Phillies Sign Ryan Demmin

The Lakewood Blue Claws announced that the Phillies have signed 25-year old lefty Ryan Demmin from the independent Frontier League’s Normal CornBelters. Demmin was signed in 2010 as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Nationals and spent 2012 with the High-A Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League. Demmin averaged about a strikeout per inning pitched in organized ball from 2010 through 2012 primarily as a reliever.  Demmin will start tonight for the Blue Claws.

Analysis: The Blue Claws needed a starter for this evening and the picked up a pretty good stop gap. Demmin was keeping runners off the bases this year in the Frontier League (1.020 WHIP) and you can never have too many pitchers. Based on his age, it is unlikely Demmin sticks in the system beyond 2013, possibly even beyond this game.

Side note: This is, at best, the second most interesting thing that has happened in Independent baseball within the last 24-hours. If you missed it, the Rockland Boulders accidentally shot off their post-game fireworks in the middle of the ninth inning yesterday. Oops.