Its been a month since the last look, so here it goes…WIlliamsport and Gulf Coast stats are too early to even consider, so for now, its names without stats.
Lehigh Valley
Andy Tracy, 36, 211 AB’s, .275/.401/.498; 10 HR 37 RBI; 18% bb rate, 20% k rate; .333 vs. LH, .263 vs. RH; .266 with RISP; .338 in June. 43 games at 1B, 5 errors (.986), 8.35 RF. With his impressive June, Tracy is back where he normally is…getting on base and hitting for power at the minor league level.
Cody Ransom, 34, 271 AB’s, .240/.310/.480; 16HR 51 RBI; 9% bb rate, 28% k rate; .279 vs. LH, .232 vs. RH, .321 with RISP, .241 in June. 58 games at 3B, 13 errors (.908); 2.22 RF; 3 games at SS without an error, 4 games in RF with 2 errors. Ransom has been a consistent .240 hitter all year that has knocked in some key runs. He strikes out way too much and his defense is suspect.
Greg Dobbs, 31, .152 for the Phils in 66 AB’s. Lehigh Valley: 0-4.
Reading
Tagg Bozied, 30, 224 AB’s; .295/.377/.563; 13 HR 55 RBI; 11% bb rate, 23% k rate, .313 vs. LH, .290 vs. RH, .365 with RISP, .333 in June. 22 games at 1B without an error, 5.32 RF; 31 games at 3B, 8 errors (.904); 2.32 RF; 23 games at 1B without an error, 5.57 RF. Bozied couldnt be hotter at the plate in June. He plays as adequate 1B and a less than adequate 3B.
Matt Rizzotti, 24, In Clearwater: 109 AB’s, .358/.426/.477; 1HR 10 RBI, 11% bb rate, 18% k rate; In Reading: 135 AB’s, .363/.423/.681; 10HR 33 RBI; 9% bb rate, 17% k rate; .400 with RISP; .478 vs. LH, .339 vs. RH. TOTALS: 244 AB’s; .361/.424/.590; 11HR 43 RBI. 29 games at 1B between CW and REA; 2 error (.992); 8.54 RF. Has not played a game in the OF in his minor league career. Has been simply ripping the ball, and people are noticing.
Cody Overbeck, 24, In Clearwater: 215 AB’s; .302/.380/.553; 11HR 41 RBI; 11% bb rate, 21% k rate. In Reading: .152 in 33 AB’s. 0 HR and 4 RBI. 64 games at 3B between CW and REA, 11 errors (.949), 2.83 RF. STruggling in the early going with the AA transition, but still very, very early.
Neil Sellers, 28, Lehigh Valley: 213 AB’s, .268/.329/.357; 1HR 17 RBI; 8% bb rate, 17% k rate; .220 vs. LH, .279 vs. RH, .200 with RISP, .279 in June. In Reading: 0-4 thus far. 32 games at 1B, 1 error (.996), 8.72 RF; 18 games at 3B, 1 error (.979), 2.56 RF; 1 game at 2B without an error. Just sent down to Reading with the plethora of corner guys in Lehigh Valley. May get some significant time at 2B in Reading.
Clearwater
James Murphy, 24, 207 AB’s; .256/.314/.372; 2HR 22 RBI; .200 vs. LH, .282 vs. RH, .200 with RISP; 8% bb rate, 28% k rate, .259 in June. 48 games at 1B, 2 errors (.995); 8.63 RF. Has been a bit better, but is still striking out too much and needs to show more power from a corner position.
Darin Ruf, 23, In Lakewood, 115 AB’s, .330/.443/.548; 4HR 17 RBI 3 SB. In Clearwater: 123 AB’s, .283/.357/.425; 3 HR 16 RBI; .270 with RISP; .333 vs. LH, .266 vs. RH, .292 in June. Totals: 243 AB’s; .306/.399/.483; 7 HR and 33 RBI; 4 SB. 48 total games at 1B, 5 errors (.989); 9.48 RF. Has transitioned very well into High A ball. A guy starting to make people watch.
Lakewood
Jonathan Singleton, 18, 141 AB’s; .362/.450/.645; 9HR 41 RBI; 14% bb rate, 16% k rate; .353 vs. LH, .364 vs. RH, .372 with RISP, .30 in June. 37 games at 1B, 1 error (.997); 9.62 RF. Simply outstanding at this level, including covering some significant ground at 1B.
Stephen Batts, 24, 102 AB’s, .275/.333/.422; 2 HR 13 RBI; 9% bb rate, 32% k rate; .190 vs. LH, .296 vs. RH, .306 with RISP, .189 in June. 6 games at 1B without an error. 7.83 RF. Has also played 2 games in LF and 2 games at 3B.
Adam Buschini, 23, .242/.329/.359 in 248 AB’s; 2 HR 27 RBI, 14 SB 5 CS; .315 vs. LH, .211 vs. RH, .214 in June, 10% BB rate, 17% k rate. 66 games at 3B, 16 errors (.905); 2.30 RF. Struggled through June at bat and in the field, continuing his 3B transition.
Williamsport
Carlos Alonso, 22
Jeff Cusick, 22
Jake Smith, 22
GCL
Geancarlo Mendez, 20
Patrick Murray, 23
Maikel Franco, 17
Phuture Phillies 
Inky article on Rizzotti:
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20100626_Hot-hitting_Rizzotti_is_turning_some_heads.html
LikeLike
rizzotti is 3 for 3 on the night.
LikeLike
Garcia is 23 and hitting, why not promote him to double a, he looks like he has improved his hitting each year. rather see than whats at reading now playing second.
LikeLike
Cosart was pulled after 2/3 innings…anyone know if he was injured?
He gave up 3 runs too so it might be just them wanting to get him out of there but anyone hear anything?
LikeLike
I don’t want to sound paranoid, I know he is only 18, but what has been going on with singleton lately? It seems like he has been going for a bunch of 0-fers lately. I guess it is just growing pains and he just isn’t a machine.
LikeLike
“I don’t want to sound paranoid, I know he is only 18, but what has been going on with singleton lately?”
Tom – please tell me you are kidding. Yes, you are right, he’s 18 and he’s not a machine and it’s like, what, 10 games we’re talking about? If he’s still struggling in mid-July, let’s hold an international summit conference on his under performance. Until then let’s remember that these types of dipes and dives are a normal part of even great seasons and are, for a young player, part of the learning curve. THIS IS NORMAL.
LikeLike
Catch22 chill. I was just saying he was slowing down from his .400 avg. And 1.000 ops. I know he will have up and downs. I was just stating an observation.
LikeLike
I agree with Tom. Hey, it’s fine if everyone praises him significantly on a relatively small sample size, but if someone criticizes him for a small sample size everyone jumps all over that poster. I think it’s perfectly fair to point out that he’s not absolutely red hot anymore.
LikeLike
If Singleton hits .300 on the season I’d say its a success. Rizzotti is really forcing the issue to be called up for DH if we make the World Series.
LikeLike
Clemson knocked out of College WS.
Get him signed and on to Lakewood. He looks like the real thing.
LikeLike
Rizzotti now batting .374 after I don’t know how many mutli-hit games in a row? Unreal! Don’t think its a fluke anymore.
LikeLike
John Hinson stars as “him.”
LikeLike
Didn’t mean to jump on anyone – I just think it’s silly to panic over his last week or so. I understand this was just an observation. Fair enough.
LikeLike
The box score said Harold played 3rd last night is that unusual or a shift in direction.
The Ri = the weather.
Are we watching something special here? Its been a long ,long “streak”
LikeLike
Interesting night in Harrisburg watching the developement of Matt Rizzotti emerging from an organizational lefthanded DH filler into a legitimate every day major league first base prospect. After Matt was done with BP he spent about 10 minutes taking ground balls at first from Mike Schwimer as the next hitting group took BP. Then he worked another 10 minutes with Manager Steve Roadcap on different situational throwing and agility drills. The most interesting drill was the one with Roadie on one knee down the first base foul line at the back edge of the infield dirt hitting ground balls to Rizzotti whose back was protected from BP by the screen in front of first base. As it would turn out Matt had no difficult fielding plays in the game to test his newly honed defensive skills as an everyday first baseman.
At bat hitting out of the four hole during the game Rizzo put on a clinic on how to use all fields again. In the first inning he turned on a pitch and hooked a line drive, rbi, double down the right field line. Then he lined a single to straight away center and finally he hit another single to left center. All in his first three at bats. Opponents just don’t know how to set up a defense against him.
An interesting night at the ballyard just watching the new found interest in Matt Rizzotti. Even Benny Looper from the FO was there in the stands. Guess that’s what happens when you are hitting .553 over your last 10 games and .374 at AA for the season.
LikeLike
My son played with Rizz in college and Matt was the starting 1st baseman for his 3 years at Manhattan College. Matt played first base great with hardly any errors for 3 years. He was a great kid and a big morale booster for the team. He often helped the other guys who were having batting problems. I’m a big fan of Matt and feel the need to speak up.
Once he was drafted by the Phillies, they tried to change his swing in Williamsport and Lakewood. He told me that they said your stats don’t matter, just do what we say. Shines, the former Clearwater manager in 2008 would not let him face a lefty cause he said a lefty can’t hit a lefty and said that’s how it was when I came up (Rizzotti is bating .478 off lefty pitchers thus far this year) . Then he was second fiddle to Durant for a couple of years and was the DH. Maybe that explains why his BA was low and why his fielding needs work now. Rizz was always a natural. Could it be that the Phillies screwed him up? I totally think so.
The beast has been unleashed! It was always there but Rizz did as he was told by the Phillies player development staff. Since he was probably frustrated at being held back at Clearwater this year maybe he had an” I’ll show them attitude” and just did his thing. I saw his homer off of Joba Chamberlain in the College World Series in NE, the ball jumped off his bat so fast that it took the announcer some time to realize that it was out of the park. The kid has got MLB power and always had it from what I saw in college games.
Rizz also has excellent vision, 20/12 as I recall seeing in an article which says he can see the stitching on a ball. I think he lead the nation in walks one year in college. The problem may well be that he sees the strike zone better then the pitcher.
On top of everything, Matt is the nicest guy you would ever want to meet. He does volunteer work at for deaf, inner city and children with cancer camps. I think he even learned sign language so that he could communicate with deaf youngsters. His “Hits For Charity” campaign was a big hit when he played for the Vermont Mountaineers in summer college ball. He donated money out of his own pocket for very hit he got. Matt has a big fan base at Manhattan College and I finally decided to speak up to end the “It ain’t real stuff” about Rizotti.
All I can say is you ain’t seen nothing yet with this kid! Keep watching.
LikeLike
* correction – sees the ball better then the umpire
LikeLike
Cosart’s facebook status “Well had a bump in the road today. Elbow flared up hoping nothing is seriously wrong. We’ll find out soon”
LikeLike
I’ve thought all along that the Phillies were messing up the development of Rizzotti. I commented long ago that I didn’t understand why they were constantly playing him at DH since that position doesn’t exist in the NL. It’s almost as if they never considered him a serious prospect. I think they may be making another mistake now. Is it really out of the question for him to play the outfield? Let’s face it, there is no chance that Rizz is going to play first base for the Phillies. To keep him at that position is tantamount to saying that his only role is to be trade bait. I guess he still has value in that role but what if this guy is really as good as he looks now. I don’t feel like watching some superstar that we used to have playing for some other team for the next 10 years.
While everyone who writes to this site seems to assume that if there was even a remote possibility that Rizz could play the outfield, the Phillies would have already pursued that possibility and rejected it. After reading the post by “jasperdad” however, I’m beginning to wonder.
LikeLike
Assuming this posted statement is right
“LaMar said minor-league field coordinator Mike Compton stressed the importance of improved conditioning to Rizzotti and he worked hard this off-season with Shawn Fcasni, the team’s minor-league conditioning coordinator.”
I believe getting close will motivate the Riz even more. And the second year of pro workouts might show even better results on the field. Lets face it the man is exciting,
LikeLike
Riz worked out with a hard core personal trainer that he found for 3 hours a day, 3+ times a week during the off season. The PT is known for helping baseball players build up core strength among other things.
LikeLike
Nice writeup on Riz, if shines said lefty can’t hit lefty he doesn’t deserve to be a coach. That is a stupid statement by a professional coach.
LikeLike
Damm hit button, to me its Gary Maddox time, let him work on outfield play with this kid, maybe he can be at least a Pat Burrell type, with some hard work>
LikeLike
jasperdad
This winter he will be able to go even longer. Maybe one of those baseball fitness camps? Look at Howard and it took years for him to get in,
Gary Maddox is a good idea. Throw in Sarge he can tell what not to do.
LikeLike
To touch on something that was said earlier about the Phillies minor league powers that be; looks like they finally got it right giving Rizzotti his due. For the first 3 years Rizzotti was playing behind Mike Durant, and just as early as this year, playing behind Murphy at Clearwater. Glad they finally got it right, even if it took 3 and 1/2 years.
LikeLike
Rizz 3-3 again today.
LikeLike
Rizz is 3 for 3 today. I understand he was behind some guys and maybe they messed with his swing, but, all those things aside, I am not sure I’ve ever seen a breakout like this one for a Phillies player at any level (Werth was close). No offense to Matt Rizzotti (in fact, nothing but compliments to Matt Rizzotti), but this turnaround falls into the realm of utterly defying comprehension. It’s amazing.
LikeLike
To have a .385 average in AA and its an average that is steadily on the incline is impressive and 10 dingers in only 135 AB’s. I don’t care who you are, you see that and you realize something is going on here. I know there are serious issues with the guys path 1B not playing OF, but if this production is real, which he keeps proving it is, then as an orginization you must find a way to get a bat like that in the game. Period
LikeLike
Maikel Franco could be the most significant name on this list. He just signed for $100,000 in February and is batting 3rd in the GCL lineup as a 17 year old. He’s 6-22 with four doubles and a triple.
LikeLike