Phillies minor league stats and notes, 5/2/19

After nearly a month of minor league action, here is a rundown of some top names throughout the Phillies developmental ranks.  Some would be considered hot, while others are yet to warm up in the early stages of the long season.



Class A Lakewood BlueClaws (8-18 record, last place in SAL Northern Division)...

The team’s catchers have been contributors at the plate, each batting .300 or better.  Right-handed hitter Abrahan Gutierrez is batting .340 with three doubles and four RBI in 13 games while switch-hitter Rafael Marchan has a .310 average with six doubles and seven RBI in 17 games. Both backstops are natives of Venezuela.

Kevin Gowdy, image- Jay Floyd

Righty starter Kevin Gowdy has performed well for the BlueClaws, posting a 1.84 ERA with no decisions and a .140 batting average against through four starts.  He has, however, walked 13 while striking out 13 in 14 2/3 innings pitched.  Gowdy was the Phillies’ 2^nd round draft choice in 2016 and is competing in full-season ball for the first time after missing two seasons due to injury.

Well touted hurler Francisco Morales hasn’t shined too much in the early going.  The 19-year-old right-hander sports a 7.02 ERA through five appearances (three starts).  However, he has struck out an impressive 24 batters and walked nine in 16 2/3 innings in his first turn at full-season ball.

Infielder/outfielder Cole Stobbe is off to a slow start this season, as the righty batting 21-year-old has posted a .154 average with a homer and three RBI in 17 games.  Stobbe, the Phillies' 3rd round draft selection in 2016, has played third base, first base, second base and left field this year.

Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers (11-14 record, third place in Florida State League North Division)...

Madison Stokes, playing primarily first base this season, sports a .298 average and has notched seven doubles, a triple and three homers while driving in 13 runs in 22 games.  The righty hitting 23-year-old was a 10^th round pick last year out of South Carolina.

Left fielder Matt Vierling is batting .310 with three home runs, 10 RBI and six steals in 22 games.  The 22-year-old righty batter was the Phils’ 5^th round pick last year out of Notre Dame.   

Right-handed starter Spencer Howard has a 1-1 record with a 2.25 ERA and a 13.5 K/9 mark through four starts.  The 22-year-old was a 2^nd round pick of the Phillies in 2017.  Howard was ranked as the organization’s top prospect by this outlet heading into the 2019 season.

Damon Jones with Lakewood last year, image- Jay Floyd

Lefty Damon Jones is among the league leaders in ERA with a 0.77 mark through five outings.  The Phils’ 18^th round pick from 2017 has a 0-1 record with a .135 batting average against and a 13.9 K/9 mark for the Threshers.

Reliever Connor Brogdon has looked solid in relief for the Threshers.  The 24-year-old right-hander sports a 1-0 record with a 2.04 ERA, a .155 batting average against with a 10.2 K/9 mark in nine appearances.  Brogdon was a 10th round draft pick in 2017.

Double-A Reading Fightin Phils (12-10 record, third place in Eastern League Eastern Division)...

IF/OF Grenny Cumana has performed well offensively, tallying a .345 average with a double and four RBI in 11 games for Reading.  The 23-year-old righty hitting Venezuelan is listed at 5-foot-5 and 145 pounds.  He was promoted to Triple-A for a couple of games last week as well to fill the void left when Dylan Cozens was in the big leagues, but has since returned to the Fightins.

Outfielder Mickey Moniak sports a .195 batting average with five doubles, two triples, a pair of home runs, 11 RBI and two steals in 20 games.  The lefty batting 20-year-old was the first overall pick in the 2016 draft.  

Outfielder Adam Haseley in batting .188 with four doubles, two homers and six RBI in 18 games.  The 23-year-old  was drafted in the 1st round in 2017 out of Virginia.

Cornelius Randolph, the third of Reading's trio of first round outfielders, missed time with a hamstring strain this season.  Back in action now, as of Wednesday, the 21-year-old is batting .231 with three home runs and eight RBI in 11 games.  Randolph was the Phils' top pick in 2015.

Ramon Rosso has been excellent in Double-A thus far.  Through four starts, the 22-year-old Dominican has a 2-0 record with a 0.89 ERA, a .237 batting average against and an 11.5 K/9 mark.  The right-hander has notched scoreless appearances in four of his last six regular season outings dating back to last year, allowing just two total runs in those games.  

Luke Leftwich, image- Jay Floyd

Reliever Luke Leftwich has not allowed a run through nine appearances.  The 24-year-old righty has posted a 0.41 WHIP and a .023 batting average against and has a 1-0 record in the Eastern League this year.  He has struck out 22 and walked five in 14 2/3 innings.  Leftwich was a 7^th round draft pick in 2015 out of Wofford.

Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs (16-9 record, 2nd place in International League North division)...

Catcher Deivi Grullon is a force in the lineup this year for the ‘Pigs.  Through 17 games, the 23-year-old righty hitter has posted a .393 batting average with four doubles, four home runs and 18 RBI.  Last year the Dominican native was a Double-A All-Star and won the Eastern League’s All-Star Home Run Derby.

Andrew Romine leads the team in hits with 28.  The 33-year-old infielder sports a .341 average with three home runs and 14 RBI in 22 games.  Romine is currently enjoying an 11-game hitting streak.  

Through five starts, lefty pitcher Cole Irvin has a 2-0 record, a 1.82 ERA and a .265 batting average against.  The 25-year-old was the Phils’ 5^th round draft pick in 2016 and was an All-Star for the IronPigs last season.

Reliever Austin Davis is enjoying success this year with Lehigh Valley, sporting a 1.20 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP and a 10.8 K/9 mark in 10 minor league appearances. Davis spent time with the Phillies in the majors both this season as well as last season.  The left-hander was a 12^th round draft pick of the Phils in 2014.  

Since a demotion to the minor leagues, starting pitcher Nick Pivetta has notched a 1-0 record and has struck out 23 batters in 12 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .182 average over two starts.  In four big league starts this year, the 26-year-old tallied an 8.35 ERA.