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.

Jersey Shore clinches playoff berth on final day of regular season

Ottto Kemp, image- Jay Floyd With an extra-inning victory over first-half division champions Hudson Valley on Sunday, the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws clinched the team's first playoff appearance since 2018, winning the second-half division title. Key performers in the BlueClaws' clincher were righty hurler Jason Ruffcorn, who threw three innings of relief to earn the victory and third baseman Otto Kemp, notched three hits, a walk, two stolen bases and plated the game winning run in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly. On top of that, Kemp, who turned 24-years-old on Saturday, made an absolute game-saving defensive play to help the club hold their lead in the bottom of the 11th frame. One of Jersey Shore's most consistent performers all season long has been right-handed reliever Cam Wynne. The Phillies' 20th round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska. In 34 appearances, one start, the 24-year-old tallied a 1-1 record with one save, a 2.44 ERA and a .190 batti

PhoulBallz Interview: BlueClaws OF Justin Crawford

Justin Crawford w/ junior reporter Evan At the age of 19, outfielder Justin Crawford has played his way into the conversation of being considered as one of baseball's top prospects. The son of four-time MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, Justin has looked every bit as impressive as his position as the 17th overall draft selection last year would have most fans thinking he should be. He opened the season with Class A Clearwater where, in 69 games, he notched a .344/.399/.478 slash line. And since mid-August when he was promoted to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, the younger Crawford has posted a .300/.364/.440 line. He's also stolen 44 bases in 52 attempts overall. And while the BlueClaws enter the final week of the regular season 1/2 game out of first place in their division, I spoke with Justin Crawford about the team's hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2018. I also asked Justin about the similarities and differences between his skillset and his father'

RHP Pipkin headed to AFL after hot August

After completing what was easily the best month of his career, righty hurler Dominic Pipkin is ready to face the tough competition of the prominent Arizona Fall Leage. Pipkin, who was the Phillies' 9th round draft selection in 2018, has had moderate success in his five years as a pro, posting a 4.93 ERA, a 7.6 K/9 mark and a .260 batting average against mostly at the lower levels on the minors. After missing time this year with an unspecified ailment, the six-foot-four 170-pounder proved to be healthy as he dominated AA competition in nine appearances with the Reading Fightin Phils during August. Pipkin's impressive production resulted in a 1-0 record with a save and a 0.96 ERA while striking out eight and walking three in 9 1/3 innings. The California native says his efforts to improve have helped him touch 100 MPH on the radar gun, while his fastball velocity is mostly around 96 MPH. Pipkin's arsenal includes that improved fastball as well as a slider while his curve

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