Not pretty behind the plate with a continued scary lack of depth.
Lehigh Valley
Paul Hoover, 34, 130 AB’s; .215/.297/.315; 2 HR 11 RBI; .174 vs. RH, .224 vs. LH; .216 with RISP; 9% bb rate, 24% k rate; .178 in June. 38 games, 5 errors, 5 passed balls. thrown out 16/50 runners (32%). Hoover’s defense behind the plate has not been up to his usual level possibly because of his bum knee, although still throwing out quite a few would be base stealers. Has struggled at the plate this year as well.
John Suomi, 29, 91 AB’s between CW, REA, and LV. .275/.316/.462; 4 HR 15 RBI. 21 games at C, 5 errors, 1 passed ball. Has thrown out 2/30 (7%). Suomi’s defense is bad at best. He has little to no arm behind the plate, although can hit a bit.
Reading
Tuffy Gosewisch, 26, 172 AB’s; .209/.320/.326; 3 HR 12 RBI; .216 vs. LH, .207 vs. RH; .205 with RISP; .288 in June. 13% bb rate, 17% k rate. 54 games, 1 error, 2 passed balls. thrown out 16/56 (28%). His defense continues to be his forte. His offense had been even worse than usual until a good June pushed him above the Mendoza line.
Kevin Nelson, 29, 73 AB’s; .192/.244/.247; 1HR 7 RBI. 20 games, 2 errors, 2 passed balls. Thrown out 3/10 (30%).
Clearwater
Joel Naughton, 23, 98 AB’s; .337/.396/.490; 3 HR 19 RBI; .379 vs. LH, .319 vs. RH; .467 with RISP; .341 in June. 10% bb rate, 17% k rate. 28 games at catcher, 5 errors, 1 passed ball. thrown out 8/47 (17%). His defense has been poor. Must improve if he is going to move up. His bat has been impressive, although still under 100 AB’s due to early season injury.
Tim Kennelly, 23, 199 AB’s; .236/.338/.312; 2 HR 26 RBI; .203 vs. LH, .254 vs. RH; .299 with RISP; 12% bb rate, 13% k rate; .233 in June. 6 errors and 3 passed balls in 45 games at catcher. Thrown out 12 of 65 would be bast stealers (18%). Has also started 10 games at 3B with one error. After raking it last year in Clearwater, Kennelly is just coming alive this year.
Lakewood
Sebastian Valle, 19, 259 AB’s; .266/.310/.436; 9HR 48 RBI; .229 vs. LH, .280 vs. RH; .346 with RISP; .280 in June; 6% bb rate, 22% k rate. 5 errors and 7 passed balls in 63 games at catcher. Has thrown out 32/96 basestealers (33%). Valle seems to be back on track after struggling at the beginning of the year. Showing a good arm and starting to hit with power.
Torre Langley, 22, 37 AB’s; .297 avg. with 5 RBI’s. Has committed one error and 3 passed balls in 14 games. Has thrown out 8/24 runners (33%)
Kyle Lafrenz, 23, 33 AB’s, hitting .242 with 4 RBI’s. Has committed one error and three passed balls. Thrown out 4/25 runners (16%).
Williamsport
Cameron Rupp, 21, hitting .207 in 29 AB’s with 10 k’s.
Jeff Lanning, 23, hitting .243 in 43 AB’s (LK, CLW, WM)
James Klocke, 22, .261 in 23 AB’s.
GCL
Francisco Diaz, 20
Marlon Mitchell, 19
Chace Numata, 17
Robert Stumpo, 22
Phuture Phillies 
System is pretty void of catchers after all the trades over the years;Jaramillo, Marson, D’Arnaud. Hopefully Valle continue to get better and hopefully the draft picks Klocke and Rupp work out.
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Marlon Mitchell seems to hit when he gets the chance to play. He was drafted as a defensive catcher. He has been OK. Hopefully he progresses.
Did not realize Valle was throwing out runners at that pace. If he can get that OBP up a little more, he can solidify his status in the organization.
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Valle just pulled off the old strike um out throw um out double play down in Greenboro.
Tuffy looked good behind the plate last night in Reading. Lined one just to the right of the 358 ft. sign in right for his 4th homer.
Look like they are going to give Naughton and his .300+ batting average more playing time in Clearwater with Kennelly playing in right for a game and a couple of games at third this week.
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I was keeping an eye on Tim Kennelly coming into the year. He hit well at Clearwater last year and held his own at Reading, so I’m not sure why they put him back in A-ball to start. But then again, he’s really struggled with his average most of the year so far. Hopefully he gets back on track and back to Reading at some point before too long.
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How did I become a Phillies fan? Glad you asked. OK, you didn’t but it’s a boring day with everything closed. In 1968 I saw a Phillies-Cubs game at Wrigley and was hooked. Why? I think I liked their uniforms-as I lived in Connecticut and sort of picked them at random. More on this exciting topic in phuture posts. P.S. Is there anyone who doesn’t love the Phanatic?
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@ Brian yes the woman frm Reading that is suing him
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You might be a Phillies fan if: You think Charlie Manuel is a cool guy. You bleed Phillie red when you cut yourself shaving. You wish bad things on the Mets and Braves. You thought John Kruk was emotionally stable (or Steve Carlton). You dream of Bowa to Cash to Luzinski. You thought Larry Bowa was cool and calm. You think the Phanatic is the apex of Western Civilization. You still cry over 1964. You think the Phils roster should be the NL all star team. You think Reading Phillies is an activity. You’re still reading this…..
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Three of the four catchers listed in the GCL are switch hitters. If we get one Posada and one Jaramillo out of that group I’ll be happy. Happy, heck, I’ll do a couple of back flips.
I just noticed Stumpo was added to Clearwater. Maybe this adds to the thought that Kennelly will be playing other positions. He can play 1st, 3rd, and corner OF.
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You know Posada has carved out a real nice career right? I can’t remember when the Phillies had a catcher like that…probably never
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Let’s not forget the Flyin’ Hawaiian’s fellow Pacific islander, the Barely Ambulatory Hawaiian. He was solid for the Pigs, & he’s doing a decent job filling in on the big club. Not a prospect any longer, I know, but a pretty decent minor league FA signing.
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Just looking at old catcher stats. Lieby hit 20 homers in like 1800 minor league at bats, but quite a few more in majors. How does that happen? Not like he had a steroid body.
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Power develops with physical maturity. Lieby was a terribly skinny HS 2B when the Phillies drafted him.
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