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The Fall Classic is set to get underway on Friday with the Phillies opening on the road to take on the Astros in a best-of-seven series. This year marks 75 years since the first time a World Series was televised and this year each game will be broadcast on the FOX television network.  ESPN will have the radio broadcast and that feed can be streamed by using this link . Game 1 Friday, 8:03pm Eastern....in Houston.  RHP Aaron Nola (11-13, 3.25 ERA) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (18-4, 1.75 ERA).  In 16 road starts during the regular season this year, Nola notched a 5-9 record with a 3.00 ERA.  Nola has struck out 18 and walked three in 17 1/3 innings pitched this postseason.  Earlier this month, Nola tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings at Houston.  In 15 home starts during the regular season, Verlander sported a 10-1 record with a 1.64 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP.  Verlander has a 5.68 ERA and has not recorded a win in seven career World Series starts.  Verlander has 11 starts allowing one run or fewer in

The day after the Phillies signed their interim manager to a two-year contract extension, the team will open the best-of-five playoff series in National League East Division winning Atlanta. On Monday the Phils made a clear vote of confidence when they gave skipper Rob Thomson the job for years to come.  On Tuesday, the team sends 27-year-old Ranger Suarez to the mound to battle Braves ace Max Fried to open the National League Division Series.  The Phils earned their way to the series by notching a pair of victories over the Cardinals in the Wild Card round this past weekend. Details on pitching match ups and other key notes from this series are ahead... Tuesday, 1:07pm Eastern...LHP Ranger Suarez (10-7 record, 3.65 ERA) vs. LHP Max Fried (14-7 record, 2.48 ERA).   Suarez has a 2.81 ERA in six daytime outings this season.  In five starts against the Braves this year, the Venezuela native, Suarez, tallied a 1-2 record with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.  Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson is

October 7th, 2011. 11 years ago. That was the last time the Phillies played a postseason game. Here's what else was happening at that time... The number one song in the United States was Moves Like Jaggar, by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera.   The Philadelphia Eagles had a 1-3 record and their starting quarterback was Michael Vick. The funeral of Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., took place on that date. Mookie Betts, a 5th round draft pick of the Red Sox earlier that year, turned 18 years old.  He had played in just one professional game at that point. Real Steel, starring Hugh Jackman, was the top film at the U.S. box office that week as well as the week that followed. For video gamers, the PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 consoles were all the rage. TV Guide's issue at this time featured a cover story about Ted Danson joining the cast of CSI. Current Phillies ace hurler and game 1 starter Zack Wheeler was 620 days away from making his Major League debut and had not pitch

Baron Radcliff, image- Jay Floyd Lefty batting outfielder Baron Radcliff has been on a roll of late for the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws. In seven August contests thus far, the 23-year-old is batting .375 with a home run, nine RBI and four walks.  The son of former pro baseball player Vic Radcliff and D1 basketball standout Nikki Keyton Radcliff, Baron was the Phillies' 5th round draft selection out of Georgia Tech in 2020. Listed at six-feet-four, 228 pounds Radcliff projects as a power hitter and at the plate he resembles a familiar Phillies slugger, namely Ryan Howard.  Recently, I spoke with Baron about his approach at the dish, his offensive battles, learning from his parents, hobbies and plenty more. Read ahead for excerpts from that interview and visit my page on Patreon to support my work and access the complete version of this piece along with so much more exclusive content.  - Your pose when you step to the plate, how often do you hear about who that remind

With the 17th overall selection in the 2022 MLB amateur draft, the Phillies chose high school outfielder Justin Crawford. The 18-year-old is the son of four-time big league All-Star Carl Crawford.   Listed at six-feet-three, 175-pound, Justin Crawford is a lefty batting outfielder, who projects as a top-of-the order speedster.  A graduate of well renowned Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, NV, the talented prospect is committed to play collegiate baseball at Louisianna State.   Crawford was ranked as the top high school player in Nevada and placed among the top three outfielders in the country. The elder Crawford led the American League in stolen bases four times in his career and exceed 45 steals in a season seven times, tallying 480 big league steals.  The younger Crawford jokes that he is faster than his dad. Big time speed with excellent defense, solid barrel control and a projectable frame are what make this the right pick for the Phillies. Not to be forgotten is the family t

Eight years after he initially signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and a five-year stretch playing away from affiliated ball, Bubby Rossman became a major leaguer on Wednesday. Added as a substitute for pitcher Kyle Gibson, who is restricted from travel to Canada for the Phillies' series in Toronto, due to his medical inability to be vaccinated from COVID-19, Rossman took the mound for the first time in the majors. Rossman, who was a 22nd round draft selection in 2014 had pitched in 200 professional games before his one-inning outing in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. In 27 appearances with Double-A Reading this year, the 30-year-old right-hander has performed well, tallying a 2-2 record with a save, a 3.32 ERA and a .200 batting average against.   The embedded video below features a media session with Rossman from prior to opening day this year, in which the California native discusses his journey through independent baseball and back to affiliated ball wi

Taken with the Phillies' second round draft pick (49th overall) last year, outfielder Ethan Wilson has landed among the top prospects in the organization. A co-freshman of the year in 2019, with South Alabama, Wilson has been on the radar of some big league teams for quite a while.  In his junior season last year, Wilson batted .313 with seven home runs and 30 RBI.  When his collegiate season was through, the lefty hitter quickly debuted in the minors.   In 30 games with Class A Clearwater last year, Wilson tallied a .215 average with three homers, 17 RBI and two steals. Listed at six-foot-one, 210-pounds, Wilson opened the 2022 campaign with Class A Advanced Jersey Shore.  The 22-year-old has been slow to start offensively, but confidence and poise are not a problem for this strong, promising individual. On the base paths, Wilson is quick and can contribute with his feet.  Defensively, the Alabama native will likely play left or right field moving forward.  Possessing an ability t

Righty hitting outfielder Yhoswar Garcia is a Phillies prospect on the rise. Reportedly signed in 2020 for a $2.5 million bonus, the six-foot tall 150-pounder has played state side in Florida. Debuting as a pro in Class A Clearwater last summer, Garcia notched a .229/.299/.271 slash line with 11 steals through 18 contests. Repeating the same level to open this season, Garcia has produced improved offensive numbers in the early going. Equipped with plus speed, Garcia is a threat to swipe a bag anytime he reaches base.  Through 14 games with the Threshers this season, the 20-year-old has pilfered 13 bases. Exceptionally skilled in the field, the Venezuelan is said to tout considerable range and a is as solid in centerfield as you can find at his level. Playing every day on a full-season club is just what a talented, athletic youngster with the skillset Garcia possesses will benefit most from.   Please visit  Patreon.com/PhoulBallz  in order to support my work and get access to exclusive

An All-Star in 2019 with the short-season Class-A Williamsport Crosscutters,  Kendall Simmons  is one of the Phillies' most promising prospects.   Simmons, an outstanding and multi-positional infielder, was the Phillies' 6th round draft pick in 2018. That year, he made his professional debut in the Rookie level Gulf Coast League, posting a .234 average with three homers and 11 RBI in 32 games. The right-handed batter tallied a .234 batting average with 12 homers, 34 RBI and five stolen bases in 51 games with Williamsport in 2019.  In the 2020-2021 off-season, Simmons played in the Australian Baseball League, making up for some of the time missed due to the cancelled 2020 season.  In 21 games with Adelaide, he notched a .172 batting average with a home run, seven RBI and three steals.  Last year, Simmons played primarily with Class A Clearwater.  With the Threshers, he recorded a .226/.321/.460 slash line in 41 games.  Listed at six-feet-two, 180 pounds, strength and athleticism

Moore, image- Jay Floyd Acquired this spring in a deal that sent outfielder Adam Haseley to the White Sox, righty pitcher McKinley Moore joined the Phillies organization and quickly garnered attention as a promising relief option for the future. Listed at six-feet-six, 225-pounds, Moore has an imposing, sluggerish frame.   A 14th round draft selection by the Chi Sox in 2019 out of Arkansas-Little Rock, Moore signed quickly and made his minor league debut that same year.  In 22 relief appearances in Rookie ball, Moore collected a 4.84 ERA, a .264 batting average against and three saves. In 2021, he split his season with Class A Kannapolis and Class A Advanced Winston Salem.  In 37 combined appearances, Moore tallied a 2-2 record with nine saves, a 4.20 ERA and a .234 batting average against. He also held his own in the prestigious Arizona Fall League last year, where he posted a 4.22 ERA while striking out nine and walking five in 10 2/3 innings pitched.   Considered as a flame thrower,

Several months removed from his big league debut,  Kyle Dohy  hopes to build on a strong 2021 campaign and return to the top level of the sport to stay. A 16th round draft selection out of Citrus Community College in 2017, Dohy was quickly signed by the Phils and began his professional career that year in the Class A short-season New York-Penn League. In 13 appearances with Williamsport that year, as a 20-year-old, Dohy posted a 2-1 record with a 3.60 ERA and a .182 batting average against in 13 appearances.  Additionally, he would strike out 22 and walk 20 in 20 innings. In 2018, Dohy really stood out, pitching at three levels, and began to draw plenty of attention.  In 24 appearances with Class A Lakewood, Dohy looked nearly untouchable, recording a 3-3 record with seven saves, a 0.80 ERA, a .144 batting average against and an outstanding 16.8 K/9 mark while the BB/9 rate looked much better at 4.5. Dohy earned a promotion to Class A Advanced Clearwater at the Sally League's All-S

READING, PA- A new role could have Francisco Morales on the fast track to the Phillies' bullpen.   After experiencing limited success last year primarily as a starter, the organization has decided to utilize the 22-year-old strictly as a reliever moving forward.   Signed by the Phils in 2016 at the age of 16 for a reported $900,000, the Venezuela native has spent roughly six years showing flashes of the hurler that he could be.  The new assignment could finally be the factor that makes it happen.   According to Double-A Reading manager Shawn Williams, the talented Venezuelan is excited for the refined duties. "I think he's always wanted to be a reliever," Williams shared.  "He loves it.  He's looking forward to it.  He had a great spring training as a reliever, closing (and as) a late inning guy." In 22 appearances (20 starts) last year with Reading, the six-foot-four 185-pounder notched a 4-13 record with a 6.94 ERA, a .240 batting average against and a

A third round draft pick in 2020, Arkansas junior Casey Martin was quickly signed by the Phillies and consideration as one of the organization's top infield prospects quickly began.  The organization's belief in his ceiling is likely evident in the signing bonus he got, which was reportedly $1.3 million, considerably more than slot money dictated by his 87th overall draft position ($685K). The righty hitting Martin tallied a .311/.393/.545 slash line with 30 homers, 24 steals and 112 RBI in 143 games through his college career as a Razorback.  Reports had him falling in the draft as a result of an injury to the hamate bone in his left hand prior to his 2020 season.  Prior to a procedure to repair the ailment, Baseball America projected Martin as a top ten draft pick. In 15 games in 2020 primarily as the Arkansas clean up hitter, before the season was halted due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Martin notched a .271 batting average with a pair of home runs, 10 RBI along with six sto

Lefty pitcher  Cristopher Sanchez  looks to be a possible contributor for the Phillies big league team in the near future. The Phils sent infielder Curtis Mead to the Rays in a November 2019 trade in exchange for the promising Dominican Republic native. Signed for a reported $65,000 by Tampa Bay in 2013 at age of 16, Sanchez would go on to make his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League the following year.  In 13 appearances that season, he notched a 7.77 ERA.  The Rays would have him repeat the league twice.  In 41 total appearances there, Sanchez tallied an 8-7 record with a 4.15 ERA, 6.1 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9.  In 2017 Sanchez split time between starting and relieving in the Rookie level Appalachian League.  With Princeton, he posted some dismal numbers, with a 1-6 record with a 10.01 ERA and a .353 batting average against. In 2018, he opened the year back in extended spring training and went the short-season route with Princeton once more.  Pitching exclusively as a starter a

Talented 21-year-old infielder Luis Garcia remains worthy of being regarded as one of the Phillies' top prospects. After the team signed Garcia for a reported $2.5 million (second highest international signing in Phils history) in July of 2017, Garcia participated in the Florida Instructional League as a 16-year-old later that year. The Dominican Republic native would make his official professional debut in 2018. In the short-season Rookie level Gulf Coast League, Garcia led the league in batting average with a .369 mark.  Additionally, he posted a .433 on-base percentage with an impressive .921 OPS. The five-foot-11 175-pounder was named to the GCL’s post-season All-Star roster and was rated by Baseball America as the best prospect in the GCL at the time he played there. In 2019 Garcia played the entire season with Class A Lakewood at the age of 18.  There, he would struggle considerably at the plate.  In 127 games he tallied a .186 batting average with 14 doubles, three triples,

A third round draft selection by the Phillies in 2019 out of Benedictine Prep, a military school in Virginia, shortstop Jamari Baylor signed his first pro contract for a reported $675,000 and put his significant tools on display during his brief initial minor league stint. In four games in the rookie level Gulf Coast League, five-foot-11 190-pounder sported a .273 average with a pair of doubles.  He was forced out action swiftly after his pro debut due to a reported hamstring injury. After the 2020 season was cancelled due to the global pandemic, Baylor trained at  Driveline Baseball  and got some game action at Fall Instructs in Florida during that off-season as well. In 2021, Baylor was back in action and absolutely torched Rookie level Florida Complex League competition.  In 25 contests, he boasted an outstanding 1.020 OPS with 16 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Shortly after he turned 21 years old in late August, Baylor was promoted to Class A Clearwater to wrap up the regular season.  Af

A third round draft selection by the Phillies in 2021, high schooler Jordan Viars has drawn much attention as a promising prospect.  ' Equipped with raw power and said to have a very high offensive ceiling, the Texas native was reported be multiple organizations' favorite high school batter heading into last year's draft. Opening his professional career in the Florida Complex League in 2021 after he was the 84th overall draft pick, Viars batted .255 with three home runs, 18 RBI and a pair of stolen bases.  He also walked a bunch (17.2% walk rate), which was very impressive. Defensively, Viars split his time in the minors between left field and first base.  With a strong arm, he could find himself getting time in right field as he advances, but first base could be a more likely option for where he lands long term. Viars has one of those "projectable" frames that baseball types love.  At six-feet-four, 215 pounds, the 18-year-old has wide shoulders, long arms with l

Lefty pitcher  Ethan Lindow  stood out so much among Phillies pitching prospects in 2019 that he was honored with the Paul Owens Award, which is bestowed annually upon the top position player and the top hurler from the organization's minor league affiliates. Selected in the 5th round of the 2017 draft out of high school in Georgia, Lindow would sign for a reported $500,000 and swiftly began his professional career. In the Rookie level Gulf Coast League, Lindow started eight contests, posting a 2-2 record with a 4.55 ERA and a .241 batting average against while striking out 34 and walking 12 batters in 27 2/3 innings pitched.  He participated that year in the Florida Instructional League as well.  In 2018 Lindow opened the campaign in extended spring training, later having a remarkable campaign with the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters.  In 13 starts, the six-foot-three 180-pounder posted a 3-2 record with a 2.19 ERA, a .227 batting average against along with an 8.1 K

Venezuelan born right-hander Cristian Hernandez has begun to earn recognition as one of the Phillies most promising pitching prospects. Signed as a 16-year-old in 2017 for a reported $120,000, Hernandez got his professional career started the following summer as a starter for the Phillies' Red Dominican Summer League club.  There, in 13 starts, Hernandez tallied a 2-3 record with 2.57 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP as well as a 7.0 K/9 mark. An injury sidelined Hernandez in 2019 and the 2020 season was cancelled due to the global pandemic. In 2021, Hernandez saw his first regular season action in the United States, starting his season in Florida Complex League.  After two appearances there, the six-foot-three 185-pounder was promoted to the Class A Clearwater Threshers.  In 20 combined outings (17 starts), Hernandez notched a 2-7 record with a 3.57 ERA, a .228 batting average against and an 11.2 K/9 mark. Projectability is something that baseball folks like about Hernandez.  His size, consistent

Griffin McGarry was a standout in the College World Series last year for Virginia, which helped the right-hander become the Phillies' 5th round pick in the MLB draft. After signing as a pro, McGarry swiftly made a splash and proved he has a very promising future. The owner of a 14.4 K/9 mark last year with the Cavaliers, McGarry took a no-hitter into the 8th inning in the CWS against eventual national champion Mississippi St. After debuting in the minors, the six-foot-two 190-pounder tallied a save, a 3.27 ERA, and a .154 batting average against in five outings with Class A Clearwater.  His efforts with the Threshers earned him a promotion to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore.  In three starts with the BlueClaws, McGarry notched a 1-0 record, a 2.70 ERA and a .152 batting average against.  Overall, in his eight pro appearances, McGarry has a 15.9 K/9 mark while averaging 5.1 walks per nine innings.  That walk rate speaks to McGarry's control.  He was said to have taken strides with

Each and every winter I compile prospect rankings and count down the Phillies organization’s top 25 minor league players. In the coming weeks, I’ll be posting reviews for each of the top developmental talents that appear to have the brightest futures in the Phils organization.  Taken into consideration when compiling the list is age, minor league performance relative to levels played to date, value to the organization as well as each player's future potential along with proximity to the big leagues.  These rankings will not contain players over the age of 25 or individuals that have already spent lengthy stretches in the big leagues.  For example, hurler JoJo Romero has graduated out of this list after competing in the big leagues in each of the last two seasons.  Pitcher Ramon Rosso, who appeared in 14 total big league games over the past two seasons, is also not being considered.   Players that garnered consideration for this year's list but did not place among the top 25 nam