Around the System–Corner Infield

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Quite a bit to talk about at the corner infield spots with the addition of the short season teams into the mix. 

Lehigh Valley

Tug Hulett, 29, Acquired in 2012 as a free agent, .267/.337/.358 in 176 AB’s between Reading and LV; 3 HR 25 RBI; 2SB; .319 avg. with LV; .313 vs. LH, .320 vs. RH, .313 with RISP; 10%bb/20%k rates. Hitting .326 since June 1st. 46 games at 3B with 8 errors (.927) 2.22 R/F. ;  Hulett has played well for the ‘Pigs but expect his playing time to become much more limited with Hector Luna back from the big club.

Hector Luna, 32, Acquired in 2012 as a free agent, .259/.296/.379 in 116 AB’s; 1 HR 13 RBI; .211 vs. LH, .282 vs. RH, .250 with RISP, 5%bb/16%k rates.  25 games at 3B with 6 errors (.913); 2.52 R/F; 2 games at 1B without an error. Just sent back down from Philadelphia.  Shoud add some offensive consistency to ‘Pigs lineup.

Pete Orr, 33,  Re-signed as a free agent in 2012; .248/.296/.328 in 125 AB’s; 6SB; 1HR 17 RBI; 6%bb/20%K rates; .212 vs. LH. .269 vs. RH, .389 with RISP. Hitting .282 in July. 13 games at 3B with 2 errors (.955); 3.23 R/F; 5 games at 2B without an error; 6 games at SS with 1 error (.963); 11 games in the OF without an error. Orr has been swinging a better bat and has been clutch with RISP. Likely in AAA for the duration of the year.

Cody Overbeck, 26, Phils 9th round pick in 2008;.256/.305/.425 in 301 AB’s; 8HR 39 RBI; 0SB; 7%bb/21%k rates; .253 vs. RH, .257 vs. LH, .247 with RISP. Hitting .224 since June 1.  82 games at 1B with 1 error (.998); 7.94 R/F; 3 games at 3B without an error; Overbeck has not been as productive as we would have hoped this year and has been recently slowed by some injury issues. Has been solid at 1B.

Reading

Cody Asche, 23, Phils 4th round pick in 2011; .309/.344/.406 in 320 AB’s between Clearwater and Reading; 4HR and 32 RBI; 10SB; Hitting .154 in 65 AB’s in Reading. 4%bb/14% K in Clearwater; 6%bb/25%K in Reading. 61 games at 3B with 7 errors (.951); 2.21 R/F.  Asche was outstanding in CLearwater warranting his call up and has struggled early on in Reading.  Still way too early to worry.

Darin Ruf, 25, Phils 20th round pick in 2009; .316/.412/.539 in 304 AB’s; 15HR 56 RBI; 2SB; 13%bb/17% k rates; .361 vs. LH, .295 vs. RH, .299 with RISP; Hitting .283 with 6HR and 19 RBI since June 1. 82 games at 1B with 3 errors (.995); 7.77 R/F; 3 games in the OF without an error.  Ruf continues to consistently hit the ball with an exceptional walk rate and produce runs. I am thinking the Phils will be spending some time with Ruf in the Fall Instructional League in LF.

Tim Kennelly, 25, Signed as a free agent in 2004; .238/.264/.338 in 231 AB’s between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 4HR 24 RBI; 2SB; .151 vs. LH, .296 vs. RH, .211 with RISP. 4%bb/19% k rates. 50 games at 3B with 9 errors (.910); 2.02 R/F; 4 games at 2B with 2 errors (.900); 6 games in the OF without an error; 12 games at 1B with 1 error (.981); Kennelly has been simply “ok”.

Miguel Abreu, 27, Signed as a free agent in 2012; .292/.307/.399 in 233 AB’s; 4HR 22 RBI; 5SB; 2%bb/6%k rates; .329 vs. LH, .270 vs. RH, .348 with RISP; Hitting .238 since June 1. 23 games at 3B with 3 errors (.940); 14 games at SS with 3 errors (.950); 20 games in the OF without an error, Has also played 1 game at 2B. Although having slowed down offensively as of late, Abreu has played all over the place and provided much needed versatility to the RPhils.

Clearwater

James Murphy, 26, Phils 17th round pick in 2008; .267/.356/.456 in 307 AB’s; 11HR 57 RBI; 1SB; .290 vs. LH, .251 vs. RH, .290 with RISP; 11%bb/22% k rates; Hitting .277 with 6HR and 21 RBI since June 1.  74 games at 1B with 8 errors (.988); 9.23 R/F. Murphy has put up consistent numbers this year and is on pace to move along to Reading in 2013. Doesnt really project as a big leaguer at this stage.

Harold Martinez, 22, Phils 2nd round pick in 2011; .222/.282/.304 in 230 AB’s between Lakewood and CLearwater; 1HR 23 RBI; 2SB; Hitting just .121 in 66 AB’s for CW; 8%bb/18% k rate in Lakewood; 4%bb/26%k rates in Clearwater. 35 games at 1B with 6 errors (.984); 8.34 R/F; 28 games at 3B with 9 errors (.883); 2.43 R/F. Still very early in his transition to the Threshers, but it has been miserable thus far.  I wasnt very enthusiastic about Martinez before his promotion, and a little more soured now. His fielding has been as problematic as his bat.

Jeremy Barnes, 25, Phils 11th round pick in 2009; .165/.250/.189 across 3 levels amd 127 AB’s; 0HR and 11 RBI. 9 games at 3B with 3 errors (.824).  Another miserable year for Barnes.

Lakewood

Chris Duffy, 24, Phils 26th round pick in 2010; .312/.401/.476 in 231 AB’s between Cleawater and Lakewood; 7HR 43RBI; 8%bb/32%K rates in CLearwater; 13%bb/23%k rates in Lakewood.  17 games at 1B with 1 error (.991); 7.42 R/F. Duffy has been outstanding since being sent down to Lakewood and often gets pitched around; Still a defensive liability, he needs to be challenged more offensively.  Needs to be in CLearwater.

Brock Stassi, 22, Phils 33rd round pick in 2011; .256/.340/.284 in 86 AB’s between WP/Lakewood/CW; 2HR 17RBI; 2SB;20 games at 1B with 2 errors (.988); 8.00 R/F; 4 games in the OF without an error.  Has hit .270 in July since beginning to get consistent playing time in Lakewood. I would like to see what he can do consistently over 200 AB’s.

Maikel Franco, 19, SIgned as a free agent in 2009; .241/.293/.370 in 324 AB’s; 8HR 54RBI; 6%bb/15% k rates; .280 vs. LH, .221 vs. RH, .324 with RISP; Hitting .373 in July and has 32 RBI’s since June 1. 78 games at 3B with 9 errors (.951); 2.22 R/F. Franco has really taken it up a notch as of late and has been the Phils organizations top run producer over the last month or so. I like the fact he puts the ball in play and at 19, should move along nicely to Clearwater in 2013.

Williamsport

Chris Serritella, 22, Phils 4th round pick in 2012; .333/.405/.586 in 99 AB’s; 4HR 18 RBI; 11%bb/24%K rates; .393 vs. LH, .310 vs. RH, .286 with RISP. 15 games at 1B with 1 error (.992); 8.73 R/F.   An excellent start for Serritella.  Strikeout rate is a bit of a concern at this low level.

Cameron Perkins, 21, Phils 6th round pick in 2012, .198/.248/.281 in 97 AB’s between GCL and Williamsport; 0HR 9RBI; 1SB; .120 vs. LH; .250 vs. RH; .333 with RISP; 3%bb/11%K rates. 9 games at 1B with 2 errors (.978); 6 games at 3B without an error; 2.00 R/F.  Perkins has struggled early on but is putting the ball in play. Things should improve.

Mitch Walding, 19, Phils 5th round pick in 2011; .326/.375/.427 in 89AB’s; 1HR 18RBI; 1SB; .250 vs. LH, .348 vs. RH, .378 with RISP.  6%bb/19%k rate.  22 games at 3B with 7 errors (.914); 3.36 R/F. Outstanding with the stick, learning to play the corner.

GCL

William Carmona, 21, Phils 11th round pick in 2012; .321/.351/.453 in 53 AB’s; 0HR 11RBI; 5%bb/13% k rates. So far, so good.

Carlos Valenzuela, 21, Signed as a free agent in 2009;.236/.295/.389 in 72 AB’s; 1HR 9 RBI; 6%bb/24%k rates. 9 games at 3B with 1 error (.960); 2.67 R/F. 8 games at 1B without an error; 9.50 R/F. Has also played 1 game at 2B without an error.

Zach Green; 18, Phils 3rd round pick in 2012; .304/.411/.457 in 46 AB’s; 1HR 10RBI; 11%bb/19% k rate.  7 games at 3B with 4 errors (.833); Also played 2 games at SS with 1 error.  10 RBI’s in first 46 AB’s in very nice.

15 thoughts on “Around the System–Corner Infield”

  1. Could someone tell me where I could read to understand why certain prospects are placed at certain levels? As seen above, 2012 draft picks in several locations!

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    1. There are a number of factors that go into placement but the chief ones are age and advanced skills. high school guys right out of high school generally go to GCL because they are very raw. If they are more advanced they’ll go to Williamsport or occasionally Lakewood if they are very advanced for their age. College age guys again depends on what year they come out but they go to Williamsport or Lakewood usually. Prospects rarely drop right to Clearwater. You really don’t want to see a college guy in GCL.

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    1. For mid-round college guys, and especially those limited on the defensive spectrum, you have to really really *really* mash with the bat to become a high level prospect. Right now, Carmona signed late and the only place to get him ABs at this time is at GCL. He is incredibly over-experienced for rookie ball, and anything he does there should be taken with a grain of salt. He’s blocked until Seritella moves up. Next spring we will get a better idea of how the org values him on whether he is placed at CLR or LWD.

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    2. Saw Carmona last summer with Wareham of the Cape League. He struggled a bit getting used to the wood bats, but think he has potential with a bit of power. He has had several good years playing for Stony Brook. As was posted earlier, we’ll know more next season.

      Signing late shouldn’t eb a huge problem- he’ll get in 40 games or so this year, and probably end up in the Florida Instructional League this winter. He’s one (along with harold Martinez and Cameron Rupp) I’m very interested to watch- saw all of them on the Cape (Darrin Ruf as well….).

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  3. I have been highly critical of Ruf as a prospect, and he’s never been on my top 30. It was good to see him out in LF. Hopefully this is something they continue with, as if he can play an average LF, it would enable his bat to play in the bigs.

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    1. Mike Drago ‏@mldrago
      @jmb4028 He looks like he could be adequate out there, not much more. Only played 4 games there, so it’ll take some time to get up to speed.

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  4. Valenzuela- signing date didn’t look right- looked it up- signed in July 2007 and began play in 2008.

    Ruf played LF yesterday as a matter of fact. Seen at 3B and 1B, and has played LF before. Looks like he moves around better than Overbeck anyway, and should be adequate at those positions. Chuck LaMar said last season about playing guys at their best position, see if that continues. He should , at least, get as much of a look as Overbeck got. Won a College Gold Glove equivalent at 1B.

    Franco seems to be acclimating fine at Lakewood, so much for the call to ship him down to WPT at the start of the Short Seasons and create a logjam.

    Asche and H. Martinez, might as well stay the course this season and bump them up next season, no sense creating a logjam, and maybe they acclimate later.

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    1. Marfis – I agree that they should stay the course with Asche and HMart, though I think they shouldn’t have promoted either of them in the first place. But, I don’t see them being promoted to start next season. I think (or hope) they’ll start the 2013 season at Reading at Clearwater respectively

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  5. Gregg – happy you mentioned that Duff should be in Clearwater. It’s difficult for me to understand the brass’s strategy here. 27-yr old Org fillers like Murphy, though valuable, should not keep a hitter with advanced plate discipline from being promoted. Barnes is another who is getting DH ABs with Clearwater. Why exactly? It could be argued that Duffy might even be best suited for Reading.

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  7. I loved the Duffy draft pick. Just not sure why he was not promoted more aggressively as a MVP type college senior. He should have been in Williamsport not GCL his first season.
    Given how low he is in the system there is very little hope he gets to the majors but I will keep pushing for him.

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