Phillies Minor League Review: Aug. 13-19
Players of the Week
Player - OF Ben Pelletier, Williamsport … The 19-year-old posted a .467/.556/1.000 slash line, going 7-for-15 with two doubles, two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored in four games. He was also named New York-Penn League Player of the Week. The right-handed hitter ranks second in the league in hits (61), extra-base hits (26) and total bases (107) this season. The Canadian native was selected by the Phillies in the 34th round of the June 2015 draft.
Pitcher - LHP Bailey Falter, Clearwater… Falter, 21, earned a win in both of his starts, combining to allow one run over 12.0 innings. He also fanned 14 batters and walked only one. In 15 starts with Clearwater in 2018, he is averaging 1.43 BB/9.0 IP (13 BB, 81.2 IP). The lefty has walked one or none in 12 of those 15 outings. A native of California, he was selected by the Phillies in the fifth round of the June 2015 draft.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs - International League North Division… 76-51, 1st place… The IronPigs won three of their seven games last week, which included a split against Indianapolis in a four-game set. Offensively, they lead the league with 136 home runs this season.
Top hitting performers - INF Zach Green hit safely in all five of his games, batting .438 (7-16) with four doubles, two home runs, seven RBI and a 1.563 OPS… OF Danny Ortiz doubled, homered twice, drove in three runs and hit .300 (6-20) in seven contests. He homered in consecutive games, August 16-17… INF Jesmuel Valentin collected two doubles, three RBI and three walks, while batting .350 (7-20) in seven games.
Top pitching performers - LHP Cole Irvin scattered two hits over 7.1 scoreless innings, while striking out six batters in his lone outing. He owns the third-lowest ERA (2.71) in the International League this season… RHP Drew Anderson recorded six strikeouts and allowed one run with zero walks in 5.2 innings during his only start… RHP Jerad Eickhoff struck out five batters, walked one and surrendered a run over 4.2 innings in his lone start (rehab outing).
Reading Fightin Phils - Eastern League Eastern Division… 60-65, 3rd place… Reading went 1-5 last week. Four of their five losses were by three runs or fewer.
Top hitting performers - OF Adam Haseley collected 10 total bases in six games, slugging two homers with three RBI. He also drew four walks, while posting a .952 OPS… 3B Damek Tomscha batted .353 (6-17) in five games.
Top pitching performers - RHP Connor Seabold recorded a combined 19 strikeouts to one walk in two starts, while allowing three runs over 12.0 innings. He struck out a career-high 10 batters on August 14 vs Hartford… RHP Luke Leftwich worked two scoreless relief appearances (5.0 IP) and had five strikeouts.
Clearwater Threshers - Florida State League North Division… 37-20, 1st place, 69-56 overall… The Threshers began their week with a four-game sweep over Bradenton, and then followed that by taking two of three at Fort Myers. Three of their six wins were shutouts, including consecutive ones to end the week, August 18-19.
Top hitting performers - OF Mickey Moniak collected four extra-base hits - two doubles, a triple and home run - as well as four RBI and posted a .520 slugging percentage in six games… 2B Daniel Brito posted a .350 on-base percentage with one double, two triples and four RBI in seven contests… OF Grenny Cumana hit .316 (6-19) with a double and a walk over six games.
Top pitching performers - LHP Bailey Falter, the Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week, went 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA (1 ER, 12.0 IP) and 14 strikeouts to one walk over two starts… RHP Adonis Medina, the Florida State League Pitcher of the Week, tied his career high with 12 strikeouts on August 15 vs Bradenton. He did not walk a batter and allowed just one run over 7.0 innings in his third double-digit strikeout performance of the season… RHP Trevor Bettencourt logged three scoreless relief appearances (6.0 IP) and recorded eight strikeouts and no walks in those outings… RHP Mauricio Llovera made one start in which he tossed 6.0 scoreless innings, earning a victory. It was his fourth straight quality start… LHP David Parkinson scattered two hits over 6.0 innings and did not surrender a run in his only start. He owns the lowest ERA (1.43) among all qualifying pitchers in Minor League Baseball this season.
Lakewood BlueClaws - South Atlantic League Northern Division… 37-20, 1st place, 78-48 overall… The BlueClaws won four of their six games, including a three-game sweep against Rome. They notched their 10th walk-off win of the season on August 16.
Top hitting performers - C Rodolfo Duran collected 14 total bases, going 8-for-18 (.444) with two homers, four RBI and a 1.251 OPS in four games. He homered in consecutive games, August 16-17… OF Jhailyn Ortiz doubled, tripled, walked three times and hit .333 (6-18) over five games… OF Matt Vierling batted .308 (4-13) with a home run, three RBI and two walks in four games.
Top pitching performers - RHP Spencer Howard combined to strike out 15 batters over two starts (10.0 IP), while allowing three runs… LHP Damon Jones allowed just one hit and one walk over 5.0 scoreless innings, while recording six strikeouts in his only start… LHP Zach Warren made two scoreless relief appearances (2.0 IP) with four strikeouts. He also converted his only save opportunity.
Williamsport Crosscutters - New York-Penn League Pinckney Division… 26-36, 5th place… The Crosscutters went 2-3 following the All-Star break.
Top hitting performers - OF Ben Pelletier, the Phillies Minor League Player of the Week, batted .467 (7-15) with four extra-base hits, four RBI, three runs scored and two walks in four games… 3B Jake Holmes went 5-for-16 (.313) with three RBI over four contests.
Top pitching performers - RHP Robinson Martinez tossed a combined 4.1 scoreless innings of relief over two games, while striking out five batters and converting his one save chance… RHP Juan Escorcia surrendered one unearned run on two hits with six strikeouts in 5.2 innings during his only start.
Gulf Coast League Phillies East - Gulf Coast League Northeast Division… 29-22, 1st place.
Top hitting performers - SS Logan Simmons batted .417 (5-12) with three doubles, one home run, two RBI and five runs scored… OF James Smith went 6-for-18 (.333) with two doubles, a homer, six RBI and four runs scored… INF/OF Jose Rivera collected three doubles, nine RBI and three walks, while hitting .333 (7-21).
Top pitching performers - RHP Victor Santos had eight strikeouts and walked none in 5.0 innings during his one start. He has recorded 65 strikeouts to only four walks in 2018… RHP JD Hammer fanned five batters and allowed just one hit over 2.0 scoreless innings of relief in a rehab appearance.
Gulf Coast League Phillies West - Gulf Coast League Northwest Division… 28-23, 2nd place.
Top hitting performers - 1B Stoney O'Brien posted a .474/.565/.684 slash line, going 9-for-19 with two doubles, a triple, eight RBI, six runs scored and four walks… SS Luis Garcia hit .333 (6-18) with three walks and seven runs scored. He entered play today with a .363 batting average this season… C Abrahan Gutierrez batted .455 (5-11) with a double, six RBI, eight runs scored and four walks.
Top pitching performers - RHP Kyle Glogoski made one start in which he allowed one run and recorded six strikeouts without walking a batter in 5.0 innings… RHP Rafi Gonell earned a win after tossing 5.0 scoreless innings with six strikeouts in his only start.