Minor League Notes: Franco Leads List of Players Heating Up

Here’s a quick stroll through the Phillies’ developmental ranks, reviewing some hot and cold performers of late.

Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs-

Third baseman Maikel Franco has collected nine hits in three games played this month, batting .529 with two doubles, a triple and a homer during those few games.  The 21-year-old righty batter sports a .226/.280/.351 line through 81 games this season.

OF Grady Sizemore has looked great since joining the Phils’ organization.  The 31-year-old lefty batter has hit safely in all seven games played with the Pigs heading into Sunday.  He is batting .303 with a home run and an RBI.

Newly signed right-handed pitcher Jason Marquis has allowed one earned run in 18 innings of work in three starts (two with Lehigh Valley) while striking out 19 and walking three.  The 35-year-old has 14 big league seasons under his belt.

Outfielder/first baseman Darin Ruf, who was activated on Sunday for the IronPigs, went 3-for-23 (.130 avg) with two walks and two RBI in six rehab games with the Gulf Coast League Phillies last week.

Outfielder Cam Perkins is 4-for-30 (.133 avg) over his past nine games entering action on Sunday.  Overall, since his promotion to Triple-A, the 23-year-old Purdue product has tallied a .198 average with three doubles, two triples and six RBI in 27 games.

Double-A Reading Fightins-

Outfielder Kelly Dugan is 11-for-28 (.393 avg) with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI over his last eight games.  The 23-year-old was a second round pick by the Phillies in 2009.  Through 28 games this year, Dugan sports a .292/.382/.438 line.

Last season’s Paul Owens Award winner, RHP Severino Gonzalez is 1-7 with a 5.52 ERA and a 6.90 K/9 mark over his last 10 starts entering Sunday.  Last season at three levels the 21-year-old Panama native was 7-5 with a 2.00 ERA and a 10.82 K/9 mark in 25 games.

Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers-

Outfielder Roman Quinn is 10-for-32 (.313 avg) with a double, a homer, five RBI and two steals in his last eight games.  Overall in 36 games this season, Quinn has a .259/.338/.333 slash line.  The 21-year-old was the Phillies’ 2nd round pick in 2011.

Since his promotion to Clearwater, shortstop J.P. Crawford has posted a .233 average with a double, two home runs and five RBI in 15 games.  Crawford, last year’s top draft pick by the Phillies, posted a .295/.398/.405 slash line in 60 games with Class A Lakewood earlier this season.

Class A Lakewood BlueClaws–

Second baseman Andrew Pullin is batting .345 since the start of June after sporting a .232 average through the end of May.  The Phils’ 5th round draft pick from 2012 is batting .277 with six home runs and 37 RBI through 81 games this season.

Catcher Andrew Knapp enters action on Sunday with a nine-game hitting streak.  Through 29 games with the BlueClaws, the 22-year-old Cal product is batting .287 with four home runs and 15 RBI.  Knapp was the Phils’ 2nd round pick last year.

Outfielder Larry Greene Jr. is 2-for-24 (.083 avg) with one RBI over his last eight games.  In 26 games with the ‘Claws this season, the 21-year-old is batting .194 with no homers and seven RBI.  Greene was the Phils’ 1st round pick in 2011.

Short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters-

Outfielder/designated hitter Matt Shortall went 0-for-4 on Saturday, but prior to that he had hit safely in all nine professional games he had played.  The 23-year-old is batting .350 with two doubles, a triple, three homers and RBI in 10 games.  Shortall was a 10th round pick out of the University of Texas this year.

Righty hurler Mitch Gueller had the best start of his career on Independence Day, throwing seven scoreless frames while striking out five and walking none.  Gueller was selected by the Phils in the supplementary round (54th overall) in 2012.  Through four starts this year, the 20-year-old has a 2-1 record with a 3.15 ERA while striking out 12 and walking 11 in 20 innings.