Weekly Minor League Wrap Up, 5/20/12
Once again, the weekly minor league wrap up is back, taking a look at each of the Phillies’ four full season minor league clubs. This time around, we’ll take a look at the hot and cold lists from each team.
Class A Lakewood BlueClaws 15-25, 6th place out of 7 (14.5 GB) in South Atlantic League Northern Division.
Who’s hot-
Right-handed reliever Matt Campbell has been a solid contributor out of the Lakewood bullpen. Since joining the club in late April, the 24th round draft pick from last season has a 1-1 record with 2 saves and a 1.46 ERA while striking out 12 batters in 12 1/3 innings pitched. Campbell has thrown more than 1 inning in 5 of 6 of his outings. Additionally, the Florida native has held opponents to a .163 batting average.
Who’s not-
Infielder Stephen Malcolm, has gone 2-for-18 (.111 avg) through his first 7 games of Class A ball since joining the BlueClaws last weekend. The 22-year-old missed all of last season due to disciplinary issues. Malcolm was an 8th round draft choice in 2010.
Outfielder Brian Pointer, who was among the Phillies’ top minor league performers in April, with a .295 batting average, 5 HR, 19 RBI and a .964 OPS, has really struggled in May. The lefty hitting 20-year-old has posted a .140 batting average with 0 HR and just 1 RBI and a .479 OPS in 15 May games.
Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, 21-19, tied for 2nd place (5 GB) in the Florida State League’s North Division.
Who’s hot-
Cody Asche has been on fire for the Threshers. Through action on Friday, the third baseman has posted a .394 batting average with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR and 11 RBI in 16 May games. The left-handed hitting Asche was selected by the Phillies in the 4th round of the 2011 amateur draft. The University of Nebraska product is 21 years old.
LHP Jesse Biddle has been sharp lately for Clearwater. The 20-year-old is 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA with a .179 batting average against in 4 May starts. Biddle, a Philadelphia native, was the Phillies’ 1st round draft pick in 2010.
Who’s not-
Righty starting pitcher Perci Garner has had a tough month, posting an 0-2 record with a 6.63 ERA in 4 May starts. Garner is the Phillies’ 2nd round draft pick from 2010.
Double-A Reading Phillies,23-17, 2nd place (1.5 GB) in the Eastern League’s Eastern Division.
Who’s hot-
RHP Julio Rodriguez has been the ace of the R-Phils’ staff. In 4 May starts, Rodriguez has not allowed an earned run. His ERA on the season sits at 1.88 through 7 starts. For all his dominance, Rodriguez has just 3 wins, but has not lost this season. The 21-year-old Puerto Rico native led the Florida State League in wins last season with 16.
Who’s not-
Infielder Jeremy Barnes is 1-for-10 (.100 avg) in 3 games with Reading since being activated from the disabled list. Overall this season, in time split with Clearwater and Reading, the 25-year-old Notre Dame product has posted a .138 batting average with just 1 extra base hit, a double, in 18 games.
Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, 25-17, 3rd place (1 GB) in the International League’s North Division.
Who’s hot-
RHP Tyler Cloyd has posted a 4-0 record with a 0.69 ERA in 4 starts this season with the IronPigs. The 25-year-old has not lost this season and has a 7-0 record, a 1.24 ERA and a .194 batting average against in 8 combined starts at Reading and Lehigh Valley. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before Cloyd gets a shot with the big club.
Who’s not-
Cody Overbeck has had a weak May, posting a .161 batting average in 18 games this month. The 25-year-old righty hitting first baseman had a strong enough April that his season batting average is still a respectable .252.
Outifelder Domonic Brown has not played in a game since May 7th, as he tries to recover from a left hamstring ailment.
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Jay Floyd is PhilliesNation’s minor league insider. You can read more from Jay by visiting his site, PhoulBallz.com.
