In non-trade deadline news, Lehigh Valley won a closely contested game. Reading got shut out. Jersey Shore split a doubleheader. Clearwater and the FCL Phillies fell victim to COVID-19. And, both DSL teams won.
We have lost a couple players today to the MLB trade deadline. I’ve probably known Kevin and Mr. Gowdy the longest. I met several of the fathers of the “Moniak” draft that summer. It was the first draft where I actively interacted with players AND families. I’ve watched Kevin struggle through rehabs as he attempted to regain his pre-injury form. I’ve watched him enough to pick up on one of his pre-pitch idiosyncracies. If you watch video or get to see him in person, between pitches he almost always adjusts his cap at the brim.
Mr. Howard has been a frequent visitor to Phuture Phillies. I have to admit that Spencer kind of snuck up on me. He skipped GCL and went straight to Williamsport. He burst onto the scene at Lakewood. I only got to see him briefly as he blew through Clearwater in 2019. In the 3 home games I saw him pitch, he went 14.2 innings, 5 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 25 strikeouts. Impressive, eh?
Josh Gessner was an international free agent signed in 2019 just before his 19th birthday. He has seen limited action with his 20 innings split on either side of the lost 2020 season. I knew him enough to say hi or give a head nod. I think he might develop into something. But, he’s 21 and still in rookie ball.
Abrahan Gutierrez is a player whom a lot of people think is a big loss. He’s a big fellow and hits very well. I think that long term he wouldn’t have a position with the Phillies. He might not even stay at catcher. I don’t think he’s as polished behind the plate as Marchan, O’Hoppe, Duran. If he has to move off catcher to a corner, his bat plays less.
Tyler Burch was an NDFA in 2019. He was shipped to Williamsport after one GCL inning. Like most young pitchers, his development was affected by the pandemic. He was carving out a niche in Double-A when he was traded.
Good luck to all these players and families. I always miss our players when they are traded, retire, or are released. I try to keep track of them in their new orgs. That’s hard to keep up with. But, I still think of Sam McWilliams, Filiberto Sanchez, Will Stewart, Herlis Rodriguez, Kelly Dugan, Mark Leiter, Jan Hernandez, Kyle Young, Jose Pujols, Tyler Frowirth, Matt Imhof, Harold Martinez, Brandon Ramey, Austin Bossart, Franklyn Kilome, Cord Sandberg, Pete Lavin, and on and on and on.
Lehigh Valley (34-41) beat Rochester, 3-2. Tyler Alexander (4.50) pitched five innings and gave up just one run on 4 hits and 4 walks. He struck out three. Damon Jones (1-2, 6.31) picked up the win with two scoreless innings. He gave up 2 hits, walked two, and struck out four. Brady Lail (10.13) gave up an unearned run on 2 hits in 0.2 innings. He was aided by Jake Hernandez (6.35) who stranded an inherited runner and retired his one batter with a strikeout. Mauricio Llovera (4.60) picked up his fourth save with a clean inning.
The IronPigs scored first with a run in the first inning on Jorge Bonaficio’s solo HR (2). The Red Wings tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a solo HR. The itchers traded scoreless frames until the IronPigs scored twice in the eighth on Charlie Tilson’s RBI triple and Nick Maton’s RBI single. The Wings scored once in the bottom of the inning on a fielding error, but Hernandez and Llovera brought the win home.
Charlie Tilson (.299) went 2-4 with a triple and RBI. Jorge Bonifacio (.357) went 2-4 with a HR (2) and RBI. Matt Vierling (.220) went 2-4. Nick Maton (.197) went 1-4 with an RBI.
Reading (30-46) lost to Somerset, 7-0. Adam Leverett (0-4, 9.37) gave up 4 runs in 5.1 innings on 6 hits. He walked none and struck out eight. He left with a runner on base and Aneury Zabala (7.82) let him score plus 3 more. Zach Warren (2.59) was the evening’s bright spot with one clean inning in 12 pitches/ 9 strikes and 2 strikeouts. The Phils’ offense collected 4 singles and 4 walks.
Jersey Shore (34-42) exchanged shutouts with Brooklyn, losing 4-0 and winning 3-0.
Game One: Dominic Pipkin (4-2, 4.47) pitched five innings and gave up 3 runs on 5 hits and 5 walks. He struck out three. DJ Stewart (.225) went 2-3. Logan O’Hoppe (.271) went 1-3. Jhailyn Ortiz (.264) went 0-3.
Game Two: Ethan Lindow (3-4, 2.15) tossed a complete game. He went all seven innings, allowed 4 hits, walked none, and struck out seven. He threw 79 pitches, 59 strikes (74.7%). Toss in a double play and Lindow faced just 24 batters in his seven innings.
The BlueClaws scored the only run Lindow would need in the second inning on Herbert Iser’s sac fly. They added a couple of insurance runs in the third on RBI singles by Logan O’Hoppe (.271) and Vito Friscia (.262). The BlueClaws only had 4 hits themselves with Jonathan Guzman (.182) adding a double and Chris Cornelius (.233) a single.
Clearwater (37-37) game hosting Fort Myers was cancelled. The game information on the Affiliate Scoreboard says “Postponed: COVID-19“. I don’t recall ever seeing that as a reason this season. Before the game was banged, Mick Abel was NOT listed as the starting pitcher. He hasn’t pitched since July 21st. Just sayin’. (Note: I don’t think he’s a COVID candidate. My concern is that he left his July 15th start with some sort of discomfort, and only pitched 3.1 innings on July 21st.) BTW, the Threshers used the day to test all personnel and clean all surfaces and such in the ballpark.
FCL Phillies (10-6) game hosting the FCL Tigers East was cancelled. The game information on the FCL Scoreboard says “Cancelled: COVID-19“. Okay, so, I don’t recall ever seeing that twice as a reason this season. Their next games are Monday at the Blue Jays and Tuesday at home. I would assume they are doing the same as the Threshers at the Complex and with personnel.
DSL Phillies Red (5-7) beat DSL Cardinals Blue, 2-1. C Rickardo Perez (.286) DNP. RHP Oswald Medina (0.75) pitched four innings, allowed 4 hits, walked one, and struck out five. In 3 starts, he has thrown twelve innings, allowed 16 hits, walked one, and struck out ten. His GO/AO is 2.29.
DSL Phillies White (8-4) beat DSL Cardinals Red, 9-6. The Phillies overcame a 5-3 deficit with a 6-run seventh. Yermal Flores (.182) DNP, and hasn’t since 7/26. CF Albert Rodriguez (.226) went 2-4 with a double and 3 RBI.
The Affiliate Scoreboard, the FCL Scoreboard, and the DSL Scoreboard.
Transactions
7/30/2021 – Baltimore traded SS Freddy Galvis to Phillies for RHP Tyler Burch
7/30/2021 – Phillies designated RHP Brandon Kintzler for assignment
7/30/2021 – Phillies activated CF Travis Jankowski from the 10-day IL
7/30/2021 – Phillies placed RF Matt Joyce on the 60-day IL, low back strain
7/30/2021 – Pittsburgh traded LHP Braeden Ogle to Phillies for C Abrahan Gutierrez
7/30/2021 – Texas traded RHP Hans Crouse, RHP Ian Kennedy, RHP Kyle Gibson, and cash to Phillies for RHP Spencer Howard, RHP Josh Gessner, and RHP Kevin Gowdy
7/30/2021 – LHP Braeden Ogle assigned to Lehigh Valley IronPigs
7/30/2021 – Phillies optioned LHP Cristopher Sanchez to Lehigh Valley
7/30/2021 – RHP Hans Crouse assigned to Reading Fightin Phils
Phuture Phillies 
Thanks Jim, I agree that it’s always hard to lose guys that we all follow closely. Good luck to all.
It’s safe to say that Lindor has fully rebounded and is ready to try AA again.
Ethan Lindow went 7 innings, wow it’s a miracle. He only threw 76 pitches, he could have gone 9. What is his story and projection? Thanks.
I like Lindow a lot. See him as a 3/4 SP, especially being a lefty. Tom Glavine lite. If he and our higher ranked and harder throwing LHP Erik Miller develop as projected, they could form a nice future middle to back of the rotation tandem…unless they get traded, of course.
he’d be rule 5 eligible this winter i believe?
Similar to Suarez, not a hard thrower he relies on location. He started this year in AA but got rocked. Seems to have found itself back in high A, where he only spent a little time in 2019. Location type pitchers can be expected to suffer the most after the lost season. He’ll be back in AA again very soon and the results will tell a lot.
Thanks Murray.
Welcome back Freddy Galvis? I was beginning to get on the Tyler Burch bandwagon.
yes, good luck to all the guys that were traded.
was looking at Yanks prospect rankings as im going to Reading tonight and they play Somerset.
Guy who shut down Reading friday, lefty Ken Waldichuck is Yanks #22 prospect, now 4-1 in AA but prior to that in 7 starts in A ball he went 30 innings, 0 runs and 55 k’s.
Great post Jim! I echo your sentiments and thank you for providing your prospective.
Looks like people got their wish, Jhailyn Ortiz has been promoted to Reading.
Agree, Jim. We followed these guys so closely it’s like we know them. And, of course, you do. Same for the 2010 draft list. Lots of familiar names. It is just another reminder of how many are called and how few are chosen in baseball.
BTW, thanks for this great site,. You da man!