Lehigh Valley

David Buchanan, 27, Phils 7th round pick in 2010; 14 games (13 starts); 4-4 with a 4.54ERA; 83.1IP 88H 19BB 38K; 10HR allowed; .275 opp avg; 1.28 WHIP; 1.08 GO/AO; 2.1BB/4.2K per 9; .240 vs LHH, .296 vs RHH; .288 opp avg in June.  Buchanan has given the ‘Pigs nothing more than innings this year.  Mostly unimpressive, his run with the organization is likely coming to an end this off season.

Ben Lively, 24, Acquired from Reds in 2014; 15 starts between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 10-0 with a 2.12ERA; 93.1IP 55H 26BB 75K; 6HR allowed; 2.5BB/7.2K per 9; .168 opp avg; 0.87 WHIP; 0.88 GO/AO; For LV: 6 starts, 3-0 with a 2.45ERA; .144 opp avg; 0.77 WHIP; 2.5BB/5.8K per 9.  Lively has dominant all year whether pitching for Reading or Lehigh Valley.

James Russell, 30, SIgned as a free agent in 2016; 15 games (8 starts); 2-3 with a 5.01ERA; 41.1IP 47H 13BB 28K; 6HR allowed; 2.8BB/6.1K per 9; .114 vs LHH, .328 vs RHH, .350 opp avg in June; Russell had been throwing well until a very ugly June turned his season around.  He appears clearly better suited for a situational lefty role than starting. Wouldnt be surprised to see Russell back in the bullpen if Morgan moves down to Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Jake Thompson, 22, Acquired from Rangers in 2015; 15 starts; 6-5 with a 2.88ERA; 90.2IP 79H 27BB 63K; 9HR allowed; .238 opp avg; 1.17WHIP; 0.99 GO/AO; 2.6BB/6.2K per 9; 3-0 with a 0.76ERA in 5 June starts; .198 vs RHH, .259 vs LHH, .211 opp avg in June; After somewhat of a slow start, Thompson has been outstanding since the beginning of May and is on course to be one of the primary members of the 2017 rotation.

Anthony Vasquez, 29, Re-signed as a free agent in 2016; 15 starts between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 8-3 with a 3.46ERA; 96.1IP 99H 27BB 69K; 6HR allowed; 2.5BB/6.4K per 9; .275 opp avg; 1.31 WHIP; 1.06 GO/AO; Vasquez knows how to pitch and he has been effective this year.

Reading

Tom Eshelman, 22, Acquired from Houston in 2015; 12 starts between CLearwater and Reading; 4-2 with a 3.22ERA; 64.1IP 65H 12BB 69K; 7HR allowed; 1.7BB/9.7K per 9; .259 opp avg; 1.20WHIP; 1.20 GO/AO; Eshelman has progressed very nicely this season with 11 of his 12 starts coming for CLearwater before his recent promotion to Reading.  His pinpoint control is certainly the first step towards success.

Mark Leiter, 25, Phils 22nd round pick in 2013; 10 games (6 starts) for Reading; 3-0 with a 3.50ERA; 36IP 25H 12BB 28K; .198 opp avg; 1.03WHIP; 0.95 GO/AO; 5HR allowed; 2.7BB/7.0K per 9; .228 vs LHH, .174 vs RHH, .193 opp avg in June; Leiter has thrown well after missing the first month plus of the season injured. Continue reading Around the System–Starting Pitching →

Lehigh Valley has started their seven game road swing with two wins in Norfolk and have won seven of their last nine games and now sit 10 games above .500 at 41-31, just passed the half way point of the season.  They are currently in 3rd place of the Northern Division of the International League, 3 games back of division leading Rochester.  In the wild card race, the ‘Pigs are one game behind Scranton, who are currently leading the wild card race.  The road trip continues with two more In Norfolk before a weekend series in Durham.

News and Notes: Lehigh Valley has not committed multiple errors in any of their last 33 games, clearly a recipe for success.

–Over the last two weeks, the LV bullpen is 5-1 with a 1.29ERA with 4 saves.  During that time period, they have allowed just 7ER in 49IP.

–INF Emmanuel Burriss has hit safely in 8 of the 9 games he has started

–OF Cedric Hunter remains very hot, having hit .348 over the last three weeks, raising his average to .312.

—Edward Mujica remains consistent for Lehigh Valley with a 2.54ERA and 16 saves in his last 26 games.  With the troubles the Phils are having, seeing him in Philly soon would not surprise me. Continue reading Lehigh Valley Report →

Lehigh Valley

Andy Knapp, 24, Phils 2nd round pick in 2013; .267/.335/.431 in 202AB; 7HR 29RBI; 1SB; 9%BB/22%K; .247 vs LHP; .279 vs RHP; .328 in June; 52 games caught with 6 errors (.984); 9 passed balls; 9/30 CS (30%); Knapp has been heating up with the bat and his arm as of late, having a very good June.  The caught stealing rate is now respectable.  His receiving, while improving, remains a concern.

Logan Moore, 25, Phils 9th round pick in 2011; .262/.336/.402 in 107AB between Reading and Lehigh Valley; 3HR 12RBI; 10%BB/24%K; Hitting .316 in June; 34 games caught with 2 errors (.992); 0 passed balls; 13/27 (48%); Moore has seen fairly limited playing time but has produced when playing.  His defense remains major league back up worthy.

Reading

Jorge Alfaro, 23, Acquired from Texas in 2015; .303/.315/.489 in 188AB; 7HR 37RBI; 2%BB/22%K; .250 vs LHP; .318 vs RHP; .238 in June; 43 games caught with 2 errors (.995); 2 passed balls; 17/41 CS (41%); After starting the year scalding hot with the bat, Alfaro has cooled off but still a very impressive body of work with the bat and glove this year thus far.

Joel Fisher, 23, Phils 23rd round pick in 2014; Hitting .235 with 2 HR and 7RBI in 35AB between Lakewood and Reading; 12 games caught with 1 errors (.988); 0 passed balls; 8/16 CS (50%); Fisher has done exactly what has been asked, especially defensively in his limited playing time.

Clearwater

Gabriel Lino, 23, Acquired from Baltimore in 2012; .199/.264/.279 in 136AB; 2HR 6RBI; 7%BB/22%K; .257 vs LHP; .178 vs RHP; .077 in June; 40 games caught with 7 errors (.981); 5 passed balls; 21/54 CS (39%).  Simply a pretty brutal year thus far from Lino whose stock has slipped considerably.

Chace Numata, 23, Phils 14th round pick in 2010; .265/.348/.353 in 102AB; 1HR 5RBI; 11%BB/16%K rates; .227 vs LHP; .275 vs RHP; .333 in June; 30 games caught with 2 errors (.993); 9 passed balls; 9/27 CS (33%); The passed balls are troublesome, however that said, Numata has done a good job.

Lakewood

Deivi Gruillon; 20, Signed as a free agent in 2012; .244/.338/.359 in 131AB; 2HR 18RBI; 12%BB/24%K; .220 vs LHP; .256 vs RHP; .280 in June; 35 games caught with 5 errors (.984); 10 passed balls; 9/30 CS(30%); Gruillon’s defense was supposed to be his strong suit and has been less than adequate this year; After missing a nice chunk of time injured, Gruillon is beginning to come around.

Austin Bossart, 22, Phils 14th round pick in 2015; .263/.336/.343 in 99AB; 1HR 9RBI; 8%BB/12%K; .286 vs LHP; .254 vs RHP; 29 games caught with 3 errors (.990); 1 passed ball; 15/52 CS (29%); Bossart has played much more than expected because of Gruillon’s injury and has played more than compentently.

Williamsport

Gregori Rivero, 20, Signed as a free agent in 2012

Rodolfo Duran, 18, Signed as a free agent in 2014