Phillies Prospects Pitcher Lachlan Wells and Centerfielder Cade Fergus Shine for the Adelaide Giants in Australian Baseball League Action

Much has been written about Phillies prospects recently but two of the most successful prospects are currently playing in the Australian Baseball League’s Final Series. Starting pitcher Lachlan Wells and center fielder Cade Fergus have not been mentioned by many minor league experts. However, they have been simply the best for the Adelaide Giants.

Cade Fergus (photo courtesy of TheABLcom.au)

During the 40 game ABL regular season, in nine starts, Wells has gone 6-0 over 47.1 innings with a 0.94 ERA and 0.73 WHIP. Fergus has hit 15 for 30 with four homers in his last nine games for the Giants including the three games in the just-concluded best-of-three Semi-Finals.

The ABL’s best of three Final Series starts tomorrow morning at 5:00 AM Eastern US Time. The first game will be played in Perth, Australia.

Let’s hope Wells and Fergus can continue their outstanding play over the next three days and help the Giants repeat as champions of the ABL for a second straight season!

Read about Wells and Fergus in last week’s articles below

https://theabl.com.au/news/wells-wins-helms/

https://theabl.com.au/news/recap-adl-mel/

Two Clearwater Threshers Show Major League Potential in the Playoffs

The Clearwater Threshers had two players who showed major league potential in the recently completed Florida State League playoffs. They were starting pitcher Jean Cabrera and shortstop Aidan Miller.

Jean Cabrera in the FSL Playoffs

Cabrera won two of the three Threshers victories by pitching 12.1 innings of one run, six hit baseball. In his two starts against Lakeland in the semi finals and Palm Beach in the Finals, he struck out 11 and walked only three.

In the videos below we show the second inning of the second game when Cabrera struck out the side by relying in a 95 mph fastball sinker. In the game, he induced nine ground ball outs compared to only two fly outs in his six innings of work.

Aidan Miller played a strong short stop defensively in addition to his hitting. His long two-run homer in the first series was the difference in the 2-1 win over Lakeland. In the six game post season he went 8 for 23 for a with the homer, a triple and four RBIs.

We don’t know what the future holds for these future stars, we will wait with great anticipation to see where they will be assigned next season!

Viars With the Bat, Cabrera and Jimenez on the Mound Are the Threshers Three Stars to Tie Up the FSL Finals

Last night in the sixth inning, Jordan Viars lined a hanging breaking ball just inside the right field foul line for a triple driving in the tying and go ahead runs. It was enough to give the Clearwater Threshers a 3-1win over the Jupiter Hammerheads to tie up the best of three FSL Final at a game a piece.

The Threshers starter Jean Cabrera allowed only a run on five hits walking two and striking out six innings of work. Amazingly, he is now 2-0 in the post season allowing only one run and six hits walking three and striking out 11 in 12.1 innings of work.

Cabrera struck out the side in the second inning of last night’s game.

Estibenzon Jimenez came on and pitched three shutout innings striking out six to get the save. He was the losing starting pitcher in Game Two of the semi-finals against Lakeland. He has struck out 12 in only seven innings of work in his two post season outings. Watch several of his strikeouts and conclusion of the game below.

The one Threshers player worth the price of admission is the Phillies first round 2023 draft pick, Aidan Miller. He went 2 for 4 last night for the third playoff game in a row. He showed off one of the strongest arms at shortstop we have ever seen last night when he went into the 5-6 hole to shallow left field. He made a strong throw that almost got the runner at first.

Game Three weather permitting is scheduled for tonight at 6:30 to decide the FSL 2023 championship.

Aidan Miller’s Bat in Game Three and Jean Cabrera’s Pitching in Game One Were the Difference in Leading Clearwater Threshers to the FSL Finals

Last night, we watched one of those “instant baseball classics”. A two-run homer by the Phillies 2023 first round draft pick, Aidan Miller, was all the Threshers needed to clinch the best-of-three semi-final game by a 2-1 score over the Lakeland Flying Tigers in the Florida State League playoffs.

With the series tied up at one game a piece, after the Flying Tigers won 10-2 on Thursday night in Clearwater.

In the third, Emaarion Boyd smacked a single and then it was left to Miller to drive a tape-measure homer that went out of the park that was the difference in the game and clinch the series win.

The blast was measured at 420 feet over the left field wall and out of BayCare Ballpark. Reportedly, his long ball would have been a home run in all of the major league parks!

Going into last night’s game the series was tied up at a game a piece thanks in part to Threshers Ace Jean Cabrera. He pitched 6.1 innings of one-hit ball in a 5-0 win in Lakeland on Tuesday night.

Baseball Betsy’s Jean Cabrera Autographed Threshers’ Times and one Signed by the Team the night of the

It was Miller who was star of last night’s game. In addition to his two-run homer, he started a 6-4-3 double play on a hard hit ground ball to end the game with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth.

The best of three FSL Finals will start Sunday at six o’clock at Jupiter with the the final two games to be played on Tuesday night and if necessary Wednesday night in Clearwater.

Watching “Clutch” September Baseball In The Phillies Minor League System

Nothing beats home runs that make a difference. Those of us who follow the Phillies minor league system have been rewarded with great September baseball on MiLB. TV by the likes of Felix Reyes and Caleb Ricketts of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws.

Last night, top Phillies catching prospect Ricketts connected for a two run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to win the first game of the best- of-three, semi-final playoff round, 2-1, over Hudson Valley.

🦀🦀🦀 CALEB RICKETTS – for the lead!!! pic.twitter.com/RvT6IgmFYE

— Jersey Shore BlueClaws (@BlueClaws) September 13, 2023

Back on September 3rd, Reyes blasted a walk-off three run homer to win the final home game of the season, 7-6 over the Aberdeen Ironbirds. Reyes had two sacrifice fly RBIs earlier in the game. The win was crucial in eventually Jersey Shore clinching a playoff spot by one game.

🦀🦀🦀 The last swing of the regular season in ShoreTown is a FELIX REYES WALK-OFF 3-RUN HOME RUN!!! BlueClaws win 7-6! @jag_onept pic.twitter.com/LatWu94XSC

— Jersey Shore BlueClaws (@BlueClaws) September 3, 2023

Ricketts and Reyes are the types of players the Phillies need to develop if they are ever to make the post season on a regular basis in the future.

FCL Phillies Dakota Kotowski Wins Complex League’s Home Run Championship

The Phillies do have some right handed hitting power in their organization. In just 42 games and 150 at bats, slugger Dakota Kotowski hit 15 home runs to win the Florida Complex League long-ball title. The tops in homers in the Arizona Fall League was 11.

The Phillies minor league department finally promoted the 23 year old Kotowski to the Clearwater Threshers yesterday where the big first baseman hit a two-run double in his first at bat in his low A debut.

The other notable call up from the FCL Phillies was outfielder Raylin Heredia. The 19 year old hit .313 with a .896 OPS and 4 homers in the FCL.

The Threshers still have 17 games left in their regular season before a best of three semi-final playoff series starts on the road Tuesday, September 12th. They get the final game(s) at home on Thursday with the third game on Friday if needed.

Because of the many call ups to Jersey Shore and eventually Reading this season, the Threshers have only a few players remaining from opening day. The most recent call ups from the Threshers to Jersey Shore were the top two bullpen pieces middle reliever Jonh Henriquez (14-1) and set up man Wan Hui Pan (4-1).

Dakota Kotowski, Noah Song, Matt Kroon and Matt Osterberg Lead Phillies Farm Teams to Victories

Only the weather stopped the Phillies farm teams from a clean sweep on Saturday. While the FCL Phillies, Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Reading Fightins and Jersey Shore BlueClaws all won, only a lightning storm stopped the Clearwater Threshers from playing.

Saturday morning saw another Dakota Kotowski home run get the FCL Phillies off to the right start in the 3-2 win over the FCL Yankees. The Kotowski long ball was his 11th in only 97 at bats in FCL action. He leads all 30 FCL teams in home runs.

In two innings of relief, Noah Sing settled down in the sixth inning to dominate after allowing a run in the fifth inning during his AAA debut for Lehigh Valley. He was touched for two hits but stuck out three in his two innings.

The Naval Academy grad needed only eight pitches to retire three Toledo Mud Hens in order in the sixth inning. In his final out he struck out former Phillies utility infielder Johan Carmargo swinging. Song, who dominated the sixth inning with his off speed pitches, looked major league ready. He earned his first professional win as the IronPigs went on to win the seven inning weather shortened game, 7-5.

Matt Kroon did his best impression of Kyle Schwarber by hitting a lead off home run to get Reading’s game started in Altoona. They would hold on to win 3-1. Kroon has played at third and center for the Fightins and is hitting .315 with 7 home runs and 17 stolen bases this season.

Lefty Matt Osterberg is back on track for Jersey Shore. He had a strong June for the IronPigs when he went 4-1 with a 2.35 ERA. He pitched six shutout innings for the IronPigs in the 3-0 win over Winston Salem.

Kotowski, Kroon, and Osterberg are three players to follow closely the rest of the season. The Phillies need to make a decision on Song’s major league roster status by the end of the month since he is under Rule 5 regulations.

The Phillies May Have A Needed Fifth Starter In Reading’s Griff McGarry

It was one of the best-pitched games of the minor league season that we have watched on MiLB.TV. On Friday night, Reading’s Griff McGarry pitched a seven inning, no-run, three-hit game against the Altoona Curve in Eastern League action. He struck out ten with no walks to pick up the win.

It was the second straight start where McGarry was dominant. Last Saturday night against Portland, he went six innings-allowing only one run on five hits, striking out nine in a no decision.

McGarry’s fastball was sitting in the mid-90’s Friday night. He was throwing his off-speed pitches for strikes and faced only three batters over the limit in his seven innings. He lowered his ERA to 2.96 for Reading.

It’s clear the 24 year old McGarry is the top starting pitching prospect in the Phillies system. He clearly out-pitched Mick Abel, who only the night before lasted only five innings against Altoona walking three and striking out three.

McGarry left with a 4-0 lead after seven inning and 95 pitches. Andrew Baker came on and walked three consecutive batters to load the bases in the bottom the 8th inning but Brett Schulze was called in and struck out the next three batters to get out of the inning. Reading held on to win 4-1.

Griff McGarry is pitching like a major league starting pitcher. He has positioned himself to give the Phillies a badly-needed boost after they lost their third straight game last night as they start to fade in the National League East.

With trading deadline only days away, the Phillies need to do something quickly if they are to defend the National League Championship. Griff McGarry just might be their man to do it as a fifth starter in the rotation!

Entering the Home Stretch of the Phillies Minor League Teams Season the Phillies Have Several “No Name”, Yet Interesting Prospects.

The Phillies teams have had reasonably good minor league season as they enter the final third of the season for them. We seek to high light from time to time the those Phillies farmhands who are having great seasons but have received little notice.

Wes Wilson a “jack of all trades” infielder/outfield at AAA, just keeps putting up big numbers. He finally got his OPS to.900. The minor league department has him leading off a la Kyle Schwarber. In Wednesday’s game all Wes did was lead off with his 22nd home run of the season. He is second in the International League in homers. Add in 60 RBIs, 61 runs scored and 20 stolen bases into his mix and Wilson is having a great season in only 86 games.

Not to be outdone, our favorite Clearwater Thresher third baseman, Felix Reyes went 3 for 5 in Wednesday’s 8-7 win over the baby bombers from Tampa. All three of his hits drove in a run each. In only 41 games this season he has driven in 43 runs. Reyes is hitting .431 with runners in scoring position including .455 with two grand slams. He reminds me of the late great Dick Allen with the bat.

Several other players are having good seasons and if they can finish strong they might convince the Phillies minor league department to move them up. Jersey Shore’s first baseman, Rixon Wingrove, hit his 14th homer of the season and is now fourth in the South Atlantic League and tied for third in RBIs with 55.

Dakota Kotowski continues his assault with the long ball in the Florida Complex League. Last week he hit his 10th home run in only 24 games and 86 at bats.

Will be watching Wilson, Reyes, Wingrove and Kotowski to see if they can finish strong and get rewarded for next season.

Phillies Minor League Players Come Up Big Over the Weekend

Before this weekend, we had vaguely heard of Phillies AA outfielder Johan Rojas. After Saturday with a three-hit game and great outfield defense with the Phillies, he is now earning a place on the major league roster.

On Monday, FCL Phillies first baseman Dakota Kotowski hit his 10th home run in only 86 at bats over 24 games. He is hitting .314 with an OPS of 1.127. He leads all batters in the two Complex Leagues in home runs.

On Sunday, Clearwater Threshers corner infielder/outfielder Felix Reyes hit his second grand slam of the season. He has 40 RBIs in only 143 at bats in just 39 games. In addition to hitting .455 with the base loaded, Felix is hitting .404 with runners in scoring position.

The above numbers are of historic proportions in such a short time span for these right handed hitting Phillies farmhands. Now that Rojas has made the jump from AA Reading to the MLB, we can only hope that Kotowski and Reyes get the call to go up to a higher level in the Phillies farm chain ASAP as well!