Skip to main content

De Fratus and Team USA Cruising in Pan-Am Qualifiers

By
The United States' Pan American qualifying team is on a roll down in Puerto Rico. In 3 games of tournament action, Team USA is undefeated and has outscored their opponents 34-10. The top 8 squads in the 13-team tournament advance to the 2011 Pan American Games, while the team that finish in the top 6 also qualify for the 2011 International Baseball Federation World Cup.

USA's offense and pitching have been equally impressive in the early going. Combined, Team USA batters have posted a .393 batting average with 10 doubles, 3 triples, 4 homeruns and 31 RBI. Team USA pitchers have held opposing batters to a .193 batting average, have struck out 26 batters and allowed 4 walks and 5 earned runs in 25 innings.

Justin De Fratus

Justin De Fratus is the only Phillies prospect on Team USA. De Fratus, a right-handed reliever, has pitched just 1 1/3 innings, in which he allowed 1 unearned run in play thus far. In 49 games between High A level Clearwater and Double A level Reading this season, De Fratus posted a 3-0 record with 21 saves and a 1.94 ERA, while striking out 71 and walking just 11 batters in 65 innings pitched.

De Fratus, who will turn 23-years-old later this month, values the opportunity to represent his country and to gain experience playing beside individuals who are highly regarded prospects in their own organizations, including 4 players who participated in the MLB All-star Futures Game this year. "It's really (great) to be representing America. The guys are really cool. We have a good group that seems to be meshing really well together. Plus, they're all legit players," De Fratus told PhoulBallz.com exclusively this week.

The coaching staff for Team USA includes former Major Leaguers Ernie Young, Leon Durham and Jay Bell, as well as White Sox pitching coordinator Kirk Champion, former Blue Jays manager Carlos Tosca and Gulf Coast League Phillies manager Roly De Armas. De Fratus says the overall team atmosphere is relaxed, thanks to the coaching staff. "The coaches are awesome. They're pretty much just letting us play our game," De Fratus said.

Other Phillies prospects playing in the Pan American qualifying tournament are 20-year-old Julio Rodriguez on Team Puerto Rico, as well as 21-year-old Phillipe Aumont and 25-year-old Chris Kissock, who are both on Team Canada. All three are right-handed pitchers.

Team USA is back in action Tuesday evening at Roberto Clemente Stadium in Carolina, Puerto Rico against the Dominican Republic.

___________________________________________________

For unique stats, info and updates...follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter by clicking HERE.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

By
While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...
6 comments
Read more

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

By
**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...
5 comments
Read more

5th spot, Wall, Old timers, Links

By
The race for the Phillies' fifth starter spot is still on. While it's not fully fair to compare Grapefruit League stats, when some of the pitchers have had "B game" and scrimmage outings mixed in, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco look to be falling behind Chan Ho Park and "Jay" Happ. Happ added to his solid Grapefruit League stats (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 4 games) today against the Rays. Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been displeased with Kendrick even before he surrendered 8 earned runs in 3 innings of work yesterday against the Braves. Park has been working on improving his change up, with (Coach) Jamie Moyer. Park noticed Moyer's location control on his change, so he sought out Moyer to teach him the grip and positioning of the ball. Moyer, of course, feels good about helping anyone on the Phils' staff. Park has been coached by greats like Nolan Ryan with the Rangers and Sandy Koufax with the Dodgers, so Moyer is in great company. Park is working h...
5 comments
Read more