Around the System–Corner Infield

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Next trip around starts with a look at the corner infield…

Lehigh Valley

Cody Asche, 23, Phils 4th round pick in 2011; .281/.342/.444 in 324 AB’s; 8HR 49RBI; 7SB; .256 vs. LH, .291 vs. RH, .243 with RISP; .304 since June 1; 8%bb/23%k rates. 83 games at 3B with 9 errors (.960); 2.59 R/F. Asche is progressing exactly as you would hope and is ready to take over the Phils 3B position in 2014 if not sooner.

Josh Fields, 30, Signed as a free agent in 2013; .314/.370/462 in 223 AB ‘s; 4HR 32 RBI; 6SB; .382 vs. LH, .279 vs. RH, .358 with RISP; .292 since June 1; 8%bb/28% k rates. 21 games at 1B with 3 errors (.982); 5 games at 3B without an error; 8 games in the OF without an error; Fields has done everything Lehigh Valley has asked and done it well.  The numbers against lefties make me think a Howard/Fields platoon would work much better than Howard alone.

Cody Overbeck, 27, Phils 9th round pick in 2008; .251/.308/.498 in 263 AB’s; 15HR 42RBI; 1SB; .329 vs. LH; .223 vs. RH, .176 with RISP; .299 since June 1; 7%bb/28% k rates; 53 games at 1B with 3 errors (.993); 8.34 R/F. Overbeck has picked it up as of late and may be the best pure power hitter on the team, but the high “k” rate, and low avg. with RISP kill him.

Reading

Maikel Franco, 20, Signed as a free agent in 2010; .321/.363/.596 in 327 AB’s between Clearwater and Reading; 20 HR 63RBI; 1SB; Hitting .413 with 4HR and 11 RBI in his 63 AB’s with Reading; 6%bb/12% k rates. 79 games at 3B with 9 errors (.954); 2.38 R/F. Simply outstanding. The Phils will have a very nice problem on their hands with the 3B logjam come mid 2014 if this production continues.

Tyler Henson, 25, Signed as a free agent in 2013; .266/.333/.404 in 219 AB’s; 4HR 19RBI; 9SB; .194 vs. LH, .278 vs. RH, .167 with RISP; .178 since June 1; 8%bb/29% k rates. 31 games at 3B with 7 errors (.914); 4 games at 1B without an error; 26 games without an error in the OF; 2 OF assists; Henson has really struggled since an early season injury and has now lost a considerable amount of playing time.

Tommy Medonca, 25, Signed as a free agent in 2013; .257/.299/.368 in 136 AB’s; 1HR 20RBI; .231 vs. LH, .261 vs. RH, .400 with RISP. .250 since June 1; 5%bb/24% k rate. 23 games at 3B with 7 errors (.900); Picked up early in the year because of injuries, Medonca picked it up after a miserable start, just in time to lose his job to the promoted Maikel Franco.  Being used almost exclusively as a DH.

Jim Murphy, 27, Phils 17th round pick in 2006; .291/.365/.507 in 306AB’s ; 15HR 51RBI; 1SB; .291 vs. LH, .291 vs. RH, .318 with RISP; .283 since June 1; 10%bb/19% k rates; 82 games at 1B with 2 errors (.997); 8.34 R/F. Murphy has been a model of consistency for Reading this year.

Clearwater

Harold Martinez, 23, .220/.251/.292 in 168 AB’s; 1HR 9RBI; 4SB; .211 vs. LHP, .223 vs. RHOP, .156 with RISP; .241 since June 1; 3%bb/25% k rate; 11 games at 1B with 1 error (.989); 14 games at 3B with 4 errors (.900); Brutal.  Slightly less brutal since Franco’s promotion which has given Martinez more regular playing time.

Chris Serritella, 23, Phils 4th round pick in 2012; .276/.311/.410 in 293 AB’s; 6HR 33 RBI; .194 vs. LH, .301 vs. RH, .201 with RISP; .312 since June 1; 5%bb/24%K rates; 44 games at 1B with 3 errors (.992); 8.74 R/F. Serritella has definitely taken it up a notch and become a key run producer for CLearwater, but true progression is held back because of his work against lefties.

Brock Stassi, 23; .306/.336/.435 in 124 AB’s; 3HR 15RBI; 1SB; .333 vs. LH, .298 vs. RH, .250 with RISP; .339 since June 1; 5%bb/14% k rates. 29 games at 1B with 1 error (.996); 10 games in the OF without an error (2 OF assists); Stassi has been outstanding in the role he has been asked to play. 

Miguel Abreu, 28, Signed as a free agent in 2012; .241/.267/.275 in 112 AB’s between CLearwater, Reading and Lehigh Valley; 3HR 11RBI; Abreu is a versatile player who has played dependably all over the diamond.

Lakewood

Willie Carmona, 22; .301/.344/.425 in 266 AB’s; 4HR 35RBI; 1SB; .323 vs. LH, .294 vs. RH, .324 with RISP; .364 since June 1; 6%bb/22% k rates; 21 games at 1B with 1 error (.914); 9.01 R/F; Has also played 8 games at 3B with 1 error. Carmona has played very well and is a guy I would like to see challenged by moving up a level.  Hits both RH and LH consistently.

Art Charles, 22, Acquired from Toronto in 2013; .241/.347/.416 in 257 AB’s; 8HR 40 RBI; 1SB; .203 vs. LH, .253 vs RH, .223 with RISP; .211 since June 1; 14%bb/25% k rates; 64 games at 1B with 11 errors (.979); 8.14 R/F. Charles has really struggled since mid May and his season can be currently labeled disappointing.  That said, he has a nice OBP because of a keen batting eye.

Mitch Walding, 20, Phils 5th round pick in 2011; .240/.330/.317 in 271 AB’s; 1HR 35RBI; 3SB; .230 vs. LH, .243 vs. RH, .284 with RISP; .220 since June 1; 11%bb/26% k rates. 75 games at 3B with 17 errors (.921); 2.64 R/F. While far from impressive numbers, Walding is only 20, and been productive at times.  The Phils can afford some patience with the 3B talent ahead of him in the organization.

Williamsport

Logan Pierce, 23, Phils 15th round pick in 2013 draft; .328/.379/.508 in 61AB’s; 2HR 11 RBI; 16 games at 1B with 3 errors (.981); Pierce has been excellent ths far, but good numbers are the expectation for 23 year olds in the NYPL.

Zach Green, 19, Phils 3rd round pick in 2012 draft; .299/.377/.687 in 67 AB’s; 4HR 14RBI; 2SB;  17 games at 3B with 8 errors (.852); Check out that slugging percentage.

GCL

Wilmer Oberto, 20; Signed as a free agent in 2009; Hitting .333 in 27 AB’s; 7 games at 1B without an error

Jose Mayorga, 20; Signed as a free agent in 2010; Played 2 games at 1B without an error; Hitting .125 in 8 AB’s;

Trey Williams, 19, Phils 7th round pick in 2013 draft; Hitting .100 in 20 AB’s; 5 games at 3B with 4 errors (.500); 2 games at 1B without an error.

Jan Hernandez, 18, Phils 3rd round pick in 2013 draft; Hitting .125 in 16 AB’s; 5 games at 3B with 2 errors (.714)

Sam Dove, 22, Phils 14th round pick in 2013 draft; Hitting .154 in 13AB’s; 3 games at 3B with 1 error (.700); 2 games at 2B without an error.

12 thoughts on “Around the System–Corner Infield”

  2. Walding is a very precarious position….Franco and Asche in front of him and Zach Green/Trey Williams/Jan Hernandez on his coat-tails. He could be feeling some pressure.

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    1. You are right Romus he could find himself in the Harold Martinez position before he knows it

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      1. Very disappointing season from him so far. Was expecting him to take a big step forward this year. Lots of strikeouts with no power (0.87 ISO).

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  3. Carmona, Pierce, and Oberto need to play at higher levels. Their being where they are is wasting time. Mayorga is really a catcher, but it is interesting to see him at first base. Stassi does not have the pedigree, nor the numbers for a first baseman or outfielder. He has played at different positions and is a good clutch hitter. Like Alonso, he seems to be on the cusp praying for a chance.

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  4. I still think Walding will end up with a promotion to Clearwater next year. He’s doing about the same thing that H-Mart did in Lakewood last year, but is a year younger at that level.

    Speaking of H-Mart, Willie Carmona might have a spot if they promote him- he was a 3B in college, correct? I don’t know if the Phils are still holding out real hope that Martinez can be a player, but if not they can put Carmona at 3B in Clearwater and still give Serritella all the time at 1B.

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    1. The curse of a high draft pick…..the FO cannot cut their losses due to looking assinine in the drafting department.

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  6. Cody Asches Lefty vs Righty splits looking better. I can live with a .250 avg versus lefties.

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  7. Lots of 3B types throughout the system… as Fields, Perkins (last year), HMart, Carmona, Pierce (in college), Williams all had some time at 3B even though they are not the primary 3B for their teams.

    Fields might be a better callup to the bigs than Ruf (to wins game rather than developmentally), especially if M.Young is traded. Can play all the corners and good against lefties with some power. [I’d call Ruf for D.Young.]
    Perkins is now intrenched at RF which is okay for now but I think he will be a ‘corners’ guy eventually. Makes sense to keep him situated and hitting until proven otherwise.
    HMart is likely a lost cause so I’d probably call Carmona up to play 3B at CLW and see how he finishes the year.
    Pierce appears to be the ‘over-age bat at 1B’ that Phillies seems to have at every level. He will likely need to follow the ‘Ruf path’ to have any chance, then Phillies might re-try him at 3B. Overbeck was talked about as an option at 3B years ago.
    Williams still has a long ways to go. Just get the bat going first then see if they can improve his fielding.

    3B’s throughout the lower system have terrible fielding percentages for what it’s worth.

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    1. You have to remember that those 3b in the farm Walding , Green, Williams, etc were all H.S. shortstops now learning a new position. I think Green even played some SS in the GCL. There will be an adjustment period for these guys learning a new position. Give it time. Nothing I’ve seen or read up to this point indicates our younger 3b can’t stick there.

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  8. Mendonca has been released. He was a 2nd round pick in 09 and had 25 homeruns in AA in 2011 before missing a lot of time last year due to injuries. I think the Phillies should’ve kept him around a little longer. Definitely has more upside than Tyler Henson.

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