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We're back with another rundown of top performers from the Phillies' developmental ranks, with some less than stellar performers mixed in for good measure. Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs... Tyler Henson with coach Mickey Morandini Infielder Tyler Henson is batting .448 with a home run and eight RBI over his last 10 games played. In 90 games this season, the 26-year-old sports a .282 average with six homers and 36 RBI. 3B/1B Maikel Franco has tallied a .365 batting average with nine doubles, two triples, a homer and 15 RBI in 15 games played this month. Franco went 0-for-2 in last week's All-Star Futures Game. The 21-year-old Dominican has a .236/.286/.370 overall slash line in 96 contests this season. Tyler Knigge let up 10 earned runs over five innings (18.00 ERA) in his most recent four games with the Pigs. The troublesome stretch earned Knigge a demotion back to Double-A Reading this weekend. The 25-year-old sported a 2.69 ERA in his first 11 Tripl...

Cody Forsythe, image- MiLB.com Lefty reliever Cody Forsythe is one of four Lakewood BlueClaws that has been selected to represent the team in the Class A South Atlantic League All-Star Game coming up next week. Last year's 25th round draft selection by the Phillies quickly showed he could compete in the professional ranks after signing last year. With the Gulf Coast League Phillies, he sported a 3-0 record with two saves and a 2.38 ERA in 18 relief appearances. He also pitched a scoreless frame for Clearwater in a lone appearance last year. This season, as the BlueClaws' closer, the 23-year-old Kentucky native has posted a 3-2 record with nine saves and a 2.63 ERA. Additionally, he's struck out 25 batters and walked six in 27 1/3 innings pitched. Forsythe will be joined by J.P. Crawford , Willians Astudillo and Samuel Hiciano when the Northern Division All-Stars take on the Southern Division All-Stars in the 55th annual event in Hickory, NC on Tuesday, June ...

The Lakewood BlueClaws will have four representatives when the Class A South Atlantic League holds its 55th annual All-Star Game on June 17th in Hickory, NC. Standout performers for the BlueClaws all season, J.P. Crawford , Willians Astudillo , Samuel Hiciano and Cody Forsythe were selected to represent the team. Crawford, a shortstop, was the Phillies top draft choice a year ago when he was selected 16th overall. Through 49 games, the lefty batting 19-year-old has posted a .319 average along with three homers, 17 RBI and 10 steals. Astudillo, a Venezuela native, currently sports an 18-game hitting streak and is batting .341 with two homers and 32 RBI this year. The 22-year-old plays first base and catcher. Hiciano, the Claws' left fielder, is batting .273 with six home runs and 24 RBI. The 20-year-old is a native of the Dominican Republic. Forsythe, last year's 25th round draft pick by the Phillies, has been excellent as Lakewood's closer this season. The 2...

As this year's amateur draft draws near, this week's minor league rundown will focus exclusively on last year's draft selections. With only a portion of the 2013 class actually playing with full-season clubs, many of the Phillies' 2013 picks will be slated to open their season with short-season Class A Williamsport or possibly with the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies later this month, after spending the past eight weeks or so in extended spring training. Players on that list include 3rd round pick Cord Sandberg , 4th round selection Jake Sweaney as well as 7th rounder Trey Williams . Here's a look at how the active draft class from last year is performing this season. JP Crawford, Image- Jay Floyd Last year's top draft choice (16th overall) J.P. Crawford has quickly shot to the top of Phillies prospect rankings and will be among the top 25 prospects in all of baseball as those lists get refined and updated in the coming weeks and months. Th...

This weekend I spoke with Class A Lakewood manager Greg Legg about several of his players. I also got insight from BlueClaws hitting coach Lino Connell on the Phillies' supplementary round (39th overall) draft choice from 2011 Larry Greene Jr.'s progress this year and the team's best hitter thus far, Willians Astudillo . Additionally, righty pitching prospect Tyler Viza spoke on how he stays focused and more. Read ahead for all those quotes. Lakewood manager Greg Legg, Image- Jay Floyd Greg Legg- Asked about how fans might be wondering when Larry Greene Jr. (.176/.237/.241 in 15 games this year) is going to show and prove why he was the Phils' top draft choice three years ago... "Well, this would be a good year for him to do it. Kinda expect it. Right now, he hurt his wrist, so his wrist has been bothering him. He hurt it on a diving play out in the outfield. So, he's a little banged up right now. He's shown some signs of all that earl...