The 2013 MLB draft is under way.

1st Round – JP Crawford – SS – Lakewood, CA

2nd Round – Andrew Knapp – C

3rd Round – Cord Sandburg – OF – Manatee, FL

3rd Round – Jan Hernandez – SS/3B – Puerto Rico

4th Round – Jake Sweaney – C – California

5th Round – Ben Holmes – LHP – Oregon St.

6th Round – Jason Monda – OF – Washington St.

7th Round – Trey Williams – 3B – College of the Canyons

8th Round – Justin Parr – OF – University of Illinois

9th Round – Shane Martin – RHP – Southwestern Oklahome St University

10th Round – Jon Prosinski – RHP – Seton Hall University Continue reading Phillies 2013 MLB Draft →

The Phillies selected Lakewood High School, CA SS JP Crawford as their first round pick in the 2013 draft.  Crawford is a tall left handed hitting shortstop that is expected to remain at SS throughout his career. Crawford is committed to USC and it is expected that the Phils will need to commit very close to the $2.2M max to sign him.  From all reports, Crawford is already ahead of the curve defensively.  Thin and wiry, it may take his body some time to catch up offensively, but he has good speed, very good baseball instincts, a good eye at the plate and has hit for average.  Crawford started as a freshman at SS in high school and has a very good pedigree as his sister plays College softball for Cal State Fullerton and his cousin is Carl Crawford.

Crawford’s scouting grades, per MLB.com are: Hit 3/5; Power 3/5; Run 5/5; Arm 6/6; Field 5/5; Overall 3/5.    Note: First number = current/second number = projection

A look back at the week of May 30-June 5. Random Thoughts….Austin Wright is a totally different pitcher than last year. Is it injury lack of confidence or both? Kelly Dugan had one of the best offensive weeks of the year…do you move him to Reading this year if he continues?Tyson Gillies new swing may be starting to take….Hoby Milner has started turning some heads but can such a small frame survive longterm?Remember the name Mauricio Robles…with Aumont and Diekman so wildly inconsistent, Robles could sneak onto the Phils roster with another injury….The enigma that is Brody Colvin continues.

Hot Hitters: Kelly Dugan (.522, 6R 2HR 6RBI); Tommy Medonca (.500, 5RBI); Steve Susdorf (.471, 4R 5RBI, SB); Troy Hanzawa (.417); Maikel Franco (.400, 5R 1HR 6RBI); Pete Orr (.400); Albert Cartwright (.400, 4R); Cody Overbeck (.375, 4R 2HR 4RBI); Tyler Henson (.381); Tyson Gillies (.370, 5R 2HR 2RBI); Josh Fields (.333); Honorable Mention: Castro, Altherr, Hewitt, Valle Continue reading Hot or Not →

So, a couple different times now I have seen people reference the idea that Cesar Hernandez is out of options. And at least once I have had someone say how dumb I was for thinking that to be true. (They said it nicer than that, but whatever – and whoever that was on here, please speak up and take credit for beginning my enlightenment).

So here it is – Cesar Hernandez qualifies for a fourth option year in 2014.

Continue reading Cesar Hernandez and The Mythical Fourth Option →

Lehigh Valley had a 4-3 week after a 4-0 win last night against Buffalo and now stand at 28-30 on the year and in third place of the Northern Division of the International League, 7 games behind division leading Pawtucket. Last night, the ‘Pigs began a four game series on the road in Buffalo, before they return home this Saturday to start a four game series against Charlotte.

‘Pigs Leaders: Cesar Hernandez leads the league in triples (6) and is tied for 7th in SB(15); Jermaine Mitchell is 2nd in triples (4); Cody Asche is tied for 3rd in triples (3) and 9th in RBI’s (37); Cody Overbeck is tied for 6th in HR (11); Darin Ruf is 7th in strikeouts (56); Josh Fields is 8th in avg (.331).

Pitchers:Ethan Martin has the 7th worst ERA (5.60), and is  3rd in walks allowed (32); Jake Diekman leads the league in games (26), and is 6th in saves (8); BJ Rosenberg has the 8th worst WHIP (1.58) Continue reading Lehigh Valley Weekly Report →

A second look at the OF around the system.  The good: Castro, Altherr, Dugan, Perkins, Susdorf.  The bad: Collier, Mitchell, Hudson. The ugly: Greene. 

Lehigh Valley

Jermaine Mitchell, 28, Signed as a free agent in 2013; .256/.368/.447 in 129 AB’s; 3HR 13 RBI; 9/12 SB; .214 vs. LHP, .267 vs. RHP, .143 with RISP, 15%bb/25%k rates; Hit .238 in May.  37 games in the OF with 1 error (.985); 1 OF assist. Mitchell is always hustling and has a great attitude but is your prototypical AAAA player. His work against lefties holds him back, however an outstanding walk rate has helped a more than adquate OBP.

Darin Ruf, 26, Phils 20th round pick in 2009; .254/.326/.409 in 193 AB’s; 5HR 25RBI; 1/2 SB; .244 vs. LHP, .257 vs. RHP, .158 with RISP; 9%bb/26%k rates; .242 in May. 36 games in the OF with 1 error (.983); 1 OF assist; Has also played 12 games at 1B without an error. Mediocre at best through the first 200 plate appearances for Ruf. He is not producing runs at anywhere near the rate that will get him back up to the majors and has looked somewhat lost of late at the plate. His defense in left is the leats of the issues right now. Continue reading Around the System–OF →