PhoulBallz.com

I invite you to head on over the Patreon.com/PhoulBallz in order to support my work and get access to material like this before anyone else and get access to interviews as well as other exclusive content you can't get anywhere else.   Each winter I compile prospect rankings and count down the Phillies organization’s top 25 minor league players. In the coming weeks, I’ll be posting reviews for each of the top developmental talents that appear to have the brightest futures for the Phils organization. Taken into consideration when compiling the list is age, minor league performance relative to levels played to date, value to the organization as well as each player's future potential along with proximity to the big leagues. These rankings won't contain players over the age of 25 or individuals that have already spent lengthy stretches in the big leagues. For example, an individual such as JoJo Romero, who was included on last year's edition ...

Parkinson with Lakewood in 2018, image- Jay Floyd Last week I was in touch with Phillies pitching prospect David Parkinson , who was in Philadelphia in order to attend the organization's annual prospect symposium. The 24-year-old lefty led the minor leagues in ERA with his 1.45 mark in 2018 and was honored with the Paul Owens Award that same year.  In 2019 with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils, Parkinson notched a 10-9 record with a 4.09 ERA, a .247 batting average against and an 8.9 K/9 mark in 22 starts. In the interview, Parkinson shares some thoughts about what he's up to this off-season, what addition he's focusing on making to his pitch repertoire, being in Philadelphia as part of the team's prospect event and more.  This complete piece is available exclusively for Patreon members.  I invite you to visit the page Patreon.com/PhoulBallz to support my work and gain access to content that is unavailable any place else.  Parkinson, who was the Phillie...

David Parkinson, image- Jay Floyd David Parkinson used a bust-out season at Class A in 2018 to propel himself into discussions about the most promising Phillies prospects. The left-hander then followed that up in 2019 with a full season at Double-A Reading. A 12th round draft selection in 2017, Parkinson tallied an 11-6 record with a 3.10 ERA and a 7.8 K/9 mark in two college seasons at Ole Miss after transferring from junior college.  The Phillies signed him over slot money at a reported $250,000. Parkinson would open the 2018 season with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws where he led the starting staff, sporting an 8-1 record with a 1.51 ERA, a .210 batting average against, a 1.05 WHIP and a 10.9 K/9 mark. Promoted to Class A Advanced Clearwater in August, Parkinson continued to display mastery on the mound.  In five appearances (four starts) with the Threshers, the Virginia native posted a 3-0 record, a 1.24 ERA as well as a .175 batting average against and...

David Parkinson, image- Jay Floyd Lefty hurler David Parkinson used a bust-out season in 2018 to propel himself into discussions about the most promising Phillies prospects. A 12th round draft selection in 2017, Parkinson tallied an 11-6 record with a 3.10 ERA and a 7.8 K/9 mark in two college seasons at Ole Miss after transferring from JuCo.  The Phillies signed him over slot money at a reported $250,000. He made his professional debut with short-season Class A Williamsport in 2017, notching a 1-3 record with a 2.48 ERA along with a .242 batting average against in 11 appearances (three starts). Parkinson would open the 2018 season with Class A Lakewood where he led the starting staff, sporting an 8-1 record with a 1.51 ERA, a .210 batting average against and a 10.9 K/9 mark. Promoted to Class A Advanced Clearwater in August, Parkinson continued to display mastery on the mound.  In five appearances (four starts) with the Threshers, the Virginia native posted a 3-...

Austin Listi, image- Jay Floyd On Monday the Phillies announced that outfielder/first baseman Austin Listi and starting pitcher David Parkinson have been named the organizations top minor league performers and earned this year's Paul Owens Award. Instituted in 1986, the Paul Owens Award is named after the man who spent 48 years in the Phillies organization as a scout, farm director, general manager, manager and senior advisor. The award is given to the organization's most outstanding minor league position player and most outstanding minor league pitcher each season. Listi, 24, was a 17th round draft selection last year out of Dallas Baptist. This year, in his first full season as a pro, the righty batter opened the campaign with Class A Advanced Clearwater. In 58 games with the Threshers, Listi tallied a .344 average with nine home runs and 45 RBI. Promoted to Double-A Reading in mid-June, List would notch a .281 average with nine home runs and 39 RBI in 65 game...

Sanchez with Lakewood last year, image- J. Floyd I heard from plenty of social networking followers and other folks online in the past few days either expressing displeasure that presumably I left out asking about certain players in my recent interview with Joe Jordan .  Others have politely asked for details on a promising pair of top prospects' recovery from their respective injuries. The fact of the matter is that Joe, or anyone else for that matter, doesn't always have an answer for every question.  Additionally, I may not ask about every topic or player that everyone wants to hear about.  But, I am here, at long last, to offer some insight that my readers have been craving. Sixto Sanchez , the Phillies top pitching prospect is not officially done for the season.  The 20-year-old right-hander has been out of action for the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers since early June with the aforementioned elbow inflammation. The Phillies are hoping to get...

Brad Bergesen, image- Jay Floyd Last week I talked with Class A Lakewood pitching coach Brad Bergesen about his staff, a group that leads the South Atlantic League with a 2.79 mark through action on Tuesday. Prospects discussed include relievers Connor Brogdon and Zach Warren , injured starter Kyle Young , as well as lefty starters David Parkinson and Will Stewart . Read ahead for that interview. -We saw Spencer Howard with a nice outing today.  What did you see from him? I saw a lot of good there today.  I was very, very pleased with the stuff he was featuring today.  I think he had four plus pitches.  There was a few hitters where- two, three hitters—where he got a little out of whack, but then he regained it, but overall I thought it was a very, very good outing for him. -Where does this outing rank among his other efforts this season? I think overall, just a solid outing for him.  I think it’s one he can build his confide...

Joe Jordan, image- Jay Floyd On Sunday, Phillies director of player development Joe Jordan took some time to talk with me about plenty of prospects throughout the Phils developmental levels. Topics discussed include injury updates for several hurlers including Jose Taveras , Nick Fanti , Bailey Falter and a critical note on Triple-A reliever Brandon Leibrandt .  Also mentioned are outfielders Jhailyn Ortiz and Jose Pujols , catcher Deivi Grullon , Lakewood starters Will Stewart and David Parkinson as well as impressive Double-A reliever Kyle Dohy along with Triple-A reliever Tyler Gilbert. Read onward for much of my interview with Joe and check back in the coming days for his thoughts on some other names that are worthy of interest.  -Kyle Dohy's graduated out of Lakewood and Clearwater, landing in Reading.  He's started to get some attention, after he was a 16th round draft pick and pitched in short-season Class A last year.  Can you talk...

David Parkinson, image- Jay Floyd LAKEWOOD, NJ-- It had been roughly four and a half hours since the Lakewood BlueClaws did what they needed to do on Sunday before they found out their first half fate.  With a start time of 5:05 PM for Kannapolis (White Sox affiliate), who were ahead of the BlueClaws in the Class A South Atlantic League North Division standings by .003 percentage points, it would be a few anxious hours, or more, until a trip to the 2018 postseason would be decided. Greensboro, the Marlins affiliate managed by former Phillies catcher Todd Pratt, completed a three-game sweep in Kannapolis to lock in a first half division title and a playoff spot for the BlueClaws. Lakewood's star on Sunday was lefty pitcher David Parkinson, the Phils' 12th round draft selection a year ago.  The 22-year-old struck out 11, walked none and allowed no runs on just three hits over seven innings of work to notch his sixth win of the season. The effort for Parkinson placed...

David Parkinson, image- Jay Floys Starting pitcher David Parkinson is among the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws' collection of outstanding hurler this season.  Through 10 starts, the 22-year-old left-hander sports a 5-1 record with a 1.21 ERA, a .206 batting average against as well as a 10.9 K/9 mark. The Virginia native was a 12th round draft pick out of the University of Mississippi by the Phillies last year. Recently, I spoke with Parkinson about his wonderful results this year, lessons from his pitching coach Brad Bergesen, his game plan on the mound, meeting a big leaguer while competing in Little League and plenty more. Read ahead for that complete interview... -Your numbers, the whole pitching staff's numbers, have been remarkable.  Almost disgusting. Just an impressive season so far.  Talk about your efforts so far this season. I think us, collectively as a staff, are just controlling the games.  A small thing that "Bergy" teaches, our pitching coac...

Damon Jones, image- Jay Floyd The Lakewood BlueClaws pitching staff has been leading the Class A South Atlantic League in team ERA for several weeks.  In 62 contests, the Claws' staff features a 2.62 ERA.  Furthermore, the starting rotation has been marvelous, placing four of its six members in the top ten on the league's ERA leaderboard. Left-hander Damon Jones has had a hand in the club's remarkable production.  An 18th round draft selection by the Phillies last year out of Washington State, Jones has posted a 4-2 record with a 2.12 ERA, a .223 batting average against and a 9.7 K/9 mark through 10 starts. Recently, I sat down with Jones to talk about his efforts this year, his teammates in the BlueClaws' starting rotation, his pitch repertoire and more. Read on for that full interview. -Talk to me about your impressions of the league and maintaining your tremendous results thus far. It's a really good league.  I know we have a great rotation thus fa...