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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...

Austin Davis, image- Jay Floyd Lefty reliever Austin Davis has been an exciting contributor at two levels already this season.  After opening the season with the Class A Advances Clearwater Threshers, the 24-year-old was promoted to Double-A Reading, where he is mowing down the competition. Overall in 15 appearances this season, Davis, who was the Phils' 12th round pick in 2014, has a 2-0 record with a save, a 1.82 ERA and an 11.2 K/9 mark. Last week I talked with the six-foot-four 245-pounder about his recent success, learning from Roy Halladay, early memories of the game and plenty more.  Read ahead for that full interview. -You've been having plenty of success this year.  Talk a bit about your season thus far. Yeah, I'm just out here trying to help the team and get us wins and get us saves and just do whatever I can to help the team win and so far, so good. -Excellent.  The word on you early in the season was that your velocity was up a bit from prev...

This week I brought another exclusive interview to John Stolnis' Felske Files Podcast.  Featured on edition 118 of the show, I spoke with Phillies outfield prospect Andrew Pullin.  The 23-year-old lefty batter has posted a .327 batting average with 10 homers and 32 RBI in 43 games this season with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils. Pullin, a 5th round pick in 2012, chatted it up in an effort to get to know him, answering some out of the ordinary inquiries. Also on the episode, Phillies beat reporter Kevin Cooney spoke about the big league club's recent struggles and the voice of the Reading Fightins, Mike Ventola, joined John to talk about the Phillies' Double-A squad. Hit the embedded media player below for the full episode, which is available to stream and download. 

This week with the Double-A Reading Fightins making a stop in Trenton, I had the opportunity to chat with manager Greg Legg and surging second baseman Scott Kingery about several topics.  Primarily, both men spoke of Kingery's recent success at the plate ( click here for that article ), but Legg also talked to me about some other members of his roster including outfielder Andrew Pullin.  Kingery offered thoughts on a few other topics including a funny jab that a teammate took at him for being so good that it's gotten boring. Read ahead for those exclusive quotes from Legg and Kingery. Greg Legg, image- Jay Floyd -I asked Legg about outfielder Andrew Pullin, who has been an excellent offensive performer since he made his Double-A debut last year... He can hit.  He comes to the park and he knows how to hit and he's got some pop, extra base hits, he can leave the yard and he can hit anybody's fastball.   -I inquired with Legg about his Fightins pitching...

Kingery, image- Jay Floyd Another day, another home run for Phillies second base prospect Scott Kingery . A deep drive to left field off of Yankees number six prospect Justus Sheffield on Monday night on the road in Trenton would be the 23-year-old's minor league leading 14th homer of the season. The big fly marked Kingery's fifth round tripper in his last four games with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils. With all the fireworks on display, the Phillies' second round draft choice from 2015 still doesn't feel that he's a power hitter. "I've been talking with (hitting coach John) Mizerock and I believe this as I go up, some of those home runs, they're going to start being doubles," Kingery stated following Monday's series opener.  "I think I'm a gap to gap guy.  I'll have my fair share of home runs.  I'll run into a few.  But it's been a line drive swing and I've tried to keep that approach and rig...

It's been a week since I have published anything on the site here, with life getting in the way at times, it can be difficult to always have fresh material. Without anything new ready to go, I wanted to post a pair of fun interviews I did with some talented outfielders in the Phillies' system that were published elsewhere online. Throughout the season this year I will be contributing exclusive interviews to John Stolnis' top-notch podcast known as the Felske Files. Recently, he debuted an older never-before-published interview with Triple-A Lehigh Valley's Nick Williams , who was a big part of the Cole Hamels to Texas trade. Also on the show, a brand new interview with Class A Lakewood's Cord Sandberg was released. Williams, a 23-year-old lefty batter, sports a .261 average with three homers, 13 RBI and three steals in 38 games thus far this season. The Texas native was the Rangers' 2nd round draft choice in 2012. Sandberg, a 22-year-old left-handed ...

Drew Stankiewicz, image- Jay Floyd Clearwater second baseman Drew Stankiewicz has been lighting it up offensively in recent weeks. The 23-year-old lefty batter has used a sizzling stretch in which he's gone 15-for-34 (.441 avg) over his last 10 games to launch himself into the Class A Advanced Florida State League's batting average leaders and has helped the Threshers stay atop the North Division standings with a 20-14 record. Son of former big leaguer Andy Stankiewicz, Drew was the Phils' 11th round draft choice out of Arizona State University in 2014. This week I talked with Drew about his hot streak, the team's success, not being held in the same regard as some other second base prospects, his family and much more.  Read ahead for that interview. -With a lot of success for you recently, I wanted to ask what has led to the improved results?  Any changes or anything like that? Right now, I'm just sticking with my plan.  My hitting coach Rob Ducey ...

Friend of the site Steve Potter, also known as @JpoppaCool on Twitter, took time this weekend to provide some lists of top performers throughout the Phillies' minor league ranks. Steve is the author of the book The 2016 Phillies Minor Leagues: A Fan's View .  It's a great paperback offering that is available at Citizens Bank Park and online from multiple outlets . Take a look at the organization leader boards in various offensive and pitching categories below... Phillies Minor League Leaders - Offense - ( thru 5/7/17 games) Top 10 - Batting Average : ( minimum 75 at bats) Drew Stankiewicz - .345 ( 29- 84)- Clearwater Damek Tomscha - .342 (38-111) - Clearwater Rhys Hoskins - .337 ( 32-95) - Lehigh Jorge Alfaro - .319 (29-91) - Lehigh Carlos Tocci - .304 ( 28-92) - Reading Herlis Rodriquez - .303 (27-89) - Clearwater Deivi Grullon - .300 (27-90) - Clearwater Andrew Pullin - .298 (31-104) Reading Scott Kingery - .296 ( 29-98) - Reading Daniel Brito - .29...

Darick Hall, image- Jay Floyd First baseman Darick Hall missed time in April with an ankle sprain but is fully healthy and back on track for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws.  This week, the 21-year-old slammed a home run in three straight games.  Overall in 11 games this season, Hall, who was the Phillies 14th round draft selection last year out of Dallas Baptist has tallied a .276 batting average with nine RBI. After debuting as a pro with the short-season A level Williamsport Crosscutters last season, Hall posted a .282/.372/.518 (slugging percentage was league best) slash line in 57 games. Last week I spent some time with Darick, who discussed team chemistry, his team's offensive inconsistency prior to locking down seven straight victories, coming from a baseball family and plenty more.  Read ahead for that full interview. -After returning from the injury, what are your early impressions of the Sally League? Well, you know, the pitchers pitch backwards and w...

Nick Fanti and Trevor Bettencourt, image- Lakewood BlueClaws With two outs in the ninth inning and two runners on, Lakewood starter Nick Fanti's no-hit bid was turned over to someone he lives and works very closely with every day.  His roommate.   Fanti, who was a 31st round draft selection by the Phillies in 2015, was off to a terrific start this season entering the night, but his effort on Saturday night will certainly draw some major attention. The 20-year-old lefty hurler came within one out of becoming just the third pitcher in team history to toss a complete game no-hitter. He sailed through eight innings on the road, dominating the Columbia Fireflies (Mets affiliate), walking just two batters. To open the final frame, Fireflies backstop Ali Sanchez reached on an error by Lakewood third baseman Danny Zardon.  Next, Columbia third baseman Milton Ramos grounded into a fielders choice that erased Sanchez.  Fireflies lead-off man, shortstop Andres ...

Cam Perkins, image- Jay Floyd Outfielder Cam Perkins is having another remarkable season for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.  Fresh off an All-Star campaign in the International League last year in which he posted a .292/.329/.419 slash line, the 26-year-old Purdue product is proving to be consistent, as he is batting .303 with seven doubles, a triple, three HR and nine RBI in 23 games. Perkins, a 6th round draft pick of the Phillies in 2012, spent the off-season playing baseball in the Dominican Republic.  This year in big league spring training, the six-foot-five 195-pound right batter tallied a .355 batting average with three doubles, two homers and six RBI in 14 games. Last month I talked to Cam about winter ball, his spring training experience, his current IronPigs team and more.  Read ahead for that interview. -You enjoyed a very successful spring campaign, which may have been a surprise to some, but probably was not a surprise to you.  What ...

Well stocked for the future at the second base position, the Phillies have a collection of talented players enjoying success at several levels. It’s, as they say, a good problem to have. According to the Phillies’ director of player development Joe Jordan the collection of talent at a key position is something the Phillies’ brass has discussed considerably. Cesar Hernandez, image- Jay Floyd At the top level, Cesar Hernandez, has become the Phillies’ most consistent offensive performer this season. The 26-year-old could be in line for his first big league All-Star nod if his exceptional efforts continue. Through 21 games this season, heading into action on Saturday, Hernandez has tallied a .318 batting average with four doubles, a triple, four home runs, 10 RBI and three stolen bases. Hernandez mashed just six homers last season in 155 games played with the Phillies. His surge in power and a solid ability to drive the ball has been attributed to a quality workout program ...