Phillies minor league hot list: Ortiz, Moniak, Morris, Thompson & more

Here’s a quick rundown of the Phillies minor league hot list.  Details are up to date prior to game action on Tuesday, July 26th.

Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs (61-41, 2^nd place North Div. International League)

Right-handed Jake Thompson continues his tremendous stretch for the IronPigs and remains the top option for a promotion if a vacancy opens up in the Phillies’ rotation. In his last nine starts, the 22-year-old sports a 6-0 record with a 0.58 ERA and a 5.3 K/9 mark.  In 19 starts this season, Thompson, who was acquired from Texas as part of last summer’s Cole Hamels trade, has a 9-5 record with a 2.29 ERA and a .224 batting average against.

Righty pitcher David Buchanan has allowed just two earned runs in 22 innings (0.82 ERA) over his last three starts. In 19 games (18 starts) this season for the Pigs, the 27-year-old has a 7-5 record with a 4.05 ERA and a .257 batting average against.

In 11 games since the Triple-A All-Star Break, outfielder Nick Williams is sporting a .318 average with five doubles, two home runs and eight RBI. Williams, another prized acquisition in the Hamels trade, has a .287/.320/.468 slash line in 90 overall games this season.  The 22-year-old was originally a 2^nd round draft selection of the Rangers in 2012.

Righty reliever Luis Garcia took over the role of closer following the release of Edward Mujica. Garcia, 29, has tossed five scoreless appearances since taking over those duties.  Garcia, who has a 3.99 ERA in 111 big league contests, has a 6-3 record with four saves and a 2.76 ERA in 36 games for Lehigh Valley this season.

Double-A Reading Fightin Phils (69-33, 1^st place Eastern Div. Eastern League)

Outfielder Andrew Pullin is batting .377 with five home runs and 19 RBI in 19 games since his promotion from Clearwater. Pullin, 22, was a 5^th round draft pick of the Phillies in 2012.  He missed time earlier this season when he took a leave of absence for personal reasons.

Righty hurler Tyler Viza has a 2-1 record with a 2.25 ERA over his past three starts. In nine starts since his promotion from Clearwater, the 21-year-old has posted a 4-3 record with a 3.67 ERA.  Viza was a 32^nd round draft choice in 2013.

First baseman Rhys Hoskins launched his minor league leading 29^th

home run in Reading’s win over Binghamton on Monday.  The 23-year-old was the Phils’ 5^th round draft choice in 2014.  In 96 games this year, Hoskins sports a .286 batting average.  His 91 RBI are best in the EL.

Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers (20-11 in second half, 1^st place North Div. Florida State League)

In three starts for the Threshers, right-hander Drew Anderson has allowed one earned run in 14 1/3 innings (0.63 ERA). The 22-year-old missed the entire 2015 campaign after Tommy John surgery.  Combined with his time in Lakewood, Anderson has a 2.61 ERA and a 10.1 K/9 mark in 10 starts this season.  He was selected by the Phillies in round 21 of the 2012 draft.

In 11 games with Clearwater since the All-Star break, Temple University grad Matt Hockenberry has not allowed an earned run. In 28 games in the FSL this year, the 24-year-old has a 1-1 record with two saves, a 1.13 ERA and a .184 batting average against.  Hockenberry, a righty, was a 9^th round draft pick in 2014.

Righty pitcher Will Morris has a 4-0 record with a 2.05 ERA in 10 appearances since the FSL All-Star break. The 23-year-old was a 24^th round draft choice of the Phils in 2013.

Class A Lakewood BlueClaws (17-13 in second half, 3^rd place Northern Div. South Atlantic League)

Middle infielder Grenny Cumana is batting .368 over his past 15 games. Overall, the 20-year-old Venezuelan sports a .289 average with 16 doubles, a homer, 21 RBI and 13 steals in 62 games for the BlueClaws this year.

Lefty reliever Zach Morris has a 0.53 ERA in his last 27 appearances for Lakewood after opening the season with an 8.48 ERA in his initial seven outings. The 23-year-old, who was the Phils’ 24^th round draft pick out of Maryland last year, has a 4-1 record with five saves, a 2.56 ERA and a .240 batting average against in 34 overall games this year.

Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters (22-14, 2^nd place Pinckney Div. New York-Penn League)

Righty pitcher Adonis Medina has a 4-0 record with a 1.14 ERA through seven starts this season. The 19-year-old Dominican has held opponents to a .143 batting average for the Crosscutters.

Lefty starter Ranger Suarez has a 3-0 record with a 2.56 ERA in six starts for Williamsport. The 20-year-old Venezuelan has tossed five innings or more in each of his outings.

Right-hander Bailey Falter is boasting big strike out numbers for the Cutters with a 10.9 K/9 mark (and a 2.3 BB/9 mark) over six starts. The 19-year-old, the Phillies’ 5^th round draft pick from last year, is 1-3 with a 3.21 ERA.

Rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies (20-7, 2^nd place Northwest Div. Gulf Coast League)

Left-handed hurler Nick Fanti has a 3-0 record with a 1.63 ERA and a .178 batting average against in six appearances (four starts) this season.  Fanti, 19, was the Phils’ 31^st round draft pick last year.

Outfielder Mickey Moniak has a .312/.372/.416 slash line through his first 20 professional games. The 18-year-old lefty batter was the 1^st overall draft pick in this year’s MLB draft.  He is batting .350 against righty pitchers, while posting a .176 average against lefties.

Outfielder Jhailyn Ortiz leads the GCL in home runs with six. The 17-year-old Dominican has a .296/.400/.593 slash line through 22 games played this season.  The Phillies signed Ortiz last year for a reported $4 million.