Minor League Hot List: Bogusevic, Nola, Leibrandt, Tocci, Crawford notes

We're back at it with another rundown of all the top performers from the Phillies' developmental ranks.

Triple-A Lehigh Valley-

OF Brian Bogusevic currently sports a seven-game hitting streak and is batting .346 during that stretch. The 31-year-old is hitting .310 with a home runs and five RBI through 21 games this season. Bogusevic batted .306 in 22 spring games with the Phillies this year.

Infielder Chase d'Arnaud is batting .324 and has four multi-hit games in nine games played this year. The righty batting 28-year-old is the older brother of former Phils prospect Travis d'Arnaud.

Double-A Reading Fightins-

Righty starter Ben Lively has a 2-0 record with a 2.16 ERA while striking out 24 and walking seven in 25 innings over four starts thus far this season. The 23-year-old struck out nine while allowing three earned runs in six innings when he notched his second win of the season on Sunday. Lively was acquired last off-season from the Reds in the trade for Marlon Byrd.

Infielder Gustavo Pierre is 9-for-17 (.529 avg) in his last six games. The 23-year-old Dominican is batting .281 with two homers, three RBI and three steals in 17 games this year. Pierre was acquired from Toronto in a deal for John Mayberry Jr. last year.

After giving up four earned runs over 4 2/3 innings in his season debut, last year's top draft pick Aaron Nola has allowed three earned runs in 20 innings (1.35 ERA). Overall, the 21-year-old has a 2-2 record with a 2.55 ERA and a .222 batting average against in four starts.

Class A Advanced Clearwater-

Last year's sixth round draft pick Brandon Leibrandt has a 2-1 record along with a 1.74 ERA while striking out 28 and walking six in 31 innings through five starts. The 22-year-old lefty is also holding opponents to a .185 batting average against.

Catcher/DH Andrew Knapp has a six-game hitting streak during which he's batting .375. Overall, the 2nd round pick from 2013 is batting .280 with four doubles, three triples and 11 RBI in 22 games.

In an additional note, shortstop prospect J.P. Crawford will be activated from the disabled list (oblique strain) this week for the Threshers. The 20-year-old expects to be in their lineup on Wednesday after competing steadily for the extended spring training team for the past week.

Class A Lakewood-

Righty reliever Matt Hockenberry had his streak of seven scoreless appearances to open the season interrupted on Sunday when he notched his South Atlantic League leading sixth save. Overall, the 23-year-old Temple University product has a 0.75 ERA and a .158 batting average against to go along with no decisions this season.

Outfielder Carlos Tocci has recorded four straight multi-hit games. Through 23 contests this season, the 19-year-old Venezuelan is batting .400 (league best) with a homer, 12 RBI and nine steals.

First baseman Rhys Hoskins has a nine-game hitting streak during which he has tallied a .417 average. In 23 games for the BlueClaws, last year's 5th round draft choice is batting .345 with four home runs and 15 RBI.

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...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog