgrade his velocity, which was steadily clocked at 95 MPH in 2012.

The Phillies’ 6th round draft selection in 2008, Shreve had Tommy John surgery and missed his first full season following signing a professional contract, as he recovered.

Recently, Colby took some time to offer his thoughts on the AFL and what he’s working on while there.  Read ahead for that interview.

-How did you find out you’d be competing in the Arizona Fall Lg and what was your reaction?

I found out I was coming to the fall league about 10 days before our regular season ended. I was excited to come to the fall league, just as I was last year. It is a great opportunity to compete against the best competition in the minor leagues and showcase yourself in front of every MLB team. Continue reading PN Interview: Colby Shreve, Fall League Edition

The Arizona Fall League is in full swing and Phils third base prospect Cody Asche (pronounced ASH-ee) is leading the way for the Peoria Javelinas.

Last year’s 4th round draft selection out of the University of Nebraska posted a .324 batting average with 12 homers and 72 RBI through 130 combined games with Class A Advanced Clearwater and Double A Reading in his first full season as a pro this year.

Thus far in five games, playing for the Javelinas, Asche is sporting a .375 average with four doubles, three RBI and two runs scored.

This week, Cody answered some questions, sharing his thoughts on the AFL, the Phillies’ new hitting coach Steve Henderson and plenty more.  Read ahead to check out that full interview.

- What are your early thoughts on playing in the Arizona Fall League and the competition there?

It is a great experience. You get to play against organizations and players that you haven’t seen before. The competition is great.  Everyone playing is here for a reason.

- Many players from last year’s Arizona Fall League made their MLB debuts this year.  Clearly that ultimate goal must always be in the back of your mind, but does an experience like this make you feel legitimately closer to the big show?

Not really, no. I do know the track record of players in the AFL, but they weren’t called up because they played in this league. No matter what you do, you will have to go prove yourself everyday, no matter what league you are in. You have to go out and earn your call-up.
Continue reading PN Interview: Cody Asche, Fall League Edition

Tuesday marks the beginning of another baseball season…the Arizona Fall League season.  This year, as the league celebrates its 20th anniversary, representatives from the Phillies organization will team with players from the Reds, Padres, Twins and Mariners to make up the Poeria Javelinas roster.

Led by 2012 Double-A Reading Phillies manager Dusty Wathan, the club will feature seven Phils minor leaguers.  Righty relievers Kyle Simon, Tyler Knigge and Colby Shreve, who each manned a key bullpen role for the R-Phils into the playoffs this season, will solidify Peoria’s relief corp.  Left-hander Jay Johnson will also be serving as a reliever for the team.  Additionally, catcher Tommy Joseph, who was acquired by the Phillies in the Hunter Pence trade this year, will see considerable playing time.  Third baseman Cody Asche, who made an impact at two levels in 2012, his first full year of professional baseball, is also on the roster along with outfielder Zach Collier, who was the Phils’ supplementary 1^st round draft choice in 2008.

Simon, a 22-year-old, was acquired from Baltimore in the Jim Thome trade this year, posted excellent numbers after joining the Phils system.  In 20 contests, the University of Arizona product posted a 4-0 record with a 1.36 ERA while striking out 35 batters and walking just six in 39 2/3 innings.  Simon was the Orioles’ 4^th round draft pick in 2011. Continue reading New Arizona Fall League Season Kicks Off