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Image- Jay Floyd The Phillies kick off their 2018 home schedule on Thursday April 5th at Citizens Bank Park.  Here is a listed schedule of events for the day along with some key statistical notes for the contest. 12:00 PM- Block Party begins.  Presented by Budweiser on Citizens Bank Way, the party features a live band, a Ferris Wheel, Gametrain a Budweiser Macro Bar and samplings from Turkey Hill Dairy, Diet Coke and others.  12:35 PM- All gates open.  Fans will receive a commemorative knit hat. 12:40 PM- Phillies batting practice. 1:10 PM- Marlin batting practice. 2:26 PM- Phillies lead off walk onto the field, entering the park from the outfield. 2:35 PM- "America the Beautiful" performed by the Philadelphia Boys Choire and Men;s Chorale.  2:39 PM- Marlins team introduction. 2:44 PM- Phillies team introduction. 2:49 PM- Tribute video & moment of silence for Roy Halladay. 2:51 PM- National Anthem performed by Kane Kalas at his father...

Well stocked for the future at the second base position, the Phillies have a collection of talented players enjoying success at several levels. It’s, as they say, a good problem to have. According to the Phillies’ director of player development Joe Jordan the collection of talent at a key position is something the Phillies’ brass has discussed considerably. Cesar Hernandez, image- Jay Floyd At the top level, Cesar Hernandez, has become the Phillies’ most consistent offensive performer this season. The 26-year-old could be in line for his first big league All-Star nod if his exceptional efforts continue. Through 21 games this season, heading into action on Saturday, Hernandez has tallied a .318 batting average with four doubles, a triple, four home runs, 10 RBI and three stolen bases. Hernandez mashed just six homers last season in 155 games played with the Phillies. His surge in power and a solid ability to drive the ball has been attributed to a quality workout program ...

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...

Baseball goes year-round.  All across the globe, Phillies players are in action and we've got the rundown on how they are performing.  Read ahead for all the details. Venezuelan Winter League- Willians Astudillo , a corner infielder and backstop who has been playing a lot of outfield of late, is batting .314 with a homer and four RBI in nine games for Anzoategui. The 23-year-old was the catalyst for the Class A Lakewood team this year, where he finished second in the South Atlantic League with a .333 average. Odubel Herrera , who was selected by the Phillies in this month's Rule 5 draft, leads the Venezuelan Winter League in average with a .373 mark.  He has also mashed five homers, driven in 25 runs and stolen seven bases in 52 games for La Guaira.  The 22-year-old played second base primarily in the regular season at Double-A Frisco, but has been playing center field in the VWL. Infielder/outfielder Cesar Hernandez is batting .307 with seven ...

Once again, we're back with another weekly rundown of how Phillies players are performing in fall and winter leagues around the globe. Read ahead for all the latest stats and updates. Venezuelan Winter League- Cesar Hernandez, image- Jay Floyd After going 17-for-37 (.459 avg) in his last nine games, infielder Cesar Hernandez is batting .356 with five doubles, 13 RBI and three stolen bases for Lara. In 66 games with the Phillies this year, the 24-year-old switch-hitter batted .237 with a homer, four RBI and a stolen base. Catcher Gabriel Lino is batting .265 with five doubles, four RBI in 19 games for Lara. The 21-year-old, who was acquired from Baltimore in the 2012 Jim Thome trade, played in 90 combined games with Class A Lakewood and Class A Advanced Clearwater this year, posting a combined .215 average with five home runs and 34 RBI. In 13 appearances (six starts) with Lara, lefty hurler Cesar Jimenez has a 2-4 record with a 3.48 ERA while striking out 29 and w...

It's time once again for another weekly review of Phillies players' performances and progress in off-season leagues around the globe. Dominican Winter League- Maikel Franco, image- Jay Floyd Third baseman Maikel Franco has been in a slump lately, going 3-for-27 (.111 avg) over his last seven games. One positive out of that is that two of his three hits during that time are home runs. Overall in 22 games for the Gigantes, the 22-year-old is batting .239 with six homers and 21 RBI. This year in 133 contests with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, the righty hitting Franco posted a .257 batting average with 16 home runs and 78 RBI. Right-handed reliever Hector Neris has made 11 scoreless appearances for the Toros while striking out five and walking four in 8 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old appeared in one game with the Phils this year, earning a win in his big league debut. Australian Baseball League- Power hitting outfielder Dylan Cozens has a .205 average with three homer...

This week's rundown includes details on some Phillies players making their off-season league debuts including Ethan Martin , Cesar Hernandez as well as outfield prospect Dylan Cozens along with updates on key names such as Jesse Biddle , Maikel Franco and Aaron Altherr . Read ahead for all your fall/winter league updates from around the globe. Puerto Rico/ Roberto Clemente League Lefty pitcher Jesse Biddle had an alarming outing with Mayaguez on Saturday, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings while striking out four and walking two. The 23-year-old sports a 15.19 ERA in two outings in Puerto Rico. Biddle, the Phils' top draft pick in 2010, posted a 5-10 record with a 4.58 ERA in 19 starts in the minors this year. Also with Mayaguez, Jesmuel Valentin , who was acquired from the Dodgers by the Phils in the Roberto Hernandez trade this year, is 2-for-7 with an RBI in five games. The 20-year-old infielder posted a .273/.341/.412 slash line in 120 min...

Maikel Franco, image- Jay Floyd As was widely reported on Monday, the Phillies are slated to promote third baseman/first baseman Maikel Franco to the big leagues with the expansion of rosters in September. The right-handed hitting Franco, who turned 22-years-old last week, pledged in an interview for Phillies Nation's television program in late June that he was about to turn on the offense and he came through on that promise. After sporting a .209 average with 22 extra base hits in 78 games through the end of June, the Dominican Republic native tallied a .324 average with 31 extra base hits in the 55 games that followed for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Also joining Franco among players moving from the IronPigs to the majors are relievers Mike Adams , Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez and Luis Garcia , utility man Cesar Hernandez , catcher Cameron Rupp and outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. The righty Adams had been rehabbing an injured throwing shoulder after being sidelined in early June. ...

On the 61st edition of the PhoulBallz Minor League Podcast Tug and Jay are joined by former Phillies hurler Brandon Duckworth , who phoned in to discuss his minor league days, winning multiple Paul Owens Awards, pitching in Japan and plenty more. The guys also chat about Jimmy Rollins ' chase of the all-time Phillies hit record, Severino Gonzalez 's struggles, the progress of Cesar Hernandez and some relief that may be on the way for the big club. 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 . 

Cesar Hernandez, Image- Jay Floyd Recalled by the Phillies on Tuesday, infielder Cesar Hernandez hopes that he has displayed enough improvement at a new position to stick around in the big leagues for the foreseeable future. The switch-hitting Hernandez opened the 2014 season with the Phillies, but was demoted to Double-A Reading in April tasked with developing his defensive repertoire. The Phillies wanted the slick-fielding second baseman to add third base to his skill set. After an extensive amount of work, Hernandez seems ready to handle the entire infield. At the hot corner, the 23-year-old no longer looks new to the position. Hernandez worked extensively to become well-rounded and has been able to show how far he has come. Whether it's coming in hard on a dribbler to gun down a runner, going quickly to his left with a stab-and-spin effort to notch an out or making the routine plays expected of a capable fielder, Hernandez looks ready for the challenge of being a u...

Here's a brief rundown of some top performers and some that aren't doing too well from throughout the Phillies developmental levels, in no particular order. Double-A Reading Fightins- Who's hot... Tommy Joseph, Image- Jay Floyd Catcher Tommy Joseph , who was batting .359 with four home runs and 13 RBI in his last 10 games, left Friday's game with a left wrist issue. The 22-year-old sat out Saturday and wore a brace on the ailing joint. Jose Mayorga , who was with Lakewood last week, was with the Reading team on Saturday, seemingly in case further evaluation on the often injured Joseph results in another trip to the disabled list. Infielder Cesar Hernandez is staying hot at the plate while he adapts to third base in the Eastern League. With two hits in a game that was suspended due to rain on Saturday, the Venezuela native who turns 24-years-old later this month, extended his hitting streak to nine games. He's batting .455 during that stretch. Over...

I sat down with Reading Fightins' manager Dusty Wathan this week to chat about some well-known Phillies prospects. The Double-A skipper openly discussed the progress of young pitching prospect Severino Gonzalez and outfielder Cameron Perkins . He also shared details about the status of infielder Cesar Hernandez , who was a late scratch from the team's lineup on Thursday with groin tightness, as well as catcher Tommy Joseph , who has had repeated concussion concerns. Severino Gonzalez, Image- Jay Floyd Talking about the output and progress of 21-year-old righty Severino Gonzalez, who sports a 3-2 record with a 4.02 ERA through seven starts this season- He's done a nice job. He's, obviously, advanced in the system quickly. One of the younger guys in this league. And he's done a nice job. You know, he's learning a lot of stuff. He's here quick. He hasn't advanced through the system kind of the normal way a guy would. He kind of flew thro...