Seven Phils prospects headed to prestigious Arizona Fall League

Mickey Moniak, image- Jay Floyd

Arizona Fall League rosters were announced this week and the Scottsdale roster is slated to feature some of the Phillies' most exciting prospects.

Set to represent the Phils in the prestigious off-season league that is operated by Major League Baseball are outfielder Mickey Moniak, right-handed pitchers Spencer Howard and Connor Seabold, corner infielder Alec Bohm, shortstop Nick Maton along with left-handed hurler JoJo Romero.

A previously unannounced representative from the Phillies organization that is set to see action with the Scorpions is lefty reliever Zach Warren.

Howard, who was ranked by this outlet as the Phils' top prospect headed into this season, has reached Double A Reading and will likely start game one of the Eastern League divisional playoffs this coming Wednesday. He missed time earlier this season with a shoulder strain. In 13 combined regular season starts with Class A Advanced Clearwater and Reading, the 23-year-old has tallied a 3-1 record with a 1.78 ERA and an 11.8 K/9 mark.

Howard, the Phils' 2nd round pick in 2017 is ready for the opportunity to shine even brighter and is pleased to get the chance to do so beside six teammates from his own organization.

"It kind of feels like college summer ball," said Howard after the Fightin Phils clinched the Eastern League's Eastern Division second half title on Friday. "It does feel more like home when you know you've got a group of guys that you're going with. I'm excited."

Moniak, who was the top overall selection in the 2016 draft, has made an impact for Reading as well. The 21-year-old lefty batter sports a .252/.302/.440 slash line in 117 games this season. Moniak is tops in the league in triples with 13 and is also among the league leaders in RBI, runs as well as hits.

The talented center fielder welcomes the chance to play in a league where many of the elite names in the game sharpened their skills on their paths to the top level of the sport.

"It's a huge honor and just getting selected to be a part of the guys that the Phillies send is something that's really special for me," Moniak stated. "And having guys like Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, (Ronald) Acuna, (Pete) Alonso and seeing guys go through that league and make a big impact at the big league level a very short period of time after they go through that whole experience of playing in Arizona is definitely something that's exciting and I'm just looking to go out there and continuing my development into becoming the best baseball player that I can be and just getting ready to help out the Phillies as soon as possible."

Seabold, the Phillies' 3rd round pick from 2017, opened the season on the disabled list, missing time with an apparent oblique issue. In eight combined appearances with Clearwater and Reading, the 23-year-old sports a 3-1 record with a 1.93 ERA and an 8.8 K/9 mark.

Bohm opened the season with Class A Lakewood, was promoted to Clearwater before the end of April and joined Reading's roster in June. In 122 combined games the Phils' top draft pick from 2018 has posted a .306 average with 20 home runs and 77 RBI.

Maton, the Phils' 7th round draft choice in 2017, has split his time this year with Clearwater and Reading also. In 112 games, the 22-year-old is batting .267 with seven homers, 50 RBI and 12 stolen bases.

Romero has had an up and down season, figuratively and literally, opening his 2019 campaign with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and moving down to Reading after some struggles, then earning a promotion back to Lehigh Valley once he corrected some concerns. The 22-year-old has a 7-9 record with a 5.82 ERA and a 7.4 K/9 mark in 24 total starts.

Warren, who was a 14th rounder in 2017, has spent the entire campaign with Clearwater this year. The Vineland, NJ native has tallied a 1-3 record with seven saves, a 3.30 ERA and a .199 batting average against.

Phillies prospects will be joined by players from the Mets, Braves, Blue Jays and Giants to make up the Scorpions roster. The AFL opens play on September 18th.

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'

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

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he's taken at

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog