Minor League Mash-Up: Sixto rebounds in Clearwater

Let’s take a look at how the farm system fared in the second week of May (through Sunday).

Records

• Lehigh Valley IronPigs: 20-14
• Reading Fightin’ Phils: 12-20
• Clearwater Threshers: 15-21
• Lakewood Blue Claws: 19-16

Notable Performances

• Sixto Sanchez had an encouraging outing for Clearwater on Friday. The top prospect went 6.2 innings without giving up a run. He surrendered five hits and one walk while striking out seven.
• Cole Irvin was masterful for Lehigh Valley on Saturday. He went seven scoreless innings only allowing two hits. He walked three and struck out eight.
• Enyel De Los Santos continue to dazzle. On Wednesday he went seven strong innings allowing no runs and only one hit. He walked three and struck out six.
• In De Los Santos’s gem, his battery mate Nick Rickles went yard twice and added a single. If Alfaro or Knapp get injured, expect to see Rickles.
• Reading catcher Deivi Grullon hit a grand slam and added a one-run single en route to a five RBI day on Friday.
• Reading’s Harold Arauz went 5.1 scoreless frames on Tuesday. He allowed only one walk and four hits, and added four punch-outs.
• Bailey Falter went 6.2 innings of no-earned-run ball for Clearwater on Saturday. He only surrendered two hits while walking none and striking out 11. Falter is from the same town as the Ball family (Chino Hills,CA) and he sure looked like a “Big Baller” on Saturday.
• Jose Pujols had a monster game for Clearwater on Friday, going 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI. He was once considered a top-30 prospect for the Phils.

Showing Their Worth

• This list obviously starts with No. 12 prospect Enyel De Los Santos. The guy has been ridiculous in six starts going 4-0 with a 0.84 ERA. Opponents are hitting .203 against him and his WHIP is 1.14. If there’s one ding about his game, it’s that he’s walked 13 in 32.1 innings, but he’s making it tough for the Phillies to keep him in the minors much longer.
• No. 20 prospect Spencer Howard has been very effective for Lakewood. In 28 innings of work, he’s posted a 2.89 ERA and has a WHIP of 1.00. His strikeout to walk ratio is 39-5.
• The aforementioned Cole Irvin has been solid for Lehigh Valley. In seven starts, he has a 3.21 ERA and a WHIP of 1.07. He’s also averaging six innings a start; it’s nice to see that he can be counted on to eat up innings.

Needs Improvement

• Adonis Medina is now the Phillies No. 2 prospect with Kingery graduating, and he still has work to do. In six starts he has a 4.55 ERA while opponents are hitting .266 off him. His strikeout to walk ratio is 21-11, less than two strikeouts per walk.
• Mickey Moniak continues to struggle. He’s only hitting .220 but his slugging percentage is a measly .258. The No. 4 prospect has only walked three times compared to 35 strikeouts.
• JoJo Romero finally got his ERA under 7.00, so he’s headed in the right direction. Unfortunately, his ERA is still 6.68 and opponents are hitting .292 against him. He’s walked 15 and allowed six long balls in only 32.1 innings of work.
• No. 7 prospect Franklyn Kilome has also struggled mightily; he has an ERA of 5.74 and opponents are hitting .263 against him.
• Cornelius Randolph continues to struggle. He’s hitting .184 and only has five extra-base hits and eight RBI.

Injury Report

• Jhailyn Ortiz continues to be on the disabled list with his shoulder injury.
• Roman Quinn is battling a hand injury, but he’s avoided the DL so far.
• No. 27 prospect Simon Muzziotti is also on the 7-day DL with an injury.