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 →

Increasing concern from the Phils about Adam Morgan’s left shoulder led to an MRI last week, and the MRI revealed some troubling results. Morgan has a small tear in the rotator cuff of his left shoulder that will result in Morgan having to receive an injection in the shoulder over the next few days. Luckily, surgery has not been mentioned as of yet, but the news is extremely concerning nonetheless.

Morgan will not throw for the next three weeks, and will more than likely miss another month or more.

Wrapping up our series with high school hitters in the 1st and 2nd round that the Phillies could target with their picks.

Off the Board:

Clint Frazier – OF- Georgia

I don’t know where Frazier will go but he is incredible bat speed that gives him plus plus power.  Frazier could be a true five tool all-star down the line.

Reese McGuire – C – Washington

Reese is a natural catcher who should be a plus defender behind the plate.  His ultimate ceiling will be determined by the bat, which will flash plus plus hit ability and average power. Continue reading So You Want a High School Hitter →

A second look at the middle infield around the system. It is frankly a bit frightening with Cesar Hernandez not included as he is in Philadelphia. The real bright spot is Carlos Alonso who is a 25 year old, 32nd round draft pick, playing High A. Roman Quinn continues to gives inconsistent rays of hope with the bat, but is currently on a pace for 60 errors this year.

Lehigh Valley

Troy Hanzawa, 27, Phils 16th round pick in 2008; .357/.379/.464 in 84 AB’s between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 1HR 9RBI; 1/2SB; 3%bb/13%k rates; Hitting .435 in 23 AB’s since getting called up to Lehigh Valley. 15 games at SS with 2 errors (.964); 3.53 R/F. 9 games at 2B with 2 errors (.957); Hanzawa was called up to compensate for the loss of Martinez and Hernandez and has done a good job.  He is a slap hitter, weighing 150 at best, but has done that well and played a solid SS. Continue reading Around the System–Middle Infield →

A look at the time period of May 23-29.  Some random thoughts…It is time to start paying some significant attention to Seth Rosin…17 year old Carlos Tocci has begun really holding his own in Lakewood….Can Josh Fields help the Phils?….Larry Greene continues to be unproductive at best…David Buchanan with two encouraging starts after struggling battling back from injury….Yoel Mecias is a name worth watching in Lakewood (just 19 and has a very live arm)…Severino Gonzalez(20 years old) has not allowed an earned run in his first 12.2IP for Clearwater, spanning 5 outings.

Hot Hitters:Jon Roof (.462, 4R 3RBI), Cameron Rupp (.417); Justin Dallas (.417); Josh Fields (.379, 7R, HR 3RBI, 2SB); Carlos Tocci (.381);Leandro Castro (.357, 5R HR 7RBI, 3SB); Tommy Medonca (.333);  Chris Serritella (.316) Honorable Mention:Perkins, Hanzawa, Susdorf, Hewitt Continue reading Hot or Not →