Clearwater Threshers Recap – 6/18/2018

Box Score Recap

The Clearwater Threshers (31-35) lost to Bradenton, 3-2 in ten innings.  McKenzie Mills (4.46) was asked to start out of the bullpen and provided four innings of one-run ball.  He allowed 6 hits, but walked just one batter and struck out five.  However, he needed 82 pitches (49 strikes) to complete those four innings.  Grant Dyer made his first appearance of the season and threw a scoreless, one-hit inning.  

Aaron Brown (5.57) pitched two innings and allowed a game -tying HR and blew his 4th save.  Jakob Hernandez (3.41) pitched two, scoreless, one-hit innings and struck out two.  Felix Paulino (0-3, 3.05) got to pitch the first inning of the shootout and gave up a sacrifice bunt to the lead off batter. With a runner on third, he walked the next batter and intentionally walked the following batter before getting the second out on a strike out.  But, he couldn’t extricate himself from the mess and gave up a walk off single.

After losing Darick Hall and now Austin Listi, the Threshers have an anemic offense.  Add to that Mickey Moniak’s absence from the line up, and they are really offensively challenged.

They got a 2-run HR (4) from Luke Williams in the third inning to take a one-run lead, but were unable to add any more runs.  Williams (.219) had 2 hits.  Grenny Cumana had 3 hits. The 1 thru 7 batters in the line up had five hits.

The Threshers had 2 outfield assists – Cumana at home and Pujols at third.

The Threshers stole 2 bases on 4 attempts.  The Marauders went 4 for 4 (against Mills/Cabral) and stole home on a double steal.

BTW, I’ve heard that Moniak’s absence was due to a medical procedure.  But, since my most recent inside information was wrong, I’ll not go into specifics.  Except to say that if it is what I’ve heard, I’ve had the same procedure.  It’s not serious and he may not miss more than a game or two.

  • #1 Sixto Sanchez (4-3 , 2.51): is on the 7-day DL with elbow inflammation
  • #2 Adonis Medina (6-2, 4.27):
  • #3 Adam Haseley (.296): went 1-5
  • #4 Mickey Moniak (.254): DNP
  • #8 Arquimedes Gamboa (.269): went 0-4 with a BB
  • #17 Jose Gomez (.230):
  • #21 McKenzie Mills (0-2, 4.46): 4.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
  • #25 J.D. Hammer (1-1, 7.36):
  • #28 Connor Seabold (3-4, 3.90):
  • Bailey Falter (4-2, 3.08):

In other action –

Lehigh Valley (40-29) did not play.

  • #12 Enyel De Los Santos (7-3, 1.47):
  • #13 Tom Eshelman (1-6, 7.09):
  • #14 Roman Quinn (.289): 7-day DL, right middle finger strain
  • #16 Dylan Cozens (.226): called up to Philadelphia (on the 10-day DL)
  • #22 Drew Anderson (3-2, 4.15): 
  •  #23 Cole Irvin (8-2, 2.50):

Reading (27-40) did not play.

  • #6 JoJo Romero (4-4, 5.05):
  • #7 Franklyn Kilome (1-4, 4.66),
  • #9 Ranger Suarez (2-3, 3.25):
  • #15 Cornelius Randolph (.197):

Lakewood (41-28) did not play.

  • #5 Jhailyn Ortiz (.258):
  • #11 Daniel Brito (.242):
  • #18 Kyle Young (1-3, 3.52):
  • #20 Spencer Howard (3-6, 5.25):
  • #27 Simon Muzziotti (.293): 7-day DL (hand injury, in Clearwater)
  • #30 Nick Maton (.266):

Williamsport (2-2) beat Auburn 7-3.  Juan Escorcia pitched five one-hit innings, striking out seven, and walking none.  His game score was 75.  More on him later.  Denny Martinez gave up one run on 3 hits in two innings while striking out five.  Anton Kuznetsov (6.00) entered in the eighth and blew his second save, conceding 2 runs to tie the game.  He lucked into the win when the offense bailed him out in the bottom of the inning.

The Cutters scored a run in the fourth when Matt Vierling singled, stole second, and scored on Danny Mayer’s RBI double.  They extended their lead to 3-0 with 2 runs in the fifth on Edwin Rodriguez’ RBI double and Vierling’s RBI single.  After the Doubledays tied the game in the eighth, the Cutters’ responded with 4 runs in the bottom of the inning on Ben Pelletier’s two-out RBI single, Seth Lancaster’s 2-run triple, and Jesus Henriquez’ RBI triple.

Edwin Rodriguez went 3-4 with 2 doubles.  Brayan Gonzalez, Vierling, and Henriquez had 2 hits each.

Vierling (2)and catcher Rafael Marchan (3) each stole a base.

Juan Escorcia was signed as a free agent this past January.  It appears he was not playing organized ball anywhere that MiLB or Baseball Reference follows.  He DID play in the Yankees’ organization 2014-2016.  His age 18 season was spent in the DSL.  He played his age 19 and 20 season in the GCL.  He had a problem with walks and was released after the 2016 season.  He’s 22 now and is about 11 months older than the average batter in the NYPL and about a half-year older than the other pitchers in the league.  So, he’s not terribly “too old” for the league.  His difficulties when he was younger may have been that he came from a nation not usually known for advanced baseball players – Columbia.  So, maybe he’s just coming into his own.  Anyway, 7 K and 0 BB in five innings will catch your eye.  If he maintains that level of performance for a few more starts, perhaps he is promoted quickly like Ramon Russo was last season.  We’ll see.

  • #19 Francisco Morales (5.40):
  • #29 Jonathan Guzman: DNP

The GCL Phillies East (1-0) opened their season with an 8-3 victory over the Yankees West.

Victor Santos gave up the 3 runs in five innings on 6 hits, 0 walsk, and 4 strike outs.  But, he pitched so much better than his line shows.  He retired the first 8 batters he faced which included his 4 strike outs.  The ninth batter reached on a fielding error.  He then retired three batters in a row before 5 consecutive hits put the Yankees on the board.  He composed himself and retired 4 of the next five batters.  His FB was 90-92 mph (and still 92 when I checked again in his fourth inning, although he threw a lot more off speed stuff in the fourth).

Gabriel Yanez took over for the next two innings and stymied the Yankee batters.  He faced the minimum, struck out four, and got a come backer among his 6 outs.

Bailey Cummings pitched the final two innings.  He struck out the first four batters he faced before conceding a two out single to left.  He got a ground ball to second that Alejandro Made (ma day) made a great stop on moving to his left, but threw wide to first.  Cummings got another ground ball to shortstop Logan Simmons’ right.  The rookie made a strong, off-balance throw to end the game.

The Phillies built an 8 run lead with 6 in the second and 2 in the third.  The inning started with Jake Holmes and Luke Miller lining singles to the outfield (Miller’s first pro hit). Carlos De La Cruz followed with his first pro hit, a line drive, 2-run double to left.  Juan Aparacio singled to right to put runners on the corners.  Alejandro Made reached on a fielding error, De La Cruz scored.  Julio Francisco singled to load the bases(on a ball off the pitcher’s face).  Logan Simmons’ lifted a sac fly to plate Aparicio.  And, Carlos Oropeza doubled to score the final two runs of the rally.

Miller and De La Cruz singled to open the third inning.  Juliio Francisco launched a 2-run double over the right fielder’s head to complete the Phillies scoring for the day.  They continued to put runners on base, but could’t push another run across.  In fact, they had base runners in every inning.

Julio Francisco (Williamsport’s HR leader) went 3-4 with a double, 2 RBI, and a walk.

Carlos Oropeza went 2-4 with 2 RBI and a walk.

Jake Holmes went 2-5 with a double and a fly ball out, deep in the LCF gap (nice catch).

Luke Miller went 2-4 with 2 runs scored.

Carlos De La Cruz went 2-3 with 2 runs scored, a double, 2 RBI, and a walk.

Here’s the affiliate scoreboard from MiLB.

One prospect is in Philadelphia.

  • #10 Seranthony Dominguez: retains prospect status until June 20th

And one prospect is unassigned.

  • #26 Kevin Gowdy: not expected to pitch this season

DSL Phillies Red (3-11) won, 7-4.

DSL Phillies White (6-8) lost 9-2.

GCL Phillies West begins its season on Tuesday, June 19th v. GCL Yankees East.

  • #24 Luis Garcia:

Transactions – The GCL transactions hadn’t posted before I left for the game.  The Phillies did provide a roster for both teams.  The transactions had posted by this evening.  They are listed below, but I didn’t get to update my files, although I did check and correct the Leiter duplicate entry. (Thank you).

There are 2 new NDFAs at the Complex, both pitchers – Blake Bennett a 22-year old, RHP from Memphis and Ethan Evanko a 23-year old LHP from Grand Canyon University.

6/18/18–Philadelphia optioned Hector Neris to Lehigh Valley
6/18/18–Philadelphia signed RHP Tyler McKay.
6/18/18–Philadelphia signed RHP Brandon Ramey.
6/18/18–Philadelphia signed RHP Dominic Pipkin.
6/18/18–Philadelphia signed C Jack Conley.
6/18/18–Philadelphia signed LHP Taylor Lehman.
6/18/18–Philadelphia signed LHP Gabriel Cotto.
6/18/18–Philadelphia signed RHP Jack Perkins.
6/18/18–Philadelphia selected the contract of LHP Austin Davis from Lehigh Valley
6/18/18–1B Austin Listi assigned to Reading from Clearwater
6/18/18–1B Kyle Martin assigned to Clearwater from Reading
6/18/18–Reading released 2B Brandon Bednar.
6/18/18–RHP Luis Cedeno assigned to Lakewood from Clearwater
6/18/18–Clearwater activated RHP Grant Dyer from the 7-day DL
6/18/18–RHP Eric White assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–LHP Gabriel Yanez assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–C Jack Conley assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–LHP Gabriel Cotto assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–LHP Taylor Lehman assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–RHP Alejandro Made assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–RHP Tyler McKay assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–GCL Phillies East placed RHP Robinson Martinez on the 60-day DL
6/18/18–RHP Daniel Vilchez assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–C Juan Aparicio assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–SS Edgar Made assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–SS Jose Mercado assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–2B Jose Rivera assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–SS Logan Simmons assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–OF Ben Aklinski assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–RHP Bryan Alcala assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–RHP Tyler Carr assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–OF Carlos De La Cruz assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–RHP Jonas De La Cruz assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–RHP Carlos Francisco assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–RHP Dominic Pipkin assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–RHP Mark Potter assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–OF Luke Miller assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–SS Jose Tortolero assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–RHP Victor Santos assigned to GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–SS Luis Garcia assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–RHP Alex Garcia assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–RHP Adam Cox assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–Ben Brown assigned to GCL Phillies West from GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–3B Alec Bohm assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–D.J. Stewart assigned to GCL Phillies West from GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–C Abrahan Gutierrez assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–LHP Jaylen Smith assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–RHP Brandon Ramey assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–RHP Jack Perkins assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–RHP James McArthur assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–RHP Victor Vargas assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–RHP Jose Conopoima assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–RHP Rafi Gonell assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–C Rixon Taylor-Wingrove assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–SS Christian Valerio assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–Sati Santa Cruz assigned to GCL Phillies West from GCL Phillies East.
6/18/18–OF Corbin Williams assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–OF Yerwin Trejo assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–RHP Luis Matos assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–OF Trent Bowles assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–RHP Antonio Canizales assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–3B Matt Kroon assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–RHP Kyle Glogoski assigned to GCL Phillies West.
6/18/18–CF Mani Boekhoudt assigned to DSL Phillies White.
6/18/18–LHP Rafael Marcano assigned to DSL Phillies White.
6/18/18–DSL Phillies White placed OF Cesar Mata on the 7-day DL
6/18/18–Taylor Lehman signed as a non-drafted free agent
6/18/18–Brian Auerbach signed as a non-drafted free agent
6/17/18–Philadelphia placed RHP Luis Garcia on the 10-day DL. Right wrist sprain
6/17/18–Philadelphia optioned RHP Mark Leiter Jr. to Lehigh Valley
6/17/18–Philadelphia recalled RHP Jake Thompson from Lehigh Valley
6/17/18–Philadelphia recalled RHP Yacksel Rios from Lehigh Valley
6/17/18–Reading placed LHP Elniery Garcia on the 7-day DL. Right shin contusion.
6/17/18–CF Julio Francisco assigned to GCL Phillies from Williamsport
6/17/18–OF Matt Vierling assigned to Williamsport
6/17/18–SS Seth Lancaster assigned to Williamsport
6/15/18–Alexito Feliz released
6/13/18–Gustavo Ferrer released

The rosters and lists are up to date as of 6/16.

 

38 thoughts on “Clearwater Threshers Recap – 6/18/2018”

  1. Johan Rojas, a 17 yo playing for DSL Red, looks interesting. He plays CF and has 2 assists in his 13 games. He’s hitting .342 in his last 10 games and .286/.352/.388 on the season. He could be someone to keep an eye on. Let’s see how his season progresses.

    Dalvin Rosario on DSL White has had a very unsuccessful start to his career. He’s already 18 and pitched (sort of) last year. In 2 games in 2017, he never recorded an out and gave up 10 ERs. That’s an ERA of infinity. This year he’s pitched 3 times and has given up 14 runs in his 9 total innings of work. He’s been an automatic loss every time out. He has 11 Ks but also 8 BBs.

  2. Alejandro Made was a high profile sign last year out of the DR. Weird thing is he was signed as a pitcher. Now he’s playing 2B. Is that right or is this a different guy? He’s listed at 6’4″ 190 lbs. That’s a pretty tall 2nd baseman. He is linked in MiLB.com to the pitcher from the DSL last year.

    1. I believe there’s an Edgar Made on the team as well who is a MI. That’s probably the source of the confusion. The Milb website got them crossed.

  3. Jim didn’t want to give away a confidence but per Mickey’s dad, Moniak had his 4 wisdom teeth removed. He’ll be back by the weekend. They were causing him headaches, as many of us can remember from our younger days.
    Jim, maybe the Listi move was brought about by the all star game performance. He’s just too good for that league and already 24. Give him a chance at Reading. Hopefully Hall is starting to find his way at Reading. I’m guessing Scheiner will be moved up to Cwater after their ASG.

    1. It may be that what he did in the AS game convinced them that what they already intended to do (promote) was indeed the right thing.

      I am very anxious to see what Listi does in AA. His performance in Clearwater over the last month or so was eye opening. It wasn’t just the hitting or the power surge – both of which were impressive – it was his rapidly improving plate discipline with almost a walk a game in addition to the hitting. His OPS in June is over 1.200 – it’s a big deal.

      As I said before, I know he’s 24, but it’s not like he’s been stalled in the minors. He was drafted as a 23 year old and has moved rapidly ever since. If he can put on a solid display in AA for the next month and a half, he might even finish the year at AAA. Age does matter a lot, but there are some extenuating circumstances with him so as long as he’s moving and hitting, I’m not going to hold his age against him too much.

      1. I agree. He put himself on the map with his performance this year. Good for him. Now let’s see if the two college teammates can share 1B/DH and hit well at AA.

        1. Honestly, he just needs the at bats. If they’ve got to kick someone out of left field so he can get in the line-up some days, that’s fine with me. I don’t care if he botches a lot of things out there so long as he can develop his hitting. And if he can play a passable left field, so much the better.

          1. Judging by their history, I don’t think the Phillies would have a problem putting him in LF if they believe in his bat. He’s old for his level, which isn’t really his fault but it does put him squarely in the “prove it at every level” camp. Odds are he’s Jim Murphy. But if he’s not he’s getting a chance to show that.

            1. You’re right that he has to prove it at every level and he needs to move fairly quickly through the system. But he’s already separated himself from the likes of Jim Murphy who didn’t hit really well at Clearwater until he was 26 (almost 27) and, even when he did, he didn’t put up numbers anywhere close to Listi’s. To me, Listi was just a curiosity until he showed that he could draw walks in bunches which is not only a valuable skill for advancement, it shows that he’s learning and progressing quickly. We will soon see and even Reading is not the real test – that begins at Lehigh Valley.

  4. Keep an eye on De La Cruz – he’s big and people who have seen him in person rave about his ability.

      1. Yup – that’s where the rubber typically meets the road with hitting prospects.

    1. Cumana is a 5’5″ infielder, who they are trying in LF. So far it’s been very very good. He has 2 OF assists and he’s tearing the cover off the ball but it is only 5 games. He’s been in the organization for 5 years and has held his own. At 5’5″ opposing teams might think there’s nobody in LF. He’s about as tall as a blade of grass.

      1. It’s still a weird place to put him if he’s really as slight of a guy as his baseball reference page suggests he is (145 pounds).

  6. … and Alec Bohm’s pro career is off and running (in a major way). Bohm tripled in his first GCL AB today. He should be in Williamsport within a week and Lakewood within a month. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t mind if they jumped him right to Lakewood.

    1. rocco………..’Why cant he go to clearwater now?’
      Good question….but do not think that is the protocol the Phillies do.
      Johnny A already said a few ABs in the GCL then a move up.

    2. I know Bohm gets low grades on his speed, but when I’ve seen him play, he’s looked like an average runner (at least) to me. Put it this way … if Bohm raced Maikel Franco and Rhys Hoskins from home to first, Bohm would easily win (IMO).

  10. Was watching the Clearwater game and while I turned away from the screen for a second there was a very loud bang, I thought a bomb went off and when I looked back players were running off the field. Then the play by play guy says that it was lighting and it was very close. Didn’t even look like it was going to be a storm.

    1. Tim…this kid, at 22 years old, better have three plus pitches against 20 year olds.
      How come the Yankees let him go?

    1. He never came around to their liking after three total seasons in the DSL and GCL

      2. Before last night’s Crosscutters game:

        1. After last night’s game:

          1. Well the Phillie may have found gold with another MLB team’s rejection….there was Edubray Ramos, then Ramon Russo and maybe now Juan Escorcia.
            That year off he must have done something to improve his overall pitching skills.

  14. Watched Clearwater, first time seeing Medina this year, damn was he impressive. It’s a weird angle where they have the camera, it’s in the press box so you are looking down from behind the plant and no gun but he was getting K’s left and right.

    In terms of upside, how far is Medina from Sixto?

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