Sorry for the absence over the last 10 days or so. I had to have a procedure done on my “Frankenfoot” that required rest. On the plus side, I’m able to walk now, the best since I sprained it and broke a bone just 10 days before spring training began.Â
Yesterday was one of my favorite days of the year…the day that minor league pitchers and catchers report. Additionally, the majority of the position players are here already. I’ve known some of these guys for more than five years so it’s great to see some of my friends again.
Matt Hockenberry, now a pitching coach
Matt Hockenberry, who pitched for the Threshers last season, is now a pitching coach for one of the two Gulf Coast League teams the Phillies will be fielding this year. I love this picture as the pitchers are all former colleagues of Hockenberry’s and it’s good to see them all enjoying a laugh together before the work begins. Also in the picture from left to right: Tyler Viza, Alberto Tirado, Alexis Rivero, Garrett Clevenger, Luke Leftwich and Jacob Waguespack in the red shirt.
I took a lot of pictures all around camp yesterday as they are all during drills, there’s not much to say as the pictures speak for themselves:
Mickey Moniak and Jose PujolsGarrett ClevengerEdgar GarciaAlexis RiveroAdonis MedinaSixto SanchezAdam HaseleyMalquin Canelo, Grenny Cumana, Daniel Brito and Arquemedes Gamboa
It is a warm night here in Clearwater with a strong breeze coming in off the Gulf of Mexico, a perfect night for the season ticket holder annual introduction to the team party.
It was a great day for baseball and the Phillies young guns made it even better with a win.
Dylan Cozens smacks a homer to drive in J.P. Crawford
Baseball Ross and I were impressed with the play of Dylan Cozens, Roman Quinn and Jorge Alfaro. We put together a video of pictures and clips along with our thoughts on the game. You can watch the video HERE.
It was another day of drills and batting practice. It was also a day of a little bit of levity.
Freddy Galvis
During the pop-up drill, Freddy Galvis came from third base all the way in to the first base line, just in front of the plate…but when he got there, he missed the ball. Not to let him off easy, Luis Garcia who had “pitched” and was backing up Galvis, threw his glove to the ground before throwing his hands in the air and kicking his glove across the grass. He did it with the over-dramatic flair, all the while, he was pretending to be angry. It was hilarious! (There’s photos of this in the vlog for today.)
Betsy and Odubel Hererra
There’s a ton of pictures including Odubel Hererra, Mickey Moniak, Aaron Brown, Andres Blanco, Nick Pavetta, Alberto Tirado, Elniery Garcia, Cole Stobbe, Jorge Alfaro, Roman Quinn, Ben Lively, Jeremy Hellickson and Dylan Cozens. You can see the video HERE.
This is where spring training gets hard to blog about. The intra-squad games have yet to start and basically, you’re watching the same players do the same drills as the last few days. There were a few highlights, however.
The best thing was Odubel Hererra motioning for me to take a picture then giving me the thumbs up sign…as seen above.
Baseball Ross and I have pictures and video of today’s activities and you can watch it HERE. Â If you like the video, be sure to click subscribe so you will be notified when we post new videos. We hope to post new video every day of spring training.
It started as a chilly day and warmed up as the players took the field. The first day of full team practice added the position players to the mix as well as some additional minor leaguers.
You can watch our video below to see players such as Mark Lieter, Jr, Aaron Altherr, Michael Mariot, Elniery Garcia, Freddy Galvis, Odubel Hererra, Brock Stassi, Tyler Viza, Caleb Eldridge, Roman Quinn, Miguel Nunez, Rhys Hoskins, Â Alberto Tirado and Jeff Singer. To watch the video, click HERE.
Dylan Cozens hits a homer over the brand new Robin Roberts scoreboard.
It’s day 3 of spring training and the last day of only pitchers and catchers. Tomorrow position players report.
Baseball Ross and I put together a video outlining today’s activities. We have pictures and video of Brad Lidge, Elniery Garcia, Alberto Tirado, Jerad Eickhoff, Tommy Joseph, Roman Quinn, Drew Anderson, Pedro Beato, Mark Appel, Victor Arano, Aaron Nola, Joely Rodriguez and more. We even have a shot of batting practice where Rhys Hoskins took a ball deep into Frenchy’s Tiki Bar.  You can watch the video HERE.
I woke up this morning excited as if it was Christmas morning, but it wasn’t Christmas morning, it was the first day of Spring Training.
Baseball Ross and I did a vlog to give you an over view of the day including photos and videos. You can watch it HERE.
Below you will find some of the pictures I took today:
The new Richie Ashburn Mural at the Carpenter ComplexThe new Steve Carlton Mural at the Carpenter ComplexThe new Mike Schmidt mural at the Carpenter ComplexThe new Robin Robertsmural at the Carpenter ComplexRhys HoskinsCord SandbergMitch WaldingWhile the large stadium signs have yet to change, some of the smaller signs show the rebranding of Brighthouse to Spectrum Field.While the large stadium signs have yet to change, some of the smaller signs show the rebranding of Brighthouse to Spectrum Field.Bryan Holaday, Cameron Rupp and Chase NumataDrew AndersonElniery GarciaAlberto TiradoHector NerisClay BuchholzBen Lively
Again this year, I was privileged to be asked by Reading Eagle Sports Writer Mike Drago to be part of the “Rank the Phillies Prospects” survey. He asked us to “rank the top players in the Phillies organization from No. 1 to No. 25, based on their present value to the organization and their major league ceiling/potential. (A weighted ballot will be used, with first-place votes earning 25 points, second place 24 points, etc.)”
This is one of my favorite things to take part in as it’s so cool to be included with so many other reporters and bloggers whose work I enjoy reading.
So I talked through my list with Baseball Ross and we realized that we have seen so many of the prospects as they have progressed, save for a few that were acquired via trades or the draft. Â So here’s “our” list:
Jake Thompson
1. Jake Thompson
Dylan Cozens
2. Dylan Cozens
Rhys Hoskins
3. Rhys Hoskins
Jorge Alfaro
4. Jorge Alfaro
JP Crawford
5. J P Crawford
Roman Quinn
6. Roman Quinn
Mickey Moniak
7. Mickey Moniak
Franklin Kilome
8. Franklyn Kilome
Elniery Garcia
9. Elniery Garcia
Nick Williams
10. Nick Williams
Jose Taveras
11. Jose Taveras
Scott Kingery
12. Scott Kingery
Ben Lively
13. Ben Lively
Tyler Viza
14. Tyler Viza
Jose Pujols
15. Jose Pujols
Cornelius Randolph
16. Cornelius Randolph
Jhailyn Ortiz
17. Jhailyn Ortiz
Andrew Pullin
18. Andrew Pullin
Andrew Knapp
19. Andrew Knapp
Jiandido Tromp
20. Jiandido Tromp
Alberto Tirado
21. Alberto Tirado
Jimmy Cordero
22. Jimmy Cordero
23. Sixto Sanchez
24. Nick Fanti
Adonis Medina
25. Adonis Medina
As you can see, I have been able to take pictures of all but two, and I have seen all 25 but sadly the two I missed were on days where I didn’t have my camera with me or the battery was dead by the end of the day during spring training. So Ross and I really put a lot of thought into our list.
The list from Drago as complied by all my fellow reporters and bloggers:
Reading Eagle Phillies minor league prospect ranks
(with position, current club)
1. J.P. Crawford, SS, Lehigh Valley
2. Jorge Alfaro, C, Reading
3. Nick Williams, OF, Lehigh Valley
4. Jake Thompson, P, Philadelphia
5. Mickey Moniak, OF, Gulf Coast
6. Dylan Cozens, OF, Reading
7. Roman Quinn, OF, Reading
8. Cornelius Randolph, OF, Lakewood
9. Franklyn Kilome, P, Lakewood
10. Rhys Hoskins, 1B, Reading
11. Scott Kingery, 2B, Reading
12. Andrew Knapp, C, Lehigh Valley
13. Adonis Medina, P, Williamsport
14. Nick Pivetta, P, Lehigh Valley
15. Jhailyn Ortiz, OF, Gulf Coast
16. Ricardo Pinto, P, Reading
17. Elniery Garcia, P, Clearwater
18. Ben Lively, P, Lehigh Valley
19. Kevin Gowdy, P, Gulf Coast
20. Carlos Tocci, OF, Clearwater
Others receiving multiple votes( in order of vote total):
Mark Appel, P, Lehigh Valley
Sixto Sanchez, P, Gulf Coast
Jimmy Cordeo, P, Reading
Cole Stobbe, SS, Gulf Coast
Jose Pujols, OF, Lakewood
Alberto Tirado, P, Lakewood
Alec Asher, P, Lehigh Valley
Thomas Eshelman, P, Reading
Drew Anderson, P, Clearwater
Andrew Pullin, OF, Reading
Cole Irvin, P, Williamsport
Arquimedes Gamboa, Williamsport
JoJo Romero, P, Williamsport
Malquin Canelo, SS, Clearwater
Tyler Viza, P, Reading
It’s enlightening to see where all they players fall per the weighted vote. Of the list, Ross and I could see almost any of them on the list though may be in a different position (as was evidenced by our differences on our list). I will find it interesting to see how this pans out in the future.
Baseball Betsy 