Hewitt excited for fresh start, would not change a thing about time with Phils

Anthony Hewiit, image- Jay Floyd

Considered a bust by many for failing to live up to first round draft pick expectations during his tenure in the Phillies organization, Anthony Hewitt is looking for a fresh start with a new team after signing with Baltimore last week.

Selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2008 amateur draft out of Salisbury High School in Connecticut, Hewitt was selected as a shortstop and converted to an outfielder. He spent six seasons in the Phils developmental ranks and did not develop into the offensive threat that the team anticipated he could become.

After signing for $1.38 million, the six-foot-one 190-pounder went on the tally a .223/.264/.370 slash line in 595 career games, highlighted by an All-Star campaign for Class A Lakewood in 2011 in which he posted a .240 average with 14 home runs, 55 RBI and 36 steals in 119 games.

Last season, in his second campaign at Double-A Reading, Hewitt sported a .140 batting average with one homer and eight RBI through 34 games when he was demoted to Class A Advanced Clearwater. After heading south, Hewitt proceeded to strike out 15 times in 31 plate appearances before the Phillies decided to part ways with the once highly regarded prospect.

Despite the rocky road, the righty batting Hewitt asserts that he's pleased with his time and his efforts with the Phils.

"My time with the Phillies was a learning experience. I would not change a thing," Hewitt stated.

The 25-year-old indicated there were multiple teams interested in his services and is excited to start fresh with a new organization.

"My agent and I felt the Baltimore Orioles would be a perfect fit," Hewitt said. "I'm extremely thankful for the opportunity the Baltimore Orioles have given me and I'm happy to be a part of the Baltimore Oriole family."

Hewitt received a jolt due to the lengthy off-season which came as a result of being released in June last season, stating it was like no other off-season he had ever experienced. He spent the down time regrouping, making adjustments and training. The Brooklyn, NY native knew all the while that his playing days weren't over.

With new challenges ahead, the newest Orioles minor leaguer is already looking forward to seeing familiar faces during the upcoming spring schedule.

"I'm really looking forward to playing against the Phillies," Hewitt exclaimed.

Comments

Jealous Ones Envy

Joe Blanton continues to excel and prove his worth in the Phillies pitching rotation. In his latest outing on Sunday, Blanton threw 8 strong innings, striking out 6, while walking just 1 and surrendering 2 earned runs, improving his record to 7-4. This season in July, Joe is 3-0 over four starts with 22 K's, 5 walks and a 1.21 ERA. Over his last 6 starts, Joe's ERA is 1.94. As a member of the Phillies, Blanton has a 3.84 ERA after the all star break with a 5-0 record. The Phillies are 20-12 (.625 winning percentage) in games that Blanton has started, since being acquired last July. Combined this season against other National League playoff contenders St. Louis, Chicago and Los Angeles, Blanton has a combined 1.67 ERA in 4 starts with a 2-0 record. Blanton is on such a sizzling run that the Bowling Green Hot Rods, a Tampa Bay Rays farm team, will host a Joe Blanton bobble head give away tomorrow. Bowling Green will host Joe's mother, father and sister for the event, as Joe...

Heroes- Fight of the Century

VS. It's a big day for your boy, Jay Ballz . No work, X-Men Origins: Wolverine premieres, our Phillies face the Metropolitans for the first time this season and tailgating for BOTH doesn't sound all that absurd to me. Anyway, I surveyed some qualified phans and got several opinions on how exactly a fight might go down if the mutant hero Wolverine faced off against Phillies hero Matt Stairs. Well known blogger, Chris, of I've Made a Huge Tiny Mistake , kept it real and said the following- "Wolverine has adamantium ( indestructible metal substance) claws, so that's a great advantage. Stairs' Wonder Bat is neutralized there. See, the problem becomes Wolverine's ability to recover (he has a regenerative power) faster. Stairs is merely human. Sure, he has a goatee, and goatees are great, but they're great for saving sauce, not for defeating mutants. I think Wolverine takes it in a fight to the death in about 15 minutes because Stairs simply doesn'...

Sunday School: Phillies History Lesson 71

Gene Kelly was the radio voice of the Philadelphia Phillies from 1950- 1959. Born in Brooklyn NY, Kelly pitched in the minor leagues after graduating from Marshall College in 1941. He would soon experience arm trouble, which ended his playing days. Kelly managed to continue a career in sports by turning to radio. When legendary announcer By Saam, who pulled double duty beginning in 1939 calling both Phillies and Athletics games, moved over to the A's side exclusively, Gene Kelly was the man who would fill the void and took over as the Phillies play-by-play man. The Phillies began broadcasting their games over the air in 1936, but until the 1950's, the broadcasters only attended home games and did not travel with the team. All road games were recreated, on the air, by the announcers who read a Western Union teletype account of the games from the studio in Philadelphia. During the decade of the 50's, Kelly was partnered with several different broadcasters, including Claude Ha...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog