Minor League Notebook: Injuries, Signings and Stats

Mario Hollands

Lefty hurler Mario Hollands, who is on the disabled list for the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, is not currently ailing and is spending time with the Phils’ extended spring training team until further notice. Pitching at four levels of the organization’s developmental system last season, the 24-year-old posted a 7-9 record with a 4.55 ERA and a .282 batting average against in 27 outings (18 starts).

Right-handed reliever Kenny Giles, who also opened the 2013 season on the disabled list for the Threshers, is dealing with an oblique strain. There is no known time frame for the Phillies’ 2011 7th round draft selection's return. Last season, with Class A Lakewood and Clearwater, the 22-year-old tallied a 4-3 record with eight saves, a 3.51 ERA and a 12.18 K/9 mark in 39 contests.

Left-handed starting pitcher Nick Hernandez made his official return to the mound for the Threshers on Tuesday evening. Out since 2010 with repeated shoulder injuries, the 24-year-old had a very good outing for Clearwater, throwing five innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on five hits while surrendering four walks and striking out five opposing batters. Hernandez, the nephew on MLB umpire Angel Hernandez, was a mid-season South Atlantic League All-Star with Lakewood in 2010, when he went 3-1 with a 1.61 ERA in eight outings prior to being sidelined.

Outfielder Zach Collier is off to a considerably slow start offensively with the Double-A Reading Fightins. Through six games, the 22-year-old former supplementary 1st round draft pick (2008) has gone 1-for-23 (.043 avg). The Long Beach, CA native played this past off-season in the Arizona Fall League, where he performed quite well, posting a .371 average with four home runs.

Roman Quinn

The error count for Lakewood shortstop Roman Quinn continues to grow. In the BlueClaws’ 6-3 loss against South Atlantic League Northern division rival Hagerstown, the Phillies’ highly regarded speedster, who had three miscues in a recent contest on Sunday, botched a throw on Tuesday to bring his season total to six errors in six games. Quinn offered a bit of redemption on Tuesday, though, as he laced a stand up inside-the-park home run that helped display what's made him such a highly touted prospect.

Phillies 2011 1st round draft pick Larry Greene Jr. opened the season with the organization's extended spring training team due to fitness reasons. According to Lakewood manager Mickey Morandini, the decision to keep Greene in Florida was strictly to allow the 20-year-old an opportunity to lose weight before he makes his season debut.

Former Phillies infield prospect Stephen Malcolm is slated to play independent ball. The Phils’ 8th round draft pick from 2010, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Tuesday, will take the field for the Grand Prairie (TX) AirHogs of the America Association Baseball League. Malcolm, a California native, batted .160 in 54 contests last year with the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters and the Lakewood BlueClaws.

Another former Phils prospect playing indy ball is Brian Gump. The UC Santa Barbara product was released by the Phillies in spring training a year ago and tried his hand at pitching after previously playing mostly outfield as a pro. In 2012 combined with the San Rafael Pacifics and the St. Paul Saints, Gump posted a 5-4 record with a 3.07 ERA in 15 games. This year, Gump is headed north of the boarder to play for the Trois-Rivieres Aigles, a Quebec team partially owned by former Cy Young Award winner Eric Gagne and professional hockey star Marc-Andre Bergeron, in the Can-Am League. Former Phillie Pete LaForest is set to be the team's inaugural manager.

Lidge Shaky, T-Mac Honored in Trenton

TRENTON, NJ- Brad Lidge made his second rehab appearance for the Double A Reading Phillies on Thursday night and it didn't go as well as the veteran reliever or the team had hoped. Lidge struggled with his command and turned in a rather poor outing for the club that entered the night in a playoff race, 1 game behind division rival Trenton for the Wild Card spot in the Eastern Division. On the disabled list since spring training with a strained right rotator cuff, Lidge experienced an elbow strain when he was working back from that issue in late May. In his outing against the Yankees affiliate in Trenton, Lidge displayed difficulty with his control as he threw three wild pitches, hit two batters, walked another and gave up a single, all while letting up two earned runs on 28 pitches in 2/3 of an inning. After the disappointing performance, Lidge was composed and focused on some positive aspects, having reached 89 and 90 MPH on scouts' radar guns, according to some reports. ...

Jason Knapp Q&A

PhoulBallz .com was fortunate enough to meet with Phillies prospect Jason Knapp just one day after he caught the attention of the baseball world with his 7 shut out innings, 14 strike out performance against the Indians' Lake County team. - I asked Jason, the Lakewood BlueClaw , for some thoughts about his big game... I had pretty good command of three pitches (fastball, curve, change up). I was on the same page with my catcher, D'Arnaud , and I ended up, ya know, I felt pretty good. - In a great performance like that, how much credit goes to Travis D'Arnaud , the catcher? More than you might expect, definitely. I didn't shake him off once. He told me what to throw and I do what I'm told. And if it works out, a lot of the credit goes to the catcher. - Does the lack of run support (Lakewood has scored 3 total runs in his 3 starts), in your few starts, increase your stress level, or enhance your focus? No, I just try to go out and do my job every outing. Ya know, we...

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

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...

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