This is the best and most exciting news I’ve read in a while.  Darick Hall is one of “my guys”.  While I root for all the players who come through Clearwater to make it to the big leagues, it is especially gratifying when one of the guys you get a little close to makes it.

Darick (pronounced “Derrick”)was the Phillies’ 14th round pick in the 2016 draft out of Dallas Baptist where he hit 20 HR with 69 RBI in 62 games with a .300/416/635/1.051 slash.  In 279 plate appearances, he struck out 50 times and walked 30 times.  (Note that Darick played 1B in just 45 games and pitched in 16 games that season.  As a pitcher, he was 9-3 with a 3.43 ERA and 94 K (8.7 K/9) and 21 walks (1.9 BB/9) in 97.0 innings)

Darick put up solid offensive numbers in his first few seasons at Low-A, full-season Class-A, and High-A.  His numbers slipped at Double-A and at Triple-A after the COVID layoff where he was away from baseball for an entire season.  Always a streaky hitter, Darick’s offense rebounded and he has 20 HRs and 67 RBI in 72 games at Lehigh Valley this season and appeared to be ready to go on another heater when he was called up.

Darick is a friendly, personable young man who married during this past offseason.  I have had the privilege of dining with him on a couple of occasions.  Below, we are pictured outside the Island Way – Ben Pelletier, Cord Sandberg, Steve Potter, Darick, and me.

Darick is an excellent defensive first baseman.  I have seen him turn the 3-6-3 double play on multiple occasions.  This became the standard by which we (at the Complex) measured first basemen since it is a play we saw turned infrequently in Philadelphia from like 2005 to the present.

The Phillies were lax with Darick’s development (IMO).  They should have had him playing some at the other three corners since 2017.  He finally played OF in the most recent winter league, but this deficiency in the Phillies’ development plan for Darick will limit their use of him for as long as he is with the team.

In order to make room on the 40-man roster, James McArthur was placed on the 60-day IL (elbow).  To make room on the active roster, Johan Camargo was placed on the 10-day IL (knee).

Anyway, Darick is batting cleanup tonight.  I wish him the very best and hope he comes to bat in the first inning.

(This is an editorial piece without comments.  I’m not prepared to read anything negative tonight.  An article on future writing here will be posted in the near future.)