Minor League Notes: Hot and Cold List
Here’s a brief rundown of some top performers and some that aren’t doing too well from throughout the Phillies developmental levels, in no particular order.
Double-A Reading Fightins-
Who’s hot…
Catcher Tommy Joseph, who was batting .359 with four home runs and 13 RBI in his last 10 games, left Friday’s game with a left wrist issue. The 22-year-old sat out Saturday and wore a brace on the ailing joint. Jose Mayorga, who was with Lakewood last week, was with the Reading team on Saturday, seemingly in case further evaluation on the often injured Joseph results in another trip to the disabled list.
Infielder Cesar Hernandez is staying hot at the plate while he adapts to third base in the Eastern League. With two hits in a game that was suspended due to rain on Saturday, the Venezuela native who turns 24-years-old later this month, extended his hitting streak to nine games. He’s batting .455 during that stretch. Overall in 24 contests at Reading, the switch hitting youngster is sporting a .355 average with three homers and 14 RBI.
Despite taking the loss in his most recent outing (5 1/3 IP, 5R/3ER, 6K, 3BB) on Friday in Trenton, Jesse Biddle‘s numbers still look solid this season. In eight starts, the lefty sports a 3-4 record with a 3.63 ERA, a 10.28 K/9 mark and a .224 batting average against.
Who’s not…
Outfielder Anthony Hewitt, the Phillies’ top draft pick (24th overall) from 2008, looks outmatched in the Eastern League this year. The 25-year-old is 3-for-31 (.097 avg) in his last eight games and is batting just .138 overall in 21 contests. In 116 games with Reading last year, Hewitt posted a .244/.296/.430 slash line.
Class A Lakewood BlueClaws-
Who’s hot…
Shortstop J.P. Crawford can’t be stopped lately. The 19-year-old went 3-for-3 on Saturday night to extend his hitting streak (batting .442 in that stretch) to 11 games while bringing his season average to .339. The lefty batting Crawford was the Phils’ top draft pick (16th overall) last year.
Who’s not…
Well regarded catching prospect Deivi Grullon hasn’t had too much luck at the plate since joining the BlueClaws. The righty batting 18-year-old sports a .161 average with a home run and four RBI through nine games. Grullon, a native of the Dominican Republic, posted a .273/.333/.364 line in 41 games in the Gulf Coast League last season.
Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers-
Who’s hot…
Outfielder Peter Lavin notched a four-hit game on Saturday to take his hitting streak to eight games. In his past 10 contests, the Phils’ 20th round pick from 2011 has tallied a .429 average with three home runs and six RBI. Overall, in 31 games, the 26-year-old is batting .320 with five homers, 15 RBI and five steals.
Nothing too hot here, but rehabbing Phils slugger Darin Ruf is 3-for-12 with three RBI in three games with the Threshers. The 27-year-old has missed time with an oblique strain.
Who’s not…
Catcher Andrew Knapp, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, has been getting game action in the designated hitter role and has not played defense for Clearwater. Through four games, last year’s 2nd round draft pick is 1-for-14 (.071 avg).
Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs-
Who’s hot…
Catcher Sebastian Valle, who is sharing playing time behind the plate with Koyie Hill as of late, is 4-for-11 with two homers and seven RBI in his last three games. Through nine games with the Pigs, the 23-year-old has a .276/.281/.586 line.
Who’s not…
In his last two appearances, righty reliever Phillippe Aumont has allowed six earned runs in two innings, while walking five and striking out four. Through 11 outings with the Pigs, the 25-year-old has a 0-1 record along with a 5.93 ERA while striking out 17 and walking 15 in 13 2/3 innings.
Photo credit- JAY FLOYD
