This Week’s Schedule
- Lehigh Valley (51-47) @ Worcester (56-47)
- Reading (50-52) @ Richmond (60-40)
- Jersey Shore (40-60) vs Frederick (59-39)
- Clearwater (60-40) vs Tampa (59-42)
- DSL Phillies (28-17)
Hitter Spotlight
5 G 9-19 1 2B 3 HR 14 RBI 5 BB 6 K .474/.560/1.000
Much like former teammate Nathan Humphreys, Hogart was brought in as an undrafted free agent by the Phillies in 2025. Hogart rarely chases, and aggressive in the zone, but has real contact issues that will probably limit him long term. However, he he has done that while mostly facing right handed pitchers (and hitting .239/.379/.491 overall). He has mashed left handed pitching when he has had a chance, with a .302/.446/.674 line against southpaws in 56 PAs with 11 walks and 13 strikeouts. Primarily a corner outfielder, Hogart a has worked in some first base and projects as a bench platoon bat if he can continue to progress.
Pitcher Spotlight
LHP Mavis Graves
2 G 3 IP 2 H 2 ER 4 BB 7 K
When the Phillies bumped Graves up this week from Jersey Shore to Reading it came with a role change. Graves came out of the bullpen with seemingly a two inning stint in mind. His first appearance of the week was messy with wet conditions. His sweeping slider just did not have the bite or control needed and he was missing with his fastball. In his second appearance he struck out 5 of the 7 Rumble Ponies he faced, and his slider was moving like a frisbee. His velocity has not increased yet (he was sitting 90-93 with a 94), but there would be hope that with time he will throw a bit harder in these short stints. That will matter less for his fastball though, because as he showed in his second outing, his fastball is best not thrown and he should bury hitters under a deluge of offspeed. When he can land the slider for strikes, his arsenal opens up with his cutter and changeup able to expand the zone in multiple ways. Graves is Rule 5 eligible this offseason, and the with Andrew Walling’s injury there is not really any AAA left handed relief in front of him on the depth chart.
Notes and Thoughts
- Surprisingly still here after the deadline, Bryan Rincon had the good version of the typical Rincon week, hitting just .286 (6-21) but with two doubles, two home runs, and 6 walks. That brings him to 18 home runs, all as a left handed batter.
- Raylin Heredia got his two walks in this week before the change of month, giving him 5 in July. The power numbers have slowed down, but the home runs have not.
- It wasn’t a good month for Aroon Escobar, but he put up a solid 5-16 week and he has continued to keep the strikeouts down. He has a .381 OBP against lefties this year, which feels like it snuck up.
- Every time it looks like Francisco Renteria is headed for a slump he kicks it back up again. This week he went 8 for 22, but picked up 3 doubles and a pair of home runs. He did have two 2 strikeout games after walking more than he struck out in July. His 3 XBH game on Monday brought his OPS back up to 1.085 which is 4th in the league.
- Nelson Prieto hit just .259 over the first month on the season, but like many of his teammates he picked it up in July with a 1.087 OPS. He did much of his damage early in the week with back to back 3 hit games, but ended up with 3 doubles and a home run over his 4 starts. He has struck out a bit much, but has been hitting the ball very hard of late. His catching does need a bit of work, but he has looked quite interesting now that he is healthy.
- After his sojourn to the majors, Alex McFarlane settled into AAA by striking out 5 of the 7 batters he faced. His player of the month campaign was helped by only appearing in 7 games. He walked two in his first appearance and they were his only two of the month, to 14 strikeouts over the 8.1 innings.
- With Ramon Marquez out in San Francisco, the prospect watchers turn their eyes to Brad Pacheco, who isn’t quite the pitcher Marquez is, but still went 6 on 80 pitches with 1 walk and 7 strikeouts. On the season he has 16 walks to 85 strikeouts.
- After a bunch of starts with better control, Yilmar Samudio walked 4 in 4 innings while sitting 92-96. Those were the only base runners he allowed as he struck out 4 and passed a no-hitter down the line.
- It is now 10 home runs in 11 games in AA for Gage Wood, accounting for 25% of the hits against him. He wasn’t clean otherwise, but did get 8 strikeouts in 4.1 innings on a career high 84 pitches.
- Caden Bogenpohl made his pro debut with a loud double, but also struck out 4 times in 8 trips to the plate.
- Will Gasparino had a similar experience with a grand slam, but 3 strikeouts in his 5 plate appearances in his debut.
- He hasn’t been hitting for as much power has his teammates, but Edwin Ramirez has flown under the radar and really should hit for more power at some point soon. He is a solidly built left handed batter who has put a charge into some, but not enough in the air. This week he went 7 for 15 across 4 games with just a double, and continues to bat 3rd behind Parra and Renteria on days he plays.
Injuries and Transactions
- Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair traded for Luis Arraez and Caleb Kilian
- John Spikerman and Luke Gabrysh traded for Brooks Raley
- Nolan Hoffman traded for Manuel Colon
- Seth Johnson traded for Colby Thomas
- Scott Mudler (JS), Luis Caicuto (REA), Macon Winslow (CLW), Will Gasparino (CLW), Orlando Gonzalez (CLW), and Caden Bogenbohl (CLW) assigned to new levels
- Lou Albrecht, Joel Dragoo, and Sean Youngerman added to the Development List
- Mitch Neunborn and John Spikerman activated from the IL
- Saul Teran activated from Development List
- Jose Briceno moved to 60 day IL
- Carson DeMartini (CLW) began a rehab assignment
Links and Things
Minor Thoughts
Around the Web
- How the Phillies found Ramon Marquez, one of their top pitching prospects — and trade chips – Charlotte Varnes – The Athletic
- What Andrew Painter worked on in Triple A before rejoining the Phillies – Charlotte Varnes – The Athletic
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