Minor-league week in review: Bryson Stott dominates Double-A in month of August

Infielder Bryson Stott is batting .420 0in August. (Cheryl Pursell)

Former Philadelphia Phillies first rounder Bryson Stott continued his monster August in the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils’ final full series of the month, recording 13 hits in six games against the Portland Sea Dogs.

The infielder went 13-for-27 (.481) in the series with two home runs, a double, six RBIs and a pair of walks.

Reading won five of six at Portland’s Hadlock Field to improve to 41-61 on the season; the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs are 45-55; the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws are 46-53; the Low-A Clearwater Threshers are 45-53; the Florida Complex League Phillies are 18-11.

Stott stays on fire for R-Phils

Stott posted two two-hit games against the Sea Dogs and three three-hit games, two of which he homered in. The left-handed hitter carried a Fightins offense that was without slugger Jhailyn Ortiz, who was injured after one plate appearance in the series’ first game on Tuesday.

Stott is now batting .420/.455/.680 in 25 games in August with one game remaining in the month. He’s hit five home runs, nine doubles and a triple with 18 RBIs. His all-fields approach has him locked in, and perhaps pushing for another promotion — this time to Lehigh Valley — for the end of the season.

“I think, in general, his at-bats since he’s been here [in Double-A] have been outstanding,” Reading manager Shawn Williams said earlier this month. “He does a heck of a job competing. I think that’s a great approach — I think for anybody — when you’re able to use the whole field and the opposite field like he has.”

The 2019 first-round pick is hitting .305/.388/.514 with 15 home runs and 25 doubles in 93 games between Reading and Jersey Shore this season.

Benches clear in Allentown

The benches cleared on Sunday at Coca-Cola Park (Cheryl Pursell)

The IronPigs and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders left their benches on Sunday after Lehigh Valley starter pitcher David Paulino hit Max McDowell in the helmet with a pitch in the fifth inning of Lehigh Valley’s 10-5 win on Sunday at Coca-Cola Park.

McDowell charged the mound, but IronPigs catcher Tyler Heineman wrapped him up and took him to the ground before the batter or Paulino could land a punch as players began rushing toward the action. McDowell and Paulino were both ejected.

A half-inning prior, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starter Luis Gil threw a pitch near Alec Bohm’s head before striking out Bohm, who had words for the right-hander. Gil then had a stare-down with Mickey Moniak after the next at-bat leading up to the bigger altercation.

Torres can’t stop hitting for Jersey Shore

Nicolas Torres has been a hit machine since joining the BlueClaws on Aug. 14, getting a hit in all 10 games he’s played in since his promotion from Low-A.

His best performance of the season came on Wednesday against Wilmington at Frawley Stadium as he went 4-for-5 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Torres, a 21-year-old second baseman, is batting .267/.359/.368 in 79 games across two levels.

Wilson walks it off in Clearwater

2021 second-round pick Ethan Wilson hit the first walk-off home run of his professional career on Friday, giving the Threshers a 6-3 win over Tampa with a three-run shot at BayCare Ballpark.

It was the third home run of the season for the 21-year-old outfielder. Wilson is now hitting .262/.297/.459 with the three homers, a double and a triple in 16 games.