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Will Stewart, image- Jay Floyd Lefty starter Will Stewart had a break out season in 2018 as a member of the Class A BlueClaws.  En route to an All-Star campaign the Alabama native posted an 8-1 record with a 2.06 ERA a .218 batting average against as well as a 7.1 K/9 mark.  He also recorded two complete game shutouts in 20 games. The Phillies' 20th round draft choice from 2015 reached an innings limit (113 2/3) set by the team and was kept back from pitching in the post-season, in which the BlueClaws fell short, losing in the finals to Lexington. Last week I talked with Stewart, 21, about his 2018 season, missing the playoffs, how he's spending the off-season mentoring young pitchers and plenty more.  Read ahead for that complete interview. -How do you feel now, in hindsight, about your 2018 season? I'm still over the moon about it, but you're always told to keep a short-term memory, so I am over the moon about it, but I've put it on the back burn...

Jake Scheiner, image- Jay Floyd Jake Scheiner is a prospect that really made a name for himself last season.  The 23-year-old was a 4th round draft selection in 2017 and became an All-Star in his first full season in the minors. In 122 games for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws last year, the righty batting University of Houston product posted a .296 average with 13 home runs, 67 RBI and 10 stolen bases while manning several positions on defense.  Scheiner played second base and third base fresh out of the draft in 2017, but added left field and first base to his repertoire during the regular season this year. Last week I talked with Jake about his thoughts on his first complete professional campaign, giving the catcher position a whirl in the Florida Instructional League this off-season, how he's preparing for next year and plenty more.  Read ahead for my interview with him. -In hindsight, what are your thoughts on your 2018 season?  What were the best ...

A news release from the Phillies on Wednesday addressed upcoming changes to the team's broadcast staff, which features the removal of Chris Wheeler and Gary Matthews from the television "airwaves". Wheeler and "Sarge" were often mocked by fans, with the former being hated by viewers while the latter was a beloved character chock full of catchphrases and neat hats. The Phillies' statement: As the longest-tenured member of the Phillies broadcasting team, Chris Wheeler will return to his club roots after stepping down from his role as a Phillies broadcaster. With 37 years of broadcasting experience, combined with his front office background where he began his Phillies career, ‘Wheels’ will take on a new role allowing the organization to continue to benefit from his knowledge, experience and dedication to the game. Additionally, Gary Matthews will continue to work with the Phillies bringing his exceptional background as a major league ballplayer, bro...

Maikel Franco with Lakewood in 2012, photo- Jay Floyd On the same day which Phillies second baseman Chase Utley joined the Double-A Reading Fightins to begin a rehab assignment, as he recovers from an oblique issue, the club added another big bat, as slugging third base prospect Maikel Franco was promoted from Class A Advanced Clearwater. Through 65 games with the Threshers this season, Franco posted a .299 average with 16 home runs and 52 RBI.  His doubles total (23) was tops in the Florida State League, while his homer total was tied for the league lead. Franco's manager with Clearwater, former big league third baseman Chris Truby has seen improvements in the youngster in just the few short months that he's managed him. "Maikel has worked his tail off and improved his game in all areas," Truby stated.  "At the plate he has a better idea of the strike zone and is able to do impressive damage when he gets a pitch to hit. He is using the whole f...

Truby with Lakewood in 2011- Photo by Jay Floyd Former big league third baseman Chris Truby is entering his fifth season as a manager in the Phillies' developmental ranks.  The 39-year-old began his coaching career in 2008 in the Pittsburgh organization after retiring from playing a year earlier. He joined the Phillies in 2009, spending two seasons as the manager for Class A short-season Williamsport prior to managing Class A Lakewood in 2011, then earning another promotion to be the skipper with the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers last year. During his playing days, Truby saw time with Houston, Montreal, Detroit and Tampa Bay.  The Indiana native batted .231 with 23 homers and 107 RBI in 263 career big league games. This week I spoke with Chris about several subjects, among them the Phils' well regarded third base prospects, how he balances his goals to excel as a coach while helping his players improve and other players on the rise.  Read ahead for tha...

Righty hurler Lisalberto Bonilla was one of the fastest rising prospects in the Phillies organization last season. With an All-Star campaign for Class A Lakewood, the 21-year-old built on an already impressive two seasons as a pro, as he showed the world that it's not just Philadelphia's well-regarded "Baby Aces" that should have folks excited about the organization's developing young arms. The 6-foot-1-inch 170-pounder was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent in December 2008. Bonilla began his professional career the following year with the Dominican Summer League team, posting a 6-2 record with a remarkable 1.41 ERA and 2 complete game shutouts in 11 starts. In 2010, Bonilla split his time between the Gulf Coast League Phillies and the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters. As a starter in the GCL, Bonilla went 2-1 with a 1.95 ERA with 38 strike outs and 5 walks in 32 1/3 innings. After flying high, once he took a step upward, the youngster came ba...

On Monday, it was announced that the Astros selected outfielder Domingo Santana as the player to be named later in the late July trade that sent Hunter Pence to the Phillies. Santana, a Dominican born slugger, posted a .269 average with 7 HR and 32 RBI in 96 games with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. The 19-year-old is regarded as a five tool talent and has been ranked among the Phillies' top ten prospects by multiple national outlets. I had the opportunity to speak with Lakewood manager Chris Truby about Santana, the PTBNL list of five Phillies prospects that the Astros had to choose from, as well as other matters pertaining to the BlueClaws, as they enter the final few weeks of their regular season. Check out the media player below to hear the full interview. ______________________________________________ You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE . You can also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE .

LAKEWOOD, NJ- As the two-time reigning South Atlantic League champions, the Lakewood BlueClaws, strive to reach the post-season, the club has added a pair 2011 draft picks to their pitching staff in order to help the club earn their chance at a three-peat. In each of the last two seasons, the BlueClaws added a present year draft choice to the pitching staff to help the club, just as they entered the crucial playoff stretch. In 2009, 15th rounder Austin Hyatt helped the team lock down a championship by pitching in all five of the club's postseason victories. Then last year, 35th round selection Eric Pettis arrived in time to add depth to the bullpen for the postseason. This year, the BlueClaws got their shot of professional rookie adrenaline early, as 8th round draft choice Austin Wright , a left-handed starter, and 25th round pick Ryan Duke , a righty reliever, have joined the team after tremendous debuts with the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters of the NY-Penn ...

With better known names like Jesse Biddle, Garett Claypool and David Buchanan getting most of the recognition on the Class A Lakewood pitching staff, Lisalberto Bonilla has been staying off the radar, despite soaring high for much of the season. Despite being a guy that many have yet to hear of, the 21-year-old righty hurler continues to develop and mow down South Atlantic League hitters. Since his promotion to the BlueClaws from extended spring training on May 3rd, Bonilla has posted a 2-3 record with 4 saves, a 2.06 ERA and a .205 batting average against while striking out 73 batters in 70 innings pitched. After beginning his time with Lakewood in the bullpen, Bonilla joined the starting rotation in mid-June. By his fifth start, Bonilla was officially a prospect to watch. In his July 6th outing against the Hagerstown Suns, Bonilla threw 9 scoreless innings, while striking out 12 and allowing no walks. Not only did the effort impress the fans in attendance and those listening to t...

A ninth inning rally lived up to the expectations of Lakewood's "Cardiac 'Claws" nickname on Thursday night. In what was a close match up from start to finish, the Greenville Drive (Red Sox affiliate) tied the game at 3 runs apiece in the 8th inning and took the lead with a run in the 9th. The defending two-time South Atlantic League champion BlueClaws plated two runs in their final turn at bat to win in walk-off fashion. In the contest, lefty pitching prospect Jesse Biddle struck out 8 and allowed 2 earned runs in 6 inning to earn a no decision and slugging first baseman Jim Murphy went 2-for-4 with a double, a HR and 2 runs scored. However, it was left fielder Miguel Alvarez (pictured) who made the most memorable impact on the game that featured a rematch of the SAL title series from each of the past two seasons. With the bases loaded, following a single by Edgar Duran to tie the game at 4, Alvarez slapped a single to left field that brought the winning run home....

Phillies catching prospect Cameron Rupp is well-regarded for his ability to handle his battery mates with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws and for his defensive talents behind the plate. His bat however, had not been a bragging point for the 2010 third round draft pick, until recently. During his 8-game hitting streak, through games played on Tuesday, the former Texas Longhorn has gone 12-for-31, helping to raise his season batting average 29 points, from .214 to .243. The scorching stretch can't be attributed to any change in Rupp's approach, however. According to Rupp, he's achieved the increased production by sticking to his familiar course of action while preparing and by doing the same things during games. "I haven't (altered my mechanics)," Rupp said. "I've been using the same approach and everything. I've been sticking with the same thing I've been working on all year. I'm feeling really good at the plate and I've been comfortab...

LAKEWOOD, NJ- Right-handed slugger Jim Murphy knows that the first base position within the Phillies organization is cluttered. With former National League Most Valuable Player Ryan Howard signed with the Phillies through the 2017 season for big money, and names like Matt Rizzotti (.296 avg, 13 HR, 45 RBI in 67 games with Double A Reading this year), Cody Overbeck (.266 avg, 19 HR, 47 RBI in 66 combined games for Reading and Triple A Lehigh Valley), Joe Savery (.303 avg, 2 HR, 25 RBI in 57 combined games for High A Clearwater and Reading) and top Phillies positional prospect "The Boss" Jonathan Singleton (.244, 3 HR, 21 RBI in 57 games for Clearwater) all currently occupying spots ahead of Murphy within the Phils' developmental system, there is limited room to advance, no matter how he performs. This season Murphy is blazing through South Atlantic League pitching. In 67 games with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, Murphy is batting .286 and is tied for the league lead wit...

The Phillies Class A affiliate, the Lakewood BlueClaws, have had some noteworthy success lately. The club has won 11 of their last 12 games and their starting pitchers are on a hot streak of not allowing any earned runs in their past 4 outings (a stretch of 28 innings). Two standout stars in the 'Claws' pitching rotation have emerged. Righties David Buchanan (7th round, 2010) and Garett Claypool (11th round, 2010) rank 1st and 2nd in the South Atlantic League in ERA with marks of 1.97 and 2.00 respectively. Two forces on the offensive side during the team's current hot streak have proven to be 25-year-old first baseman Jim Murphy, who has a SAL leading 13 homeruns on the season to go along with 37 RBI in 49 games played, and former top Phils draft pick 22-year-old OF/DH Anthony Hewitt, who has posted a .317 batting average in his last 10 games and has smashed all 6 of his homers this season in May. On the current homestand, I spoke with Lakewood manager, and former Major Le...

LAKEWOOD, NJ- With Phillies' left-handed reliever JC Romero on hand, the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws locked down a win to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Mets affiliate, the Savannah Sand Gnats, on Tuesday night. Romero was on a rehab assignment after being placed on the disabled list on April 19th with a right calf strain. Set to throw one inning, the first batter that Romero faced put up quite a fight and refused to be retired by the left-hander's best off-speed stuff. Savannah left fielder Cory Vaughn, son of former Major League player Greg Vaughn, worked a full count and fouled off many of Romero's toughest offerings until he worked a walk. "Right from the get go I had a great battle with (Cory) Vaughn. I faced his dad and I guess I got his daddy out, but I couldn't get the son," Romero said. Romero faced Greg Vaughn three times in regular season MLB action, and retired him all three times. Good memory by JC. Unable to retire the younger Vaughn at the pla...

I had the opportunity to speak with Chris Truby, former Major Leaguer and manager of the Class A level Lakewood BlueClaws about several different matters related to the team. Following Lakewood's 11-1 victory over the Charleston RiverDogs on Tuesday night, I asked Truby about outfielder Zach Collier who had recently sat out of action for a week with a back strain, his pitching staff- including versatile right-hander Garett Claypool, his frequent lineup tweeks and plenty more. Check out the media player below to listen to the full interview. ___________________________________________________________ You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE . You can also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE .

LAKEWOOD, NJ- After dropping somewhat of an agonizing contest in the front end of the double header Wednesday night, the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws rode strong pitching and some luck into a split of the two seven-inning games. In the opener, the Marlins affiliate, the Greensboro Grasshoppers, touched up Lakewood starter Ervin Manzanillo for 7 earned runs over 2-plus innings pitched, and the defending South Atlantic League champions cold not bounce back. Greensboro downed the BlueClaws 9-2 in the night's first game. First baseman Jim Murphy homered to lead off the bottom of the second inning, in the night cap, to put Lakewood up 1-0. Murphy bats in the 2nd game of Wednesday's double header The BlueClaws offense struggled to get much more done throughout the remainder of the game, but managed to add 3 more runs in the bottom of the 6th inning, when catcher Torre Langley plated Aaron Altherr with a sacrifice fly, and a double steal led to two runs. With runners on 1st and 3rd, A...

It took the club 11 tries, but the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws finally won a home opener on Thursday night. Behind solid pitching from lefty starter Mario Hollands, Tyler Knigge and Eric Pettis, the two-time defending South Atlantic League champions locked down the 2-0 win over the White Sox affiliate, the Kannapolis Intimidators. The offense for both teams was minimal, but Lakewood first baseman Jim Murphy got the 'Claws on the board in the 2nd inning, when he led off the frame with a deep drive onto the left field berm off of Kannapolis right-hander, former Monmouth University stand out, Ryan Buch. "Our pitching was the story. And obviously, Murphy coming up with a big hit, in his first at bat, just to get us on the board was key," said first-year BlueClaws manager Chris Truby. On an evening that began with the raising of the team's second straight title banner, the BlueClaws didn't get their second hit of the game until the 7th inning when third baseman Jeremy...

New BlueClaws manager Chris Truby is ready to begin his campaign to chase a threepeat of South Atlantic League titles for the Phillies' Class A affiliate in Lakewood. Truby played fifteen seasons of professional baseball, including four seasons in the Major Leagues with Houston, Montreal, Detroit and Tampa Bay. The 2011 season marks his third year in the Phillies' system. The past two seasons Truby, 37, was the skipper of the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters. The Indiana native is now the ninth manager in club history. I spoke with Truby, about his players, spring training and several more subjects. Check out the media player below to listen to the full interview. _________________________________________________________ You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE . You can also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE .

I spoke with Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. this week, prior to the Phillies Winter Tour stop in Lakewood. I asked Amaro about several things including his thoughts on how relievers like Scott Mathieson and Justin De Fratus might contribute to the big club in the coming season, about JC Ramirez's recovery from off-season hip surgery, Charlie Manuel's contract situation, about new BlueClaws manager Chris Truby and more. Amaro also answers questions from Trenton newspaper reporter Josh Norris about Jon Singleton's switch to the outfield from first base and his overall opinion on the state of the Phillies' minor league system. Check out the media player below to listen to excerpts of my time with Ruben Amaro Jr. _______________________________________________________________________ You can follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter by clicking HERE . Connect with PhoulBallz.com on Facebook by clicking HERE .

Four of the Phillies' six minor league clubs will officially have new managers in 2011 after the Phillies announced on Monday that they have given promotions to Mark Parent and Chris Truby. Parent, a former Major League catcher who played with the Phillies, among other clubs, will move up to Double A Reading. Parent, 49, managed the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws to a second consecutive South Atlantic League title in 2010 and then spent time as hitting coach with the Arizona Fall League's Mesa Solar Sox. The Autumn assignment could be more than busy work for Parent, who seems to be a likely candidate for the role of hitting coach at the Major League level in the coming years. Speaking in an exclusive interview following Lakewood's title clincher in September, Parent seemed to be considerably focused on acquiring a big league spot. Replying to an inquiry about the potential realignment among the Phillies' minor league management positions, Parent stated, "The higher you...