Skip to main content

Minor League Notebook: 4/29/13

Tops on the Phillies' developmental hot list is Double-A Reading Ace Jesse Biddle, who, in his last two outings, has thrown 13 scoreless innings, while allowing just two total hits and striking out 26 batters.  Overall this season, Biddle, who was the Phils' 1st round draft selection in 2010, has a 2-1 record with a 1.74 ERA and a .114 batting average against.

Last week, Biddle locked down a win against Harrisburg, when he struck out 16 and allowed only one hit and no runs over seven innings.

On Sunday, in Reading's 2-1 win over New Hampshire, the left-handed 21-year-old fanned 10 New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto affiliate).  The video clip below features Biddle striking out the side in the 5th inning and speaking to the media following his second consecutive tremendous effort. 



Also performing extremely well lately is Class A Advanced Clearwater third baseman Maikel Franco, who notched a two homer/seven RBI game on Friday and smacked another home run on Sunday.  In 23 games this season, Franco has posted a .296 average with 11 doubles, five homers and 25 RBI.

Triple-A Lehigh Valley slugger Darin Ruf collected four hits in five at bats on Sunday, including two doubles and two home runs while driving in five runs.  The big effort raised Ruf's batting average 39 points to .244 on the season.  It was a nice turnaround for the 26-year-old, who had gone hitless in his previous four games. 


Who's cold-

Clearwater reliever Colby Shreve let up five earned runs in 2/3 of an inning on Sunday.  In six outings this season, the 25-year-old right-hander has a 0-1 record with a 6.19 ERA while walking 12 and striking out 12 in 16 innings pitched.  Shreve was the Phillies 6th round draft choice in 2008.

Reading shortstop Edgar Duran is 0-for-25 in his last six games. This weak stretch has lowered the 22-year-old's batting average by 127 points. Duran, a native of Venezuela, was signed by the Phillies as an international free agent in 2007 at the age of 16.


Injury notes-

RHP Brody Colvin, is slated to return from the disabled list on Tuesday, when he'll return to the mound for Reading.  The 22-year-old has been sidelined since April 14th with a groin strain.  Through two starts this season, Colvin, who was the Phils' 7th round draft choice in 2009, posted a 1-0 record with a 3.97 ERA.

Reading left-hander Austin Wright began a throwing program on Thursday in Clearwater, after being sidelined with shoulder discomfort.  Wright, the Phillies' 8th round pick in 2011 out of the University of Mississippi, was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in two starts this year.  There is no precise time frame for a return, but the goal is to build Wright's pitch count up and make sure his shoulder is pain free before he faces hitters again.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PhoulBallz Interview: Reading second baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Switch-hitting infielder Jesmuel Valentin has been a bit of an underrated contributor with the Double-A Reading Fightins. Heading into action on Friday, Valentin was batting .339 over his last 14 games. Overall this season, the 22-year-old is batting .282 with four home runs and 35 RBI in 64 games. Valentin, who plays mostly second base, but dabbles at shortstop a bit also, is the son of former big leaguer Jose Valentin . The Puerto Rico native was a supplementary round pick (51st overall) of the Dodgers in 2012. He was acquired by the Phils as part of the Roberto Hernandez trade in 2014. Recently, I spoke with Jesmuel about his team's success, growing up around the game and more. Read ahead for that full interview. -The Reading team has been great and you've contributed very nicely to the club's success. What are your thoughts on competition in the Eastern League this year? I just came here with the mindset that...

2018 Phillies Prospect Countdown: #25 Second Baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Second baseman Jesmuel Valentin has become a solid contributor at each level he has played and could possess the ability to continue that success as he approaches the big leagues. Last year in spring training with the big league team Valentin proved he could contribute and earned consideration at making the Phillies opening day roster. His 2017 was cut short at the Triple-A level due to an injury in May, so he wasn't healthy for a call up during the season. But now, fully healthy and on the diamond in the Roberto Clemente League (the Puerto Rico Winter League), Valentin is hopeful he'll get another shot at his big league dream this year. Selected as the 51st overall draft pick in 2012, Valentin was quickly a well-hyped prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers system. Upon signing his initial professional contract fresh out of high school, the switch-hitter debuted in the rookie level Arizona League, posting a .211 average while...

Rappers in Phillies Caps

Weekend greetings to you phine pholks out there. Today's post features pictures of rappers wearing Phillies caps. Why rappers in Phillies caps, you ask? Because... Any other questions? We will start things off properly by going with a highly recognizable hip hop star. 50 Cent stays constantly relavant by consistantly creating radio friendly material to help sell (G) units, while he "keeps it real" by still rapping about the thug life he lived before becoming the 2nd highest earning black entertainer in America. 50 is seen here in a recent interview rocking a throw-back Phillies cap. Next up we'll use a throw-back screen cap from what may be the very first major appearance by a rapper wearing Phillies gear. Chuck D, of legendary rap group Public Enemy, wore a Phillies cap in the music video for rap anthem Fight The Power in 1989. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack for Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing . Next up we'll go with some home grown tal...