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| Austin Hyatt with Reading in 2011 |
The 25-year-old struggled considerably last season, as he posted a 2-7 record with a 6.33 ERA over 11 games as member of the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs' starting rotation. Following a demotion to Double-A Reading, Hyatt's output improved, as he tallied an 8-5 record along with a 4.62 ERA in 16 outings, but he wasn't as sharp as he had been in the same league a season earlier..
Following a solid full season with Reading (12-6, 3.85 ERA, 9.97 K/9) in 2011, Hyatt was ranked among the organization's top 20 prospects by PhilliesNation.
With promising young hurlers like Adam Morgan, Ethan Martin, Jonathan Pettibone and last year's Paul Owens Award winner Tyler Cloyd holding down rotation spots for Lehigh Valley, there simply didn't seem to be room for Hyatt.
The six-foot-three 205-pound Hyatt, a Georgia Tech product, was a 15th round draft choice in 2009.
The release of Hyatt came on the same day the Phillies also released right-handed pitcher Jordan Whatcott and backstop John Hill.
