Single-A Clearwater clinches first playoff spot in minor leagues
The Phillies Single-A affiliate became the first minor-league club to clinch a spot in this season’s playoffs this past weekend.
The Clearwater Threshers continued a red-hot start to the year on Saturday with an 8-4 victory over Fort Meyers at Hammond Stadium to win the first-half title of the West division of the Florida State League. After a loss on Sunday, Clearwater now has a 40-16 record with the first half ending later this month.
The Florida State League operates with a four-team playoff system that includes the first-half and second-half champions from its East and West divisions playing each other in a best-of-three series before the winners meet in a best-of-three FSL championship series. In a scenario where a team wins its division in both halves, the next best second-half team by winning percentage in that division would make the postseason. So, by taking home the first-half West crown, the Threshers will have a spot in the FSL playoff tournament for the first time since 2018.
With a .714 mark, the Threshers are tied for the best winning percentage among full-season teams in Minor League Baseball with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Their stellar performance has been fueled by standout performances from players like outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr., shortstop Bryan Rincon, outfielder Cade Fergus and starting pitcher Alex McFarlane. Last year’s first rounder Justin Crawford is also on the Clearwater roster, and the team has recently gotten a boost from left-hander Bailey Falter, who began the season in the big leagues as the Phillies fifth starter but has been demoted.
That collection of talent has produced at a high level to start the year in Clearwater, now guaranteeing that the Threshers will have a chance to play for more once the regular season concludes.
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