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Mickey Moniak, image- Jay Floyd ALLENTOWN, PA-- Double-A Reading batted around in the opening frame, plating five runs against Triple-A Lehigh Valley starter Drew Anderson and never looked back, dropping the host team by a score of 7-3 in the annual Rt. 222 Showcase exhibition. Right fielder Adam Haseley led off the first with a double and came around to score on a single by center fielder Mickey Moniak .  Shortstop Arquimedes Gamboa also drove in two with a key hit in the first. Anderson would calm down following the shaky start, looking in control and retiring 10 in a row and recording four K's as he completed four innings of work. Reading starting pitcher Mauricio "MoYo" Llovera surrendered a pair of runs in the second inning on an error and a run scoring single by Shane Robinson. Left fielder Cornelius Randolph notched three hits on the night, including an RBI double. The Fightins lead the all-time exhibition series six games to four. The IronPigs...

Drew Anderson w/ Reading in 2017, image- Jay Floyd For those waiting to see where their favorite Phillies prospects will land and which teams they'll be headed to see in the early going this season, roster announcements have begun to come out. As always, the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers are the last of the bunch to release their players, but we'll get to some speculating in a bit. To start, here is who you'll see in Class A Lakewood next week, highlighted by last year's first round draft selection Alec Bohm , a big masher that plenty of people speculated could skip this level completely. From BlueClaws.com... Pitchers - Tyler Carr , Colton Eastman, Ethan Evanko , Kevin Gowdy, Ethan Lindow, Oscar Marcelino , Robinson Martinez , James McArthur, Tyler McKay , Jhordany Mezquita , Francisco Morales, Jack Perkins , Dominic Pipkin , Victor Santos, Gilmael Troya Catchers - Abrahan Gutierrez , Rafael Marchan Infielders - Alec Bohm, Luis Garcia, Jonathan G...

Last week I spoke with Triple-A Lehigh Valley pitching coach Dave Lundquist.  Among the topics of discussion were promising pitching prospects Enyel De Los Santos, Cole Irvin, Brandon Leibrandy, Drew Anderson, Tyler Gilbert and plenty others. Lundquist pitched in the major leagues with the White Sox and the Padres prior to joining the coaching ranks.  He has been with the Phillies developmental staff since 2008. Read ahead for the full interview... -You've got a couple International League All-Stars on your pitching staff.  Can you comment on those guys and the honor? Yeah, we got De Los Santos, who's been selected to be the starter for that game.  You know, that's a huge honor.  It goes back to his work ethic and what he's done, what he's accomplished all year.  The guy's had, you know, a tremendous first half.  Let him go enjoy that game and pick up the second half where he left off.   Cole Irvin, image- Jay Floyd With Irvin...

Drew Anderson, image- Jay Floyd Righty hurler Drew Anderson earned a brief call up to the big leagues last season and is deservedly regarded as a valuable prospect in the Phillies system.  The promising 23-year-old is certainly a name that Phils fans should be familiar with by now. The Reno, NV native was selected in the 21st round of the 2012 draft out of high school.  Upon turning pro, Anderson posted a 1-1 record with a 4.76 ERA in eight appearances with the Rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies. The following year, his first full season as a pro, Anderson tallied a 6-3 record with a 2.00 ERA, a .214 batting average against and a 6.4 K/9 mark in 15 starts as a member of the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters. In 2014, the six-feet-three 185-pounder posted a 4-4 record with a 4.68 ERA, a .266 batting average against and a 9.4 K/9 mark in eight starts for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws.  He would miss time that year with an e...

Steve Schrenk, image- Jay Floyd This week, I sat down with Double-A Reading pitching coach Steve Schrenk, who spoke about his team pitching staff, including Shane Watson, All-Star Drew Anderson, Victor Arano, Austin Davis and Cole Irvin, who is already enjoying success in the Eastern League one year after making his professional debut. This marks the third interview this week with Phillies' organization developmental pitching coaches.  My interview with Triple-A Lehigh Valley coach Dave Lundquist can be found at this link , while my interview with Class A Lakewood coach Brian Sweeney can be viewed at this link . Read ahead for that latest full interview with "Schrenky"... -I want to ask you about several guys.  First guy that pops in my mind is Shane Watson, who went through a transition, moving from the starting rotation to a relief role.  He's been successful there, outside of one outing maybe.  Can you talk about that switch for him? It's been gr...

I haven't delivered my usual semi-weekly hot lists this year, as I have in previous season.  I hope to bring these back more often, so here's a note book on top prospect performers throughout the Phillies' organization... Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs (37-18 record, 1st place IL North Division)- Hoskins, image- Jay Floyd No player in the Phils' system has been as consistent as first base prospect Rhys Hoskins .  The 24-year-old righty batter's 1.005 OPS leads the International League.  Hoskins, who was the Phillies' 5th round draft selection in 2014 is batting .302 with 13 home runs and 41 RBI in 55 games this season. Outfielder Cam Perkins is batting .385 over his last seven games.  Perkins, a 26-year-old, has posted a .289/393/.480 slash line through 48 games this year.  The righty batter was a 6th round draft selection by the Phils in 2012. Outfielder Nick Williams was 0-for-3 on Saturday night, but prior to that contest, the 23-year-old had g...

Drew Anderson, image- Jay Floyd In six May starts right-handed pitcher Drew Anderson posted a 2-2 record with a 2.88 ERA with a .203 batting average against while striking out 34 and walking nine in 34 1/3 innings for Double-A Reading.  That exceptional month followed up a lackluster April in which he posted a 1-0 record with an 8.59 ERA and a .333 batting average against while striking out nine and walking six in 14 2/3 innings over four starts.  The six-foot-three, 185-pounder was the Phillies' 21st round draft selection in 2012.  Since returning from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in April, 2015, Anderson has drawn attention as one of the organization's most promising young hurlers.  Recently, I sat down with the 23-year-old to inquire about his ups and downs this season along with the buzz surrounding his name entering the 2017 campaign, his team and plenty more.  Read ahead for that interview. -Coming into the season, there was some exc...

D. Anderson, image- MiLB.com Righty hurler Drew Anderson hasn't gotten a lot of attention compared to other fast rising talents in the Phillies' system.  The 22-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2015 and returned to the mound last season in time to solidify his place as a formidable young prospect and proved himself as a name that fans should start becoming familiar with. The Reno, NV native was selected in the 21st round of the 2012 draft out of high school.  Upon turning pro, Anderson posted a 1-1 record with a 4.76 ERA in eight appearances with the Rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies. The following year, his first full season as a pro, Anderson tallied a 6-3 record with a 2.00 ERA, a .214 batting average against and a 6.4 K/9 mark in 15 starts as a member of the short-season Class A Williamsport Crosscutters. In 2014, the six-feet-three 185-pounder posted a 4-4 record with a 4.68 ERA, a .266 batting average against and a 9.4 K/9 mar...

In the midst of several playoff races, a handful of injuries popped up at multiple levels over the weekend. Williams, image- Jay Floyd For Triple-A Lehigh Valley, lefty batting outfielder Nick Williams was struck in the leg by a pitch in the first inning on Saturday and did not take the field in that contest after coming around to score in the frame. As I reported on Twitter, Williams should return to action soon and a stint on the disabled list won't be required, according to the 22-year-old, who sports a .265 average with 12 homers and 62 RBI in 118 games this season for the IronPigs. Nick Williams says pitch hit him in awkward spot & "dead legged" him- Instant swelling. Thinks he should be good to go tomorrow. #PigsFly — Jay Floyd (@PhoulBallz) August 28, 2016 The IronPigs appear to be in line for a Wild Card berth in the International League playoffs as they are four games behind division leading Scranton and 4 1/2 games ahead of third place Rochest...

Here's a quick rundown of the Phillies minor league hot list. Details are up to date prior to game action on Tuesday, July 26th. Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs (61-41, 2 nd place North Div. International League) Right-handed Jake Thompson continues his tremendous stretch for the IronPigs and remains the top option for a promotion if a vacancy opens up in the Phillies’ rotation. In his last nine starts, the 22-year-old sports a 6-0 record with a 0.58 ERA and a 5.3 K/9 mark. In 19 starts this season, Thompson, who was acquired from Texas as part of last summer’s Cole Hamels trade, has a 9-5 record with a 2.29 ERA and a .224 batting average against. Righty pitcher David Buchanan has allowed just two earned runs in 22 innings (0.82 ERA) over his last three starts. In 19 games (18 starts) this season for the Pigs, the 27-year-old has a 7-5 record with a 4.05 ERA and a .257 batting average against. In 11 games since the Triple-A All-Star Break, outfielder Nick Williams ...

On Sunday, three Threshers hurlers combined to toss a no-hitters as they downed St. Lucie 4-0 in front of a home crowd at Clearwater's Bright House Field. Making his first start in the Class A Advanced Florida State League, righty Drew Anderson made the start, going four innings. A 44- minute lighting delay chased the 22-year-old from the game. He was relieved by righty Will Morris , who notched the win with four frames, while Victor Arano closed things out in the 9th inning. Each pitcher allowed one base runner via a walk. Anderson, a 21st round draft selection in 2012, returned from Tommy John surgery earlier this season with Class A Lakewood, where he posted a 1-13 record with a 3.38 ERA and a 9.9 K/9 mark in seven starts prior to his promotion to Clearwater. Morris was a 24th round pick in 2013 out of the College of Southern Nevada. The 23-year-old sports a 5-2 record with a 3.16 ERA in 17 appearances for the Threshers this season. Arano, 21, was acquired as a p...

Shawn Williams, image- Jay Floyd I recently sat down with Class A Lakewood manager Shawn Williams to discuss his BlueClaws team. Topics ranged from injured players, a returning pitcher, a pitching prospect's improvements, his team's backstops and plenty more. Read ahead for the full interview. -Firstly, I wanted to start out by asking about a pair of guys that have been on the disabled list for a while. Last year's Phillies first round pick Cornelius Randolph (shoulder) and outfielder Zach Coppola (hamstring) have been sidelined for a while. Any update on those guys nearing a return? The only thing I have is that Randolph has started doing some hitting stuff, some tee stuff and I don't know what the time table is for him. I just know he's hitting again, so I probably couldn't even tell you. I know Zach is a lot closer than Cornelius. I think he's almost into games here in the next couple days, probably just getting his legs going, I mean, po...

On Friday, Phillies director of player development Joe Jordan took time to chat with Phillies Nation's Jay Floyd about an array of topics out of minor league camp. Jordan, who is entering his fifth season in his role, spoke about recently reassigned prospects, top names and what to expect from them, some injuries and much more. Read ahead for the full interview. Carlos Tocci, image- Jay Floyd -I noticed that Carlos Tocci is playing with group 2, the team that will become the Double-A Fightins. It's common for players to play up a level during spring. Is there anyone that might take a notable jump to open the regular season ?   Well, I mean it's too early to read anything too much into the work groups. I mean, normally, you know, this spring training's no different than any other. You've got guys playing up a level. As we start getting guys back from big league camp you have guys start getting pushed. Really it won't be till that last week till y...