2. Clearwater Threshers

DL Shuffling in Clearwater: Dugan, Imhof, and Leibrandt

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Time to return from our draft high to talk about existing prospects and their ailments. Kelly Dugan Dugan has been sidelined since spring due to a stress fracture in his foot.  He has been playing in Extended Spring Training for a couple of weeks now.  Today the Phillies activated Dugan from the Reading DL and … Read more

2015 Threshers Preview/Guide

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Team Page Overview: Last year the Threshers were possibly the worst team in minor league baseball at the start of the season.  They had no players in my Top 30 Phillies prospects and even beyond that it was mostly filler to make out of a roster.  Eventually Roman Quinn and J.P. Crawford arrived, and they … Read more

J.P. Crawford Named #2 Prospect in Florida State League

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J.P. Crawford has placed second on another Baseball America League Top 20, this time finishing #2 behind Pirates RHP Tyler Glasnow.  Crawford was promoted to the Threshers in July and went on to hit .275/.352/.407 with 8 HRs, 10 SBs, and 28 walks to 37 strikeouts.  It was a very impressive run for the 19 … Read more

Jesmuel Valentin Named #12 Prospect in Midwest League

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When Ruben Amaro moved Roberto Hernandez in a waiver move to the Dodgers for two players to be named later, the expectations were not high on the potential return.  However, those opinions have faded quickly as the return turned out to be 2B Jesmuel Valentin and RHP Victor Arano.  Arano did not crack the MWL … Read more

2014 Clearwater Threshers Recap: Interview with Jim Peyton

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Before we jump into talking about players why don’t you introduce yourself to those that haven’t already read your work and where people can find your writing?

I am Jim Peyton.  I started reporting for Phuture Phillies in Spring Training 2014.  I began by covering the players invited to the major league camp.  I attended a few of the games at Bright House but spent most of my time at the Carpenter Complex following the young prospects.  I continued to follow them through XST while covering the Threshers.  When XST broke, I followed the GCL and the draft picks who were assigned to the Clearwater teams.  I am just now beginning to attend the Instructional League games.  In fact, after sending this to Matt, I’ll be heading over to watch an intra-squad game.

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2014 Clearwater Threshers Recap

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Team: Clearwater Threshers
Record: 49-89
Standing: 6th in North Division (First Half), 4th in North Division (Second Half)

Top Hitter Stat Lines:

Peter Lavin – 54 G – 6 HR – 5 SB – .292/.344/.450
J.P. Crawford – 63 G – 8 HR – 10 SB – .275/.352/.407
Roman Quinn – 88 G – 7 HR – 32 SB – .257/.343/.370
Brian Pointer – 123 G – 15 HR – 16 SB – .246/.336/.419

Top Pitcher Stat Lines:

Aaron Nola – 31.1 IP – 3.16 ERA – 5 BB – 30 K
Cody Forsythe – 35.2 IP – 2.27 ERA – 11 BB – 47 K
Mark Leiter Jr. – 64.2 IP – 4.31 ERA – 15 BB – 56 K
Miguel Nunez – 122.1 IP – 4.49 ERA – 44 BB – 95 K

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A Clearwater Revival

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Many times early in the season I was told by various people that the Clearwater Threshers were the worst team in affiliated baseball and that they had never seen a team with so little talent.  During the first half of the season the Thresher’s 17-51 record bore out that statement.  The team itself had one player (Dan Child) off of Baseball America’s Top 30 prospects and no players off of my list.  The team in the first half saw rehab and roster cameos by Top 30 prospects Andrew Knapp, Malquin Canelo, and Deivi Grullon, but the first real impactful talent to arrive was Roman Quinn (.252/.330/.361).  After that in the second half, top prospect J.P. Crawford (.278/.354/.430) arrived, and then there was a quick stop by 2014 top pick Aaron Nola.  The Threshers are currently 28-36 over the second half and it is not just the top prospects that have made the difference.  A group of players of of prospect watcher’s radars have had good second halfs taking the Threshers from historically bad to just mediocre.

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