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Austin Hyatt with Reading in 2011 On Thursday evening, IronPigs reporter Jeff Schuler mentioned on Twitter that the Phillies have parted ways with righty hurler Austin Hyatt .  The 25-year-old struggled considerably last season, as he posted a 2-7 record with a 6.33 ERA over 11 games as member of the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs' starting rotation.  Following a demotion to Double-A Reading, Hyatt's output improved, as he tallied an 8-5 record along with a 4.62 ERA in 16 outings, but he wasn't as sharp as he had been in the same league a season earlier..  Following a solid full season with Reading (12-6, 3.85 ERA, 9.97 K/9) in 2011, Hyatt was ranked among the organization's top 20 prospects by PhilliesNation . With promising young hurlers like Adam Morgan , Ethan Martin , Jonathan Pettibone and last year's Paul Owens Award winner Tyler Cloyd holding down rotation spots for Lehigh Valley, there simply didn't seem to be room for Hyatt. The ...

We're back with another brand new edition of the PhoulBallz Minor League Podcast. On episode 16, Tug and I discuss the unreal seasons of Darin Ruf and Tyler Cloyd along with recent big league promotions for Cloyd, Phillippe Aumont and Steven Lerud . Also, we review the Reading Eagle's recent prospect ranking survey, September call-up possibilities, playoff chances for the Phils' minor league clubs and we play The Twitter Game. Check out the media player below to hear the full show, or download it by clicking HERE . You can also check out previous episodes and subscribe on iTunes .

Right-handed relief pitcher Justin De Fratus , known to his brother Steven and those close to him as "J-Bone", joins us live and direct, once again, from Clearwater, FL to offer his thoughts from inside Phillies spring training. The 24-year-old reliever went 6-3 with 15 saves, a 2.99 ERA and 99 strike outs in 75 1/3 innings in his time with Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley last year before making his big league debut in September and holding opponents to a .083 batting average in 5 appearances. Heading forward, De Fratus, an 11th round draft choice in 2007, hopes to be an impact contributor in the Phillies bullpen for years to come. In the latest edition of The J-Bone Zone, Justin updates the status of his elbow, discusses his teammate Austin Hyatt 's chances this year as well as bonding with Phillies fans and more. Read ahead for another edition of The J-Bone Zone. On the status of his ailing elbow that has kept him sidelined for much of spring ...

As exhilarating as finding out you’re starting the first game of the preseason schedule might sound, there was nothing overly dramatic about the way Austin Hyatt learned he’d be the guy who gets the 2012 campaign rolling for the Phillies on Wednesday afternoon in Clearwater, FL. The right-hander found out he would be pitching in Philadelphia's exhibition opener against the Florida State Seminoles via a list posted on the clubhouse wall. It was just another day of work for the 25-year-old Hyatt. Hyatt, an Eastern League All-Star last year, is excited to get a brand new season of Phillies baseball rolling. Expected to throw 2 innings, followed by a lengthy list of other pitchers that includes lefties Jake Diekman , Jeremy Horst , and Joe Savery along with right-handers J.C. Ramirez , Phillippe Aumont and B.J. Rosenberg , Hyatt expressed his high level of enthusiasm for the outing, despite the dull manner in which he discovered he’d be making the start. "It's an...

Right-handed pitcher Austin Hyatt has been a bit of an underrated talent since joining the organization in 2009. Often considered old for each level he pitches in, Hyatt has simply excelled in his career and has recorded strong stats at every level. The University of Alabama graduate had another great season in 2011, proving to be the ace of the Double-A Reading Phillies' staff. An Eastern League All-Star, Hyatt posted an overall record of 12-6 with a 3.85 ERA and a .235 batting average against last year in 28 starts. Hyatt tallied tremendous numbers in the second half, to help his team reach the post-season. In 10 starts after the All-Star break, Hyatt posted a 5-1 record with a 2.78 ERA and a .221 batting average against. In 2011, Hyatt was focused on improving the mental side of his game. His ability to read hitters at the higher levels of the minors has certainly benefited the 6-foot-3-inch 205-pounder. Working closely with Reading pitching coach Bob Milacki on analyz...

Throughout the autumn and winter months, I have been checking in with various Phillies minor league players to inquire about how they try to maintain their baseball acumen during the long, drawn-out off-season. This edition features 2009's 15th round draft selection, righty pitcher Austin Hyatt . As a member of the Double-A Reading Phillies in 2011, the 25-year-old Hyatt was named an Eastern League All-Star as he sported a 12-6 record with a 3.85 ERA while striking out 171 batters in 154 1/3 innings. As solid as Hyatt's stats seem over his 28 starts, he really turned things on after the All-Star break, going 5-1 with a 2.78 ERA and a .221 batting average against. The 6-foot-3-inch 205-pounder took some time to answer some questions, from his home in Georgia this week, about his off-season routine, his goals for the upcoming season and more. Read ahead to check out what Austin had to say. -How much time off do you take from throwing during the off-season and what's your r...

For right-handed hurler Austin Hyatt , the 2011 season was packed with success. As the virtual ace of the Double-A Reading Phillies' pitching staff, the 25-year-old Hyatt proved to be one of the most reliable pitching prospects in the Philadelphia developmental system. During a season in which he was named as an Eastern League All-Star, Hyatt posted tremendous numbers in the second half, to help his team reach the post-season. In 10 starts after the All-Star break, Hyatt posted a 5-1 record with a 2.78 ERA and a .221 batting average against. Overall with Reading, the 6-foot-2-inch 180-pound Hyatt averaged more than a strike out per inning pitched (171 K's in 154 1/3 innings), which is impressive at any level. According to Reading pitching coach Bob Milacki, who previously coached with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, Hyatt's pitching repertoire has come along quite well since Milacki first saw the Georgia native when Hyatt joined the 'Claws for their postseason run tw...

Three hits were enough for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to lock down a game 3 victory, as the the Phillies' Triple-A club swept the Pawtucket Red Sox right out of the International League Governors Cup playoffs with a 3-1 victory. Minimal offense was required for the 'Pigs, as veteran hurler Brian Bass tossed a 5-hit complete game. The 29-year-old right-hander took a shutout into the ninth inning before letting up an unearned run. The effort by Bass marks the third consecutive start in which he did not allow an earned run. In his most recent six starts, Bass has posted a 1.62 ERA. On the offensive side, third baseman Kevin Frandsen drove in two runs with a pair of ground outs in the 1st and 6th innnings, respectively, and second baseman Josh Barfield slugged a solo homer in the 2nd frame. All three runs and the loss were charged to Paw Sox right-handed starting pitcher Alex Wilson . Lehigh Valley is now set to meet the Columbus Clippers in the best-of-five IL Championsh...

Right-handed hurler Austin Hyatt began the 2011 season on a roll for the Double A Reading Phillies, posting a 5-1 record with a 3.18 ERA over his first 7 starts. Slumping a bit since then, Hyatt has gone 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in his last 3 starts. A 15th round draft pick out of the University of Alabama by the Phillies in 2009, Hyatt made his professional debut that year with the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters. In 17 games in the NY-Penn League, Hyatt posted a 3-0 record with 6 saves and a 0.66 ERA while striking out 81 batters in 54 1/3 innings. Those stats earned him a promotion to join the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, serving as their set-up man for the postseason. In 2010, the 6-foot-2-inch 180-pound Hyatt was named the Florida State League's Most Valuable Pitcher, as he notched an 11-5 record and a 3.04 ERA in 23 games (21 starts), as a member of the High A level Clearwater Threshers. In August, he was promoted to Reading, where he made 4 starts (1-0, 4.91 ERA) to wrap u...

The Double A Reading Phillies (20-12) needed a stopper after dropping the first two games of a series against the Yankees affiliate Trenton Thunder (17-16). Austin Hyatt filled the role. After being shut down by Thunder aces Dellin Batances and Manny Banuelos in games 1 and 2 respectively, Hyatt made his mark on the Waterfront Park mound on Wednesday night. The 24-year-old right-hander was impressive, scattering 7 hits, walking 1 batter, striking out 5 and allowing just 2 runs in 6 2/3 innings to earn his 5th win of the season. The 15th round draft pick from 2009, Hyatt, used his change up efficiently to keep the Thunder batters guessing all night long, en route to helping his club lock down a 7-3 victory. Hyatt was cruising with a shutout until a mistake to Trenton center fielder Melky Mesa with two outs in the 6th landed in the Delaware River for a 2-run homer. Matt Rizzotti led the offense with three hits and 2 RBI, including a tremendous solo homerun to straight-away center field...

The season is still brand new, but there have already been plenty of performances worth noting throughout the Phillies developmental system in the early going. A reputation that has become attached to the Philadelphia organization is that the club is stacked with extremely good talent, but only at the lower levels. From the looks of things this year, the Phillies have players at every level that can and will help the big club in the future. Here is your report on the Phillies' minor league system through games played on Wednesday, April 20th. The Triple A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs have a 7-6 record, which ranks them third in the International League's North Division, 1 game behind first place Scranton and 1/2 game behind second place Pawtucket. Infielder Ronnie Belliard leads the team in batting, with a .348 batting average through 13 games played. Belliard was an American League All-star in 2004 with Cleveland. Delwyn Young's 3 homers lead the IronPigs club, but he is bat...

Previously drafted by the Braves out of high school, Austin Hyatt was selected as a 15th round draft choice by the Phillies in 2009, having attended the University of Alabama where he pitched as a starter. In his senior season with Alabama, Hyatt posted an 8-3 record with a 3.76 ERA in 15 games in the tough Southeastern Conference before signing his first professional contract with the Phils. Almost immediately, Hyatt began his pro career with the short season Williamsport Crosscutters of the New York-Penn League. The right-hander dominated as a 23-year-old, posting a 3-0 record with a 0.66 ERA and a .141 batting average against in 17 games, 5 of which were starts. With Williamsport, Hyatt struck out a beastly 81 batters in 54 1/3 innings. The tremendous efforts upon his arrival in the Phillies organization earned Hyatt a bump up to Class A Lakewood where he served as the BlueClaws' set up man for the team's postseason run en route to the South Atlantic League title. Hyatt pit...

This September, right-handed pitcher Eric Pettis was tossed into the proverbial fire. The Phillies wasted no time moving their late-round steal, from this year's amateur draft, into the crucial postseason schedule of the defending South Atlantic League champions, the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. Pettis began his professional career swiftly after being selected by the Phillies in the 35th round of the 2010 draft with the Williamsport Crosscutters of the short season NY-Penn League out of UC-Irvine. The 6'2", 200 pound hurler started and pitched in relief en route to posting an 8-0 record and a 1.37 ERA while striking out 67 batters in 59 innings with Williamsport. By Labor Day, Williamsport had just missed the playoffs by the slimmest of margins and the BlueClaws were beginning their run at a second straight league title, so Pettis, who opened many eyes while becoming a NY-Penn League All-star, was added to the Lakewood roster in an effort to fortify the bullpen. Pettis was ...

Another solid outing by starting pitcher Brody Colvin was not enough to lock down a victory as the BlueClaws began a homestand against the Orioles' Class A affiliate Delmarva in Lakewood on Thursday night. In his last start before his 20th birthday, Colvin cruised through the Shorebirds' lineup allowing just 2 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 6, in 5 innings in front of 6,149 fans at FirstEnergy Park. Colvin would allow an unearned run in the first inning, after right fielder Brian Conley doubled and first baseman Mike Flacco grounded a ball that Lakewood third baseman Stephen Batts couldn't handle. The ball was kicked away and Conley scored. Colvin's shine didn't dim after the defensive blunder, however, as he shut down 11 of the next 12 batters, allowing just 1 walk during that stretch. The BlueClaws had a tough time clapping back in the early going. To start the game, 7 of the first 10 Lakewood batters reached base, including two singles from lead-off man Jiwa...

Selected by the Phillies out of UC Irvine in the 35th round of this year's amateur draft, Eric Pettis inked his professional deal quickly and was assigned to Williamsport of the short season NY-Penn (Rookie) League. A 6'2" right-hander, Pettis split time between starting and relieving for the Anteaters in his senior season, posting a 9-5 record, with 6 saves, 2 complete games and a 3.62 ERA. He also led the team in innings pitched. Thus far, with Williamsport, Pettis has started and pitched out of the bullpen. In less than 2 months as a professional pitcher, Pettis has proven his value and has outshined the rest of the Crosscutters' pitching staff. The 22-year-old Pettis has a 7-0 record with 4 saves, a 1.41 ERA with 46 strike outs in 44 2/3 IP and a .199 batting average against in 12 games (5 starts) with Williamsport. In regards to Pettis' initial role as a starter being switched to relief, Lakewood BlueClaws manager Mark Parent said, "When you're talkin...

Justin De Fratus Florida State League all-stars were announced on Friday and there were plenty of familiar names for regular PhoulBallz.com readers. Close friends Justin De Fratus and Travis D'Arnaud will reunite as members of the FSL North division squad. De Fratus and D'Arnaud were key members of the 2009 South Atlantic League champion Lakewood BlueClaws last season. De Fratus posted a 5-6 record with a 3.19 ERA in 36 games (12 starts) for Lakewood in 2009. His battery mate, Travis D'Arnaud, was sent to Toronto by the Phillies in December as part of the Roy Halladay trade, after hitting .256 with 13 homers and 71 RBI for the BlueClaws in 2009. This season with the High-A level Clearwater Threshers, De Fratus, a 22-year-old right hander, has posted a 1-0 record with 8 saves and a 1.64 ERA in 16 games. With Dunedin in 2010, D'Arnaud is hitting .309 with 5 homers and 22 RBI, despite missing over 3 weeks with an injury. Travis D'Arnaud In addition to the reunion with...