Minor League Notebook: Hot/Cold List, Injury Updates
The latest semi-weekly rundown of your top performers from the Phillies developmental ranks and those that need to turn some things around includes a few injury notes on some key prospects. Read ahead on the latest from the minors.
Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs (25-24 record, 4th place in the International League North division)-
Who’s hot…
Third baseman/first baseman Maikel Franco has tallied a .301/.389/.482 slash line in 21 games this month. The 21-year-old, who is rumored to be a candidate to join the big league roster this week, missed two games over the weekend due to a respiratory illness.
Outfielder Steve Susdorf is having quite a month, sporting a .344 average with seven doubles and nine RBI in 22 games. The 28-year-old lefty batter went 1-for-7 in three games with the big league Phillies last season.
Who’s not…
Catcher Cameron Rupp is batting .208 with a home run in seven games since returning from the disabled list following an oblique strain. Rupp, 25, went 4-for-13 (.308 avg) in four games in the majors last season.
In his most recent start against Toledo, righty pitcher Brad Lincoln allowed five earned runs in five innings. While the 29-year-old has tallied a 3.71 ERA in four starts, he’s averaging less than five innings per start. Lincoln allowed three earned runs in 2 1/3 innings for the Phillies this season.
Double-A Reading (28-19, 2nd place in the Eastern League’s Eastern division)-
Injury notes…
Lefty ace Jesse Biddle missed his start on Sunday after experiencing headaches which stemmed from being struck in the head with ice during a hail storm on Thursday. The 22-year-old has a 3-4 record with a 3.18 ERA and a 9.69 K/9 mark in 10 games this year.
Outfielder Kelly Dugan is still rehabbing his oblique strain in Clearwater and expects that he could return to game action in the coming days. Through 14 games this season, the 23-year-old was batting .275 with a home run and five RBI.
Who’s hot…
Lefty hurler Hoby Milner has been great lately, going 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA in his last four starts. The 23-year-old was the Phillies’ 7th round draft choice in 2012.
Having taken over the closer role since the promotion of Kenny Giles to Lehigh Valley, right-hander Nefi Ogando has been excellent, posting a 1-0 record with six saves and a 0.87 ERA in his last eight appearances. The 24-year-old was acquired last August from Boston for John McDonald. The Domincan Republic native regularly hits 95 MPH with his fastball.
Who’s not…
First baseman Chris Serritella is 2-for-31 (.065 avg) over his last eight games. A 4th round draft pick in 2012, the 24-year-old is batting .186 with two homers and seven RBI in 31 games this season.
Outfielder Anthony Hewitt, 25, is batting .097 with two RBI in his last ten games for the Fightins. The Phils’ top draft pick in 2008 (24th overall), Hewitt has a .136/.143/.170 slash line in 29 games this season.
Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers (10-39, last place in the Florida State League’s North division)-
Who’s hot…
Former big league hurler Adam Loewen returned to the mound on Sunday, earning a win by allowing three earned runs over six innings for the Threshers. Loewen experienced multiple stress fractures in his throwing elbow back in 2008 and a four-and-a-half-inch screw was used to repair the damage, seemingly ended his pitching career. He was a positional prospect in the Toronto system in recent years, but signed with the Phillies as a pitcher last month.
Who’s not…
Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez has a 0-2 record with a 6.75 ERA through three starts with the Threshers. In 9 1/3 innings, the 27-year-old has struck out three and walked nine.
Outfielder Brian Pointer is 3-for-31 (.097 avg) over his last nine games. The lefty batting 22-year-old has a .186/.266/.314 slash line in 41 games this season. Pointer was a 28th round pick in 2010.
Class A Lakewood BlueClaws (19-28, 6th place in the South Altantic League’s Nothern division)-
Injury Update…
Righty hurler Shane Watson is slated to begin his throwing program on Monday. The 20-year-old underwent surgery in January to repair an enlarged capsule in his throwing shoulder.
Who’s hot…
J.P. Crawford has been scorching hot of late, posting a .455 average over his last six contests. The 19-year-old was the Phillies’ top draft pick (16th overall) last year.
Righty starter Ranfi Casimiro has a 1-0 record with a 0.56 ERA in his last three starts. The 21-year-old sports a 2-4 record with a 5.40 ERA and a .262 batting average against in nine games this year.
Venezuelan Summer League Phillies (8-3, tied for 1st place)-
Who’s hot…
Outfielder Joseph Miranda leads the VSL in both home runs (three) and RBI (14). The switch-hitting 19-year-old has posted a .326/.418/.609 slash line in 11 games. The Panama native was signed by the Phillies in December, 2012.
