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Every beats writer in the greater Delaware Valley tweeted the Phillies' opening day roster this afternoon. A couple surprises were included among the 25 active players with outfielder Jeff Francoeur and infielder Cesar Hernandez making the cut. Francoeur posted a .227 average with three doubles and two RBI in 15 Grapefruit League contests this spring. The 31-year-old played in 10 games with a Padres last season, sporting a .083 batting average in that stint. Francoeur was last a big league regular in 2012 with Kansas City, when he tallied a .235 average with 16 homers and 49 RBI. Hernandez could be the first player to go if and when outfielder Domonic Brown (left Achilles tendinitis) returns from injury. Hernandez posted a .143 batting average in 27 spring games for the Phillies. The switch-hitting 24-year-old is out of options. Outfielder Jordan Danks , who batted .256 with two doubles, a home run and five RBI in 27 spring games, was optioned to Triple-A. Righty re...

With the new year upon us, it’s time to kick off our annual countdown of the top 25 prospects in the Phillies organization. In the coming weeks, as a fresh season approaches, I will be unveiling player reviews for each of the top developmental talents that you, as Phillies fans, should be familiar with. Taken into consideration when reviewing these developing talents will be age, minor league performance relative to levels played, value to the organization as well as future potential and possible proximity to the big leagues. These rankings will not include players over 25 years of age or individuals that have spent lengthy and multiple stretches in the big leagues. Some very talented youngsters did not make the cut simply because other individuals ranked higher. Players that drew consideration included righty pitcher Mitch Gueller , lefty hurler Hoby Milner , and catcher Andrew Knapp . Gueller, the Phils' supplementary first round pick in 2012, has failed to crack the r...

Dave Lundquist and Jesse Biddle, Image- Jay Floyd Over the weekend, I spoke with Double-A Reading Fightin Phillies pitching coach Dave Lundquist. A former big leaguer with the White Sox and Padres, "Lundy" has been coaching in the Phils system since 2008. The 40-year-old spoke openly about nearly his entire pitching staff including top prospect Jesse Biddle , David Buchanan , Mike Nesseth , Seth Rosin , Austin Wright as well as Brody Colvin . Read ahead for that full interview... - Jesse Biddle came out in Trenton over the weekend and had somewhat of a bounce back effort, following a pair of poor outings. He says it's not a good result unless he wins, but overall it's gotta be a positive step for him, right? Absolutely. If you look at his last two outings, two-thirds of an inning and then an inning and a third, to come out (on Friday) night and really to have the command, much, much better than he's had. The confidence level was much highe...

This weekend I chatted with Reading manager Dusty Wathan about the recent output of star prospect Jesse Biddle as well as changes of roles for hurlers Austin Wright and Brody Colvin .  Additionally, I spoke with Wright, the Phillies' 8th round draft selection out of the University of Mississippi in 2011, about his move to the bullpen after steadily being a starter throughout his pro career. Full Q&A with both men lies ahead... Dusty Wathan: - Can you share some thoughts on Jesse Biddle's effort out there against the Trenton Thunder on Friday (Biddle allowed three earned runs in five innings, after allowing nine earned runs in two total innings in his previous two outings)? I thought he did a lot better.  I mean, I think the biggest thing was he went out there and struggled, obviously, throwing strikes the last two outings, but the biggest thing was we got him back into a routine and he got himself out of a jam in the 1st and, you know, he's still a guy...

On the 32nd edition of the PhoulBallz Podcast, Double-A Reading starting left-handed pitchers Jesse Biddle and Austin Wright took some time to take part in exclusive interviews.  Additionally, Tug and I talk about 2012 first round draft pick Shane Watson 's DL stint, third base prospect Cody Asche 's Triple-A success, Kelly Dugan earning a promotion to the Double-A level and Jarred Cosart making his big league debut with the Astros along with a bit of WWE chatter.  Use the media player below to stream the full episode, or simply download it by clicking HERE . You can also check out previous episodes and subscribe on iTunes .

I sat down with Double-A Reading manager Dusty Wathan on Thursday to chat about several key names in the Phillies' developmental ranks.  Among the topics of discussion were top Phils prospect lefty pitcher Jesse Biddle , fast rising third base prospect Maikel Franco, struggling left-handed starter Austin Wright and outfielder Tyson Gillies , who earned a promotion from Reading to Triple-A Lehigh Valley this week. Read ahead for all the quotes, plus some bonus Fightins related news blurbs at the end... - Lefty pitcher Jesse Biddle has now gone eight straight starts without a win.  As good as Jesse is, can this sort of stretch be disruptive or discouraging for a young player? Well, I think a lot of times, every year you can look and see one guy who pitches well and doesn't get the wins to show for how well he's pitched.  And a lot of it comes down to run support.  It's a difficult situation sometimes, but it's just, every year it seems like one of the...

I spent some time this week chatting with the Phillies minor league pitching coordinator Gorman Heimueller , who offered his thoughts on several talented young hurlers in the Phils' system. Heimueller, who has been the Phils' minor league pitching coordinator since 2002, pitched 14 seasons as a pro, including parts of two with the Athletics. Prior to his current position, Heimueller was a pitching coach at the Double-A and Triple-A level for the Phillies. Gorm shared his opinions on several prospects including Brody Colvin , Austin Wright , Shane Watson , Jake Diekman and he even danced around a question about when Phils fans might expect to see Phillippe Aumont back with the big club after his recent demotion to Triple-A.  Read ahead for the full interview. - Austin Wright's been a guy that missed some time with an injury and has allowed a lot of runs in his two starts (0-2, 22.22 ERA) with Reading since being activated.  Is there much concern with h...

In the latest rundown of developmental notes, we'll take a glance at some top performers, several guys who aren't doing too well, a couple sidelined prospects and a group of former Phillies minor leaguers... The Hot List-  Lakewood pitcher Nic Hanson Lakewood righty Nic Hanson has not been scored upon in two outings (11 total innings) since moving from the BlueClaws' bullpen to their starting rotation. A 16th round pick in last year's draft out of Golden West College, Hanson, 21, has a 1-0 record with a save and a 3.38 ERA in eight games. Class A Advanced Clearwater outfielder Cameron Perkins has been performing extremely well this month.  In 10 games, the 22-year-old has posted a .385 average with six doubles, a triple, a homer and six RBI.  Perkins was selected in the 6th round of the 2012 draft out of Purdue University. Dominican hurler Gabriel Arias has looked great for the Clearwater Threshers, going 4-1 with a 1.25 ERA through nine outings (fou...

Tops on the Phillies' developmental hot list is Double-A Reading Ace Jesse Biddle , who, in his last two outings, has thrown 13 scoreless innings, while allowing just two total hits and striking out 26 batters.  Overall this season, Biddle, who was the Phils' 1st round draft selection in 2010, has a 2-1 record with a 1.74 ERA and a .114 batting average against. Last week, Biddle locked down a win against Harrisburg, when he struck out 16 and allowed only one hit and no runs over seven innings. On Sunday, in Reading's 2-1 win over New Hampshire, the left-handed 21-year-old fanned 10 New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto affiliate).  The video clip below features Biddle striking out the side in the 5th inning and speaking to the media following his second consecutive tremendous effort.  Also performing extremely well lately is Class A Advanced Clearwater third baseman Maikel Franco , who notched a two homer/seven RBI game on Friday and smacked another home run on Sun...

It's the season 2 premiere of the show (episode 18). In this edition Tug and Jay discuss Tug's wedding, some surprising releases from Phils minor league camp, Roy Halladay 's health, fast rising prospects Roman Quinn and Carlos Tocci , the Reading rebranding, Lehigh Valley's new alternate jersey, and much more! Check out the media player below to hear the full episode, or simply download it by clicking HERE . You can also check out previous episodes and subscribe on iTunes .

Selected in the 8th round of the 2011 amateur draft, lefty hurler Austin Wright quickly proved to be a fast rising prospect in the Phillies' organization.  Out of the University of Mississippi, where he posted a 4.73 ERA and an 8.57 K/9 mark through 14 starts that year, Wright never tired, continuing on for another 15 appearances primarily as a starter in the Phils' system. After making his pro debut with the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters and posting a 3-1 record along with a 3.38 ERA in eight games (seven starts), Wright was promoted to full season Class A Lakewood, where he continued to look strong, tallying a 1-2 record and a 2.67 ERA in seven starts.  Combined at the two levels, Wright, who grew up idolizing big league stars like Kerry Wood and Mark Prior , notched an impressive 11.2 K/9 mark. In 2012, as a member of the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, the 6-foot-4-inch 235-pounder became an All-Star and was honored as the Florida State Le...

Left-handed pitcher Austin Wright has been a fast rising performer since he was selected by the Phillies in the 8th round of the 2011 draft, out of the University of Mississippi. In his first season of pro ball that year, the 6-foot-4 235-pounder tallied a 4-3 record with a 3.03 ERA and an 11.2 K/9 mark combined with short-season A level Williamsport and Class A Lakewood. In 2012, Wright, 23, became an all-star and was honored as the Florida State League pitcher of the year, as he posted an 11-5 record, a 3.47 ERA and an 8.11 K/9 mark with Class A Advanced Clearwater. Recently, I spoke with Austin about his off-season routine and how he uses his time during the colder months, during which the Illinois native issued a challenge to any gamers that might see this material. Read ahead for that full interview. - How much time off from throwing do you take during the off-season? When do you begin a throwing program to prepare for spring training? I took off October and Nov...

It's that time of year that gets you in the mood to be jolly. The biggest of all holidays is loved by all, for many reasons. Baseball players don't feel any differently.  In recent weeks, I have checked in with several Phillies players, from the bottom to the top of the system, to find out what stands out for them as reasons to get excited for Christmas. Players that took part include Phillies rookie OF/1B Darin Ruf (pictured), lefty pitching prospect Austin Wright , former supplemental 1st round draft pick, outfielder Zach Collier , right-handed minor league pitcher David Buchanan , third base prospect Cody Asche , former top draft pick, outfielder Kelly Dugan , whose father Dennis Dugan is a film director, and, lastly, catcher Josh Ludy , who was drafted by the Phils in the 8th round this year. Questions and answers detailing each player's holly jolly holiday favorites are ahead... What's your favorite Christmas movie or TV special? Darin R...

A pair of honors came the way of the Phillies organization on Tuesday with much talked about prospects Austin Wright and Tyler Cloyd each receiving recognition as top performers in their respective leagues. Wright, a left-handed starter, was named as the Florida State League's pitcher of the year. The 6-foot-3-inch 220-pounder has posted a 10-5 record with a 3.42 ERA while averaging 8.37 strike outs per nine innings in 26 games with the Threshers this season. Regarding the recognition, the 22-year-old Wright, an 8th round draft pick of the Phillies last year, was excited and appreciative, but has his full focus on continuing his progress upward in professional baseball. "This season has been a lot of fun. I've learned a lot, but I know I still have a long way to go," Wright stated. "The Florida State League is loaded with talented pitchers and to be named the pitcher of the year is an incredible honor. I know there are many deserving players and I really ...