Notes from Phils fall instructs

Subscribers of my Patreon site have gotten some details from the Phillies' Fall Instructs in recent days.

The Florida Instructional League is an annual month-long off-season combine that will feature workouts as well as practices and regularly pits players from different organizations against one another in exhibition games. This year's version in a pandemic impacted world won't see different teams facing one another, but the Phillies' players will see exhibition competition, as the organization is slated to have some intrasquad games in the coming weeks.

Players that are currently in Clearwater, FL seeing some long overdue time on the field include this year's first round draft selection Mick Abel. The high school hurler inked a deal for over $4 million dollars after being taken with the 15th overall pick in June.

Francisco Morales, image- Jay Floyd

Highly touted Venezuelan pitcher Francisco Morales is also in attendance. The 20-year-old right-hander entered the 2020 season as the organization's 3rd ranked prospect. He competed at Class A Lakewood last season and would have been part of the Class A Advanced Clearwater staff to open the season this year, if the season would have happened.

Righty Joel Cesar is also in Clearwater. He's the player-to-be-named-later that the Phils acquired from the Pirates in the deal for Austin Davis. The 24-year-old has pitched as high as the Double-A Eastern League, with Altoona, in 2019.

Other well known pitchers participating in Phils fall instructs include Bailey Falter, Nick Fanti, Erik Miller, Dom Pipkin, Ben Brown and Jack Perkins.

Outfielder Matt Vierling, who saw some action with the big league club in spring training this year, is in attendance. Vierling, a Notre Dame product, was the Phillies' 5th round draft pick in 2018. The righty batting 24-year-old would have been part of the Double-A Reading Fightins this year.

Simon Muzziotti, Jhailyn Ortiz, Johan Rojas and Baron Radcliffe are also among the outfielders taking part in instructs.

Promising infielders Kendall Simmons, Luis Garcia, Jamari Baylor and Jonathan Guzman are all in attendance as well.

Edgar Cabral, Herbert Iser and Andrick Nava are among the catchers present.

For the complete roster of players, have a look at my instructs post over on Patreon. Subscribers get access to exclusive interviews and early access to other news and notes from the Phillies developmental ranks.

Comments

Sunday School: Phillies History Lesson 73

Danny Ozark was the Phillies' manager from 1973-1979. During his tenure as the team's general, Ozark led Philadelphia to three straight division titles. In his playing days, Ozark was a first baseman, who was a career minor leaguer in the Dodgers system. When Ozark took over the team in 1973, the Phillies were fresh off 5 consecutive losing seasons and 3 straight last place finishes. During his first season in charge, the Phillies would again finish in last place, 20 games under .500, but as his core of young talent, like Mike Schmidt and Larry Bowa, developed, the Phillies' win totals rose. Within 2 years, the Phillies were above .500 and in the playoff hunt until late in the season and the most successful era of Phillies history was about to begin. By 1976, the Phillies were headed to the post-season for the first time since 1950. The Phils would enjoy a 10-game lead over their nearest division rival at the midway point of the season. Despite a lul, which saw their lead d...

PhoulBallz Interview: First round pick Bryson Stott

Bryson Stott, image- Jay Floyd Shortstop Bryson Stott , the Phillies' first round draft selection this year, has enjoyed a successful initial pro campaign. En route to being recognized as an All-Star for the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters the 21-year-old UNLV product has tallied a .295 average with six home runs and 25 RBI in 45 minor league contests. Last week I spoke with the lefty hitting Stott to discuss his transition to professional baseball, joining the Phillies organization and plenty more. Read ahead for that interview. -Obviously, your performance and the production on the field is going well, but how do you feel you have adapted to the pro life? It feels good. You hear about the everyday grind, but you don't really believe it till you feel it. I would say that's the difference between college and the pros, is you're not practicing, you're playing games every day. I would say that's the biggest difference. But I...

Velasquez shut down, Eflin on deck?

Eflin with Reading in 2015, image- Jay Floyd Following Vincent Velasquez leaving his start after just two pitches for the Phillies on Wednesday, righty prospect Zach Eflin was pulled from his start for Triple-A Lehigh Valley at Gwinnett. The 22-year-old sports a 5-1 record with a 3.14 ERA and a .210 batting average against in 10 starts for the IronPigs this season. He could take the place of Velasquez if he is required to miss any additional time. Initial word on Velasquez after he threw two fastballs that clocked in the 86-87 MPH range (considerably slower than the 94 MPH he averages) and was swiftly pulled from his outing, is that he has a biceps strain. He'll be further evaluated in the coming days. Prior to the regular season, Eflin got a taste of competing against big leaguers when he was charged with 12 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits while striking out two and walking one with a wild pitch in three innings of work in an intrasquad exhibition that pitted the Phils...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog