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Stepping up to the plate with the bases loaded, trailing by a pair of runs in the 11th inning, Clearwater first baseman D.J. Stewart did so 0-for-5.  His focus at the plate was no different that time than it had been the previous handfull of turns.  Make loud contact was the approach.  The contact was loud, the reaction from his team and the approximately 1,100 fans in attendance was louder.   A convincing round-tripper in that moment plated Edgar Made, Johan Rojas, Luis Garcia and Stewart.  It gave the Class A Threshers their first win on the young season by a score of 13-11 over the Tigers affiliate Lakeland.  The grand slam was the 22-year-old's first ever four-run homer as well as his first ever walk-off hit as a professional. Describing the feeling of walking a game off in such a remarkable fashion as unreal and realizing that his teammates were as hyped for him as he felt personally, Stewart also described the "loud contact" mindset as a new focu...

With the minor league season set to get started on Tuesday, May 4th, the Phillies' four full-season teams unveiled their initial rosters today. Of note is the absense of rising infield prospect Kendall Simmons, who is apparently sidelined with an undisclosed injury.  The middle infielder was active in spring training action in recent weeks, but was contributing as a designated hitter.  He's likely being kept at the Phillies' complex in Florida in order to focus on recovery and limit unnecesary travel. Also, as reported recently on my Patreon page , pitcher Albertus Barber got a late start to his spring season due to an unspecified nerve issue.  He's healthy, but needs to ramp up his efforts in order to get game-ready before he joins a team. One of the Phils' most promision pitching prospects, Erik Miller, is also absent from these lists.  No word yet on what the situation is with this hard throwing 24-year-old, who was ranked as the organization's 5th best prosp...

Please visit  Patreon.com/PhoulBallz  in order to support my work and get access to material like this before anyone.  Plus you'll get interviews as well as other exclusive content you won't be able to enjoy anywhere else.  Selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 MLB draft, Mick Abel swiftly landed among the Phillies' top prospects.   He was a victim to a cancelled high school and minor league seasons last year, but  sported a 1.26 ERA and a 13.8 K/9 mark in 72 1/3 innings of work while helping his school lock down a state championship in his junior season in 2019. Scouting reports describe him as having a low-effort approach with loose arm action and exciting velocity potential.   His four-pitch arsenal includes a  mid-90's four-seam fastball, an effective slider with good movement, a quality curve ball and a change up that earns raves and features sink.  His six-foot-five frame allows him to better throw his offerings down...

I mentioned in my recent draft picks post that I'd be publishing the latest Hittin' Season podcast, in which I chat about the Phillies' draft results and the lack of a minor league season this year, after it became available.  I wasn't having luck with getting the embedded player for just that episode posted on the site here.  So, below, you'll find a description of the episode as well as a link to be able to stream the show, hosted by John Stolnis.  I hope you dig it. On Episode 390 of Hittin' Season, host John Stolnis breaks down the much-shorter 2020 MLB Draft for the Phillies with Jay Floyd of  PhoulBallz.com. Also, comments by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred about the March 26 agreement raise eyebrows and ESPN's Karl Ravech pushes back about the negotiations, and another edition of This Week in Phillies  History!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hittin-season-390-phillies-draft-recap-w-jay-floyd/id1015394113?i=1000477739512

Please consider supporting my work and subscribe to  my Patreon page .  Your patronage will get you exclusive interviews and other prospect related material as well as early access to all of my other content such as this post.  Thank you. With the 15th overall selection in the 2002 MLB Amateur Draft, the Phillies chose right-handed pitcher Mick Abel out of Jesuit High School in Oregon.  The 18-year-old was widely ranked as the top high school pitcher in this year's draft. Per MLB.com, based on his build, arm strength and repertoire, he's drawn comparisons to Stephen Strasburg and Mike Soroka. Abel is the first high school pitcher from Oregon taken in the first round since the 1994 draft when the Kansas City chose Matt Smith. Due to the global Coronavirus pandemic, Abel did not pitch competitively in school this year.  However, he has been throwing bullpen session to Orioles prospect and last year's top overall draft pick Adley Rutschman, a former Or...