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We're back with episode 29 of the PhoulBallz Podcast. This week, Jay and Tug interview Clearwater Threshers radio man Ben Gellman, who discusses all the team's top performers including Aaron Altherr , Kelly Dugan and Hoby Milner . The guys also share updates on Jiwan James ' road to recovery following knee surgery, discuss the future of the Phillies' third base position with prospects Maikel Franco and Cody Asche , plus Jay dishes some juicy rumors about catching prospect Sebastian Valle . Use the media player below to stream the full episode, or simply download it by clicking HERE . You can also check out previous episodes and subscribe on iTunes .

Right-handed pitcher Kevin Walter recently made his Class A debut after a considerable wait, having dealt with a lengthy recovery from Tommy John Surgery.  A Phillies' 20th round draft selection out of Legacy High School in Colorado, back in 2010, Walter had been limited to very minimal game action over the three years after signing his first pro contract until he was promoted to Lakewood from extended spring training a couple weeks back. In two starts since joining the BlueClaws the 21-year-old is 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA while striking out seven and walking five batters in nine innings pitched. I recently spoke with the six-foot-five 215-pounder about his recovery, his admiration for other players, his pitch repertoire and plenty more.  Read ahead for my full interview with Kevin. - What was your excitement level to finally get a call for a promotion an join the Class A BlueClaws roster? It's both excitement and relief.  It's kind of getting back into real base...

The road trip continues for the Phillies (31-33) as they head to Minnesota to take on the Twins (27-33).  Losers of three straight games after a streak of five wins that gave them a winning record for the first time all year, the Phils will look to return to their winning ways against the American League Central's last place Twins. Minnesota will send right-hander P.J. Walters to the mound in the series opener.  The 28-year-old replaced former Phillie hurler Vance Worley , when he was demoted to Triple-A Rochester last month.  The Phils will counter with lefty Cole Hamels , who broke a six-game losing streak with his last start, allowing one run over seven innings against the Marlins. The Twins dropped two of three contests against the Phillies at Target Field last year. Read ahead for full details on the pitching match ups and other key stats from this series. Tuesday, 8:10 PM.  Cole Hamels (2-9, 4.56 ERA) vs. P.J. Walters (2-1, 3.00 ERA).  ...

We're back with our (usually) weekly developmental rundown.  As you expect, here's a rundown of who is hot and who is not throughout the Phillies' four full season minor league teams. Triple-A Lehigh Valley... Who's hot- Utility man Michael Martinez has been scorching hot this past week, when over a seven-game stretch, the 30-year-old Dominican went 13-for-23 (.565 avg) with two homers and five RBI.  The success follows a month in which he batted .204 in 15 games with the IronPigs and a hitless stint with the big league team in the month of May. First baseman Cody Overbeck also had a very good seven-game stretch, as he went 11-for-26 (.423 avg) with five doubles, two home runs and nine RBI.  The 27-year-old, who was a 9th round draft pick in 2008, is batting .247 overall with 11 homers and 31 RBI in 52 games this season with the 'Pigs. Closer Jake Diekman threw four scoreless outings and notched two saves while striking out eight batters and walki...

Offense was the primary focus early in this year's draft for the Phillies.  With their each of their first five selections and eight of 11 picks to start the draft focused on position players, the Phillies seem to be realizing that the core of home grown talent that helped the team achieve all of their success in recent years is aging and the time has come to focus on filling voids that players like Chase Utley , Carlos Ruiz , Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard will inevitably leave. As we previously reviewed , the Phils selected high school shortstop J.P. Crawford and college catcher Andrew Knapp in the opening night of the annual draft on Thursday.  In the 3rd round of the draft on Friday, the Phillies went back to their usual style of drafting, picking a "toolsy" position player when they selected outfielder Cord Sandberg with the 89th pick.  The 6-foot-3 215-pounder is a product of Manatee High School in Florida, where he was the quarterback for the school'...

Righty reliever Colby Shreve entered his 2013 campaign with a 19-14 record, six saves and a 3.54 ERA along with a 7.25 K/9 mark and a 3.24 BB/9 mark in 110 games at three levels, but hasn't been as sharp this season. In 15 games (14 with Class A Advanced Clearwater and one with Double-A Reading), the Las Vegas native has a 0-2 record, a 4.44 ERA and has struck out 19 and walked 16 in 26 1/3 innings pitched. The 6-foot-5 210-pounder was sidelined with an elbow injury and required Tommy John surgery when he was selected in the 6th round of the 2008 draft by the Phils and did not make his pro debut until 2010. Shreve, 25, altered his arm angle a bit last year and improved the velocity of his fastball which was clocked at 95 MPH during his time with Reading in 2012. Last month, I talked with Colby, during his most recent stint with Reading, for Phillies Nation TV. He spoke about working to climb the developmental ladder, getting drafted by the Phillies and his impression of...

The Phillies took another player out of Lakewood High School with their first pick in the MLB amateur draft on Thursday night.  J.P. Crawford became the third player taken by the Phils from the southern California school with an early round pick in the past seven seasons.  Last year, righty pitcher Shane Watson , who played with Crawford since both prospects were very young, was taken by the Phils with their first pick, 40th overall.  Watson's older brother Scotty played with the other of the Phils' Lakewood High draft picks, Travis d'Arnaud . Crawford, a lefty batting shortstop, is highly touted and is said to have tremendous defensive abilities at his position with exceptional range and a strong arm.  The 18-year-old hit .432 in 25 games in his senior season this year and is his school's all-time leader in hits and runs scored.  Offensively, he has a high ceiling, but does not project to hit for great power. The youngster is a cousin of Dodgers outfiel...

When he was taken with their first pick in the 2011 draft, Larry Greene Jr. was billed as the Phillies' power source of the future.  Two years later, the Valdosta, GA native has just a pair of home runs as a pro and none above the short-season rookie level.  A lack of ability to put the ball beyond the outfield walls hasn't soured the organization on the youngster, as coaches and organizational brass are still confident he can develop into the type of offensive threat they thought he could be, when they drafted him two years ago. After beginning last season in extended spring training, Greene would man left field for the Williamsport Crosscutters, batting .272 while lacing two home runs and driving in 26 runs in 70 games.  Over the off-season, time spent with a newborn at home seemed to prevent the young slugger from keeping up with his workout routine and he showed up to spring training less fit than the team liked and he was kept in extended spring training, once...

Aaron Altherr with Lakewood in 2012 The Class A Advanced Florida State League All-Star rosters were announced on Wednesday and the North Division team included seven Phillies prospects from the Clearwater Threshers. Included on the team are outfielders Cameron Perkins and Aaron Altherr, third baseman Maikel Franco , second baseman Carlos Alonso , catcher Logan Moore along with pitchers Gabriel Arias and Perci Garner . Perkins, a righty hitter, was the Phillies' 6th round choice in last year's draft, and skipped Class A full season Lakewood this year, opening his 2013 campaign with Clearwater.  In 51 games this season the 22-year-old Purdue University product is batting a league best .337 with three homers and 31 RBI.  Last year, with the Gulf Coast League Phillies and short-season Williamsport, the 6-foot-5 205-pounder tallied a .294 average with one home run and 38 RBI in 72 combined contests. Altherr, a 9th round pick from 2009 out of Agua Fria High Sch...

On this week's edition of Phillies Nation TV, I spoke with Lehigh Valley IronPigs outfielder Darin Ruf about getting back to the big leagues and third base prospect Cody Asche about his quick ascent up the Phils' developmental ladder. Also, from Lehigh Valley's Coca Cola Park, Ian Riccaboni talked with Phillippe Aumont about his demotion from the big leagues. Pat Gallen and Corey Seidman focus on Domonic Brown 's torrid offensive output and offer their usual analysis on the big league club. Check out the full episode in the media player below and look for new episodes each Tuesday at 6PM on The Comcast Network, as well as replays all throughout the week on TCN and Comcast SportsNet. Your browser does not support iframes.

According to a press release from the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, who will host the South Atlantic League All-Star game on June, 18th... Catcher Chace Numata and reliever Steven Inch will represent the BlueClaws on the field at the 54th South Atlantic League All-Star Game, held at FirstEnergy Park on June 18th. The announcement of 50 South Atlantic League All-Stars was made Tuesday by League President Eric Krupa. BlueClaws manager Mickey Morandini and athletic trainer Mickey Kozack have also been named to the staff of the Northern Division. Chace Numata, Photo- Jay Floyd Numata, a 20-year-old Hawaii native, is slumping as of late, going through a 4-for-31 (.129 avg) stretch in his last nine contests, but had sported a .298 average prior to his recent cold streak. Numata, a catcher, has slugged eight doubles, mashed two homers and driven in 20 runs in 42 games for the 'Claws. The 6-foot tall 175-pounder was selected by the Phillies in the 14th round in the 2010 d...

Mickey Morandini, Photo- Jay Floyd Last week I spoke with Class A Lakewood BlueClaws manager Mickey Morandini and he offered his thoughts on a few of his players, including shortstop prospect Roman Quinn and 17-year-old outfielder Carlos Tocci ... On switch-hitting Roman Quinn's turnaround this season, batting .303 with three HR and 12 RBI since April, when he sported a .202 average with two homers and six RBI- He's getting more comfortable, especially left-handed.  Seeing more pitches is the big thing for him.  He was a little bit too aggressive early in the counts, at times, swinging at some pitches up.  But, now he's starting to draw some walks.  The on base percentage, I challenged him...he was about .240, at one point, and I challenged him to get to .330, .340 in a month.  He got there in about three weeks.  He's up to about .340, so it's just him getting comfortable left-handed, getting the confidence back.  A lot of it has to do w...