Last Week’s Schedule
Lehigh Valley (1-2) @ Rochester (2-1): (Tuesday-Friday postponed, DH Sunday) W 5-4, W 4-3, L 4-7
Reading (0-0) @ Bowie (0-0): W 5-2, L 1-19, L 3-4
Jersey Shore (0-0) vs Aberdeen (0-0): W 3-2, W 7-6, L 1-4
Clearwater (0-0) @ Bradenton (0-0): W 5-2, W 13-2, L 0-4
*All teams except for Lehigh Valley played a 3 game series starting on Friday 4/5
This Week’s Schedule
Lehigh Valley (3-3) vs Durham (3-6)
Reading (1-2) vs Portland (0-1)
Jersey Shore (2-1) @ Hickory (0-3)
Clearwater (2-1) vs Fort Myers (2-1)
Hitter Spotlight
4-7 3B HR 3 RBI 1 BB 1 K
Nava played in two out of three games this weekend in his third trip to Jersey Shore. He is only 22 and missed essentially all of 2020 and 2021 to injury and pandemic after being a hot name back in 2019. He is still learning the defensive side better, but he hit .291/.339/.473 with Adelaide this winter, and was a double short of the cycle in his first appearance. Nava is a switch hitter, with the strikeout coming from the right side and the rest from the left vs right handed pitching. He probably is not more than an offensive oriented second catcher, but he is going to get a chance to earn his way through the org.
Pitcher Spotlight
RHP George Klassen
1 GS – 5 IP – 1 H – 0 R – 0 ER – 0 BB – 9 K
Klassen didn’t pitch after signing in 2023, so on Saturday he made his pro debut, and it was a good one. He set down 12 in a row before a leadoff double in the 5th inning, but managed to escape without allowing the run. His fastball was 97-98 early and 96-97 over his last two innings, and he peaked at 99.8 mph. He primarily threw a low 90s cutter as his secondary pitch, but threw an 85mph and 86 mph curveball. He only threw 67 pitches in his 5 innings of work and only a few pitches were non-competitive. Hitters were unable to square up his fastball and he was painting the corners with it. He used his cutter in on lefties, and as a chase on bottom away to righties. Given his control difficulties in college, it was about as impressive an appearance as could be expected, even with positive spring reports. Given how his velocity held up, there is no reason to contemplate moving him out of the rotation any time soon. If Klassen wasn’t already an appointment check in prospect for you already, he should be now.
Notes and Thoughts
- The Phillies were able to get something for Connor Brogdon, which was sort of surprising. Benony Robles reportedly throws into the mid to high 90s with a sweeper, cutter, and changeup. He struck out a bunch of batters last year, but command may be an issue. He is big and long and sort of the kind of pitcher the Phillies acquire. He is a pending minor league free agent, which is likely why he was available, but also the Phillies will want to make decisions quickly.
- Jose Rodriguez, who the Phillies acquired Friday night, definitely has some interesting tools, but he looks like a project that is on a current downswing. He is going to build an approach and probably improve defensively enough to stand at shortstop in order to be a utility infielder type. MLB Pipeline put him in the back of their top 30, I think that is probably a bit aggressive for someone with his certain set of flaws. However, it cost them cash and they had an open 40 man spot, so it is a good move. He will join a Reading team that is not light on guys with power but questionable approach or contact questions.
- The Threshers played the complex team earlier in the week with the complex team going out ahead 2-0, though they did use their ringer Orion Kerkering for an inning. Wilmer Blanco is a name to watch, threw his fastball 92-94 with great ride. Alexis De La Cruz flashed solid stuff, but was more inconsistent. Eduardo Tait made easy hard contact.
- I know it would be unfair to Rochester, but they should probably not host series in the first few weeks of the season.
- Gabriel Rincones Jr. was 2-11 on the weekend, but both hits were home runs.
- Jake Eddington was all over the board in his pro debut. There is a sinker-sweeper type pitcher in there and the Marauders did not seem to have a good idea on his sinker, but both the command and stuff were kind of chaotic.
- Sunday game 1 was not a great showing by the Phillies prospect pitchers. Griff McGarry was mostly good statistically, but his fastball was 92-94. Mick Abel was a mess command wise and was also mostly 92-94. It was a really messed up first week for the IronPigs as they were rained out 4 days in a row and then had a double header, but still not what you want to see.
- An opposite start for Tyler Phillips who also had his velocity slightly down and gave up 7 runs in 3.2 innings. He did miss 10 bats, primarily on his curveball.
- Reading’s disastrous game 2 had a lot of problems, but it is probably safe to sort of push Andrew Baker down the bullpen pecking order for now.
- Kehden Hettiger’s home run was on an easy and pretty swing, and while the exit velocity wasn’t spectacular, it was the kind of trajectory that is going to do him well.
- William Bergolla went 4-12 (4-4) in game 2, and looks like he might be hitting the ball slightly harder.
- Hendry Mendez was 4-8 in his 2 games with 2 walks and a strikeout. Oliver Dunn would look real helpful right now, but they have been very positive about Mendez.
- Mavis Graves had his velocity up a little bit in his full season debut, sitting 92-94 and touching 95. He has two interesting breaking balls and a changeup. More importantly, only 2 walks on the appearance.
- 2023 19th Round pick Casey Steward was 94-96 T97 in his two innings on Sunday. That is up from last year. He got a bunch of misses on a sweepy slider and has a harder cutter/slider as well (same breaking ball combination as a lot of pitchers in the org now)
Links and Things
Minor Thoughts
Videos and Tweets
McGarry and Abel struggling is worrisome a little. I feel they are becoming more hype than actual prospect.
Nah…Abel is a prospect but prob not a super star….Kid came straight from highschool and is progressing pretty well. Love to see this site up and running Wink