Phillies Farm Report: May 21, 2025 Roundup

This is part of series of reports on the Phillies farm system other and future updates can be accessed via the home page here.

This report takes into account games through May 20.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA)

As a unit, the IronPigs have emerged as the top team in the minor leagues. They were the first team to 30 wins and now stand with a record of 32-14. They are three games up from Jacksonville, and four up from Durham. The best team in the Western conference is 4.5 games back from them.

Andrew Painter got his first win of the season in his last start, which was needed for a team that was suddenly missing Mick Abel due to his impressive spot start in Philadelphia. Nabil Crismatt got blown up in his 5/17 outing (seven runs in 4.1 innings), but otherwise had continued a strong season with his two other starts these past few weeks going 13 innings and allowing just four hits (no runs). Brett de Geus continues his hot start from the pen, adding 5.2 more innings of no-run ball in the past two weeks.

While players like Kemp and Crawford have maintained averages but cooled off a bit from their hot starts, Buddy Kennedy has begun his own hot streak. Over the past two weeks, he’s been hitting .383 with an .809 slugging percentage. He’s scored 10 runs and recorded 13 RBIs during his last 11 games.

Notable injuries: OF Matt Kroon (7-Day), C/1B Carson Taylor (Full Season)

Reading Fightin Phils (AA)

Reading has picked up a bit, with their first series win of the season coming last week. They still sit at a dreadful 13-24 record, but are no longer the worst team in AA or even the Eastern League. The Phillies added some veterans to the team recently in the form of Seth Beer for the lineup and Wil Crowe for the pitching staff.

The Phillies number five overall prospect (their top prospect not to appear in the MLB Top 100 overall) was lost for the season as Moises Chace left his May 14 start in the second inning due to injury. He will require Tommy John so would figure to be out until midway through next season. The two pitchers without blow-ups these past two weeks have been out of the pen as Tommy McCollum has put together a month with 5.1 innings and just one earned run. Mitch Neunborn remains the most consistent reliver in the pen with 7.1 innings over the last two weeks and just one run allowed on two hits during that time. He’s also walked only one batter while striking out 10 in that same period.

Catcher Paul McIntosh is finally back from injury and he recorded five hits and five walks with just two strikeouts in five games since his return from injury. Felix Reyes has had a strong month and worked himself into some more playing time with a .314/.316/.571 slash line during the month, though he’s had no walks since April 23. Leandro Pineda was down to an abysmal .095 average toward the end of April but has picked up quite a bit recently during last week’s homestand, he hit .421 with four doubles and a 1.132 OPS.

Top prospect Aidan Miller finally seems to be hitting his stride in AA. Since May 4, he has been hitting .400/.449/.576 with four stolen bases, seven runs scored, and five RBIs.

Notable injuries: P Eiberson Castellano (7-Day), P Moises Chace (7-Day) P Griff McGarry (7-Day), C Caleb Ricketts (7-Day), OF Marcus Lee Sang (Full Season then transferred to 60-Day), P Tristan Garnett (60-Day, has not played this season), P Christian McGowan (60-Day, has not played this season), P Wen-Hui Pan (60-Day, has not played this season)

Jersey Shore BlueClaws (A+)

Jersey Shore has slightly improved, but remains a bottom dweller ahead of just two teams in the South Atlantic League with a record of 15-23. The team’s top prospect overall Devin Saltiban and one of their top three pitching prospects Micah Ottenbreit have both hit the injured list.

Aaron Combs has had a strong month in the rotation with just one earned run allowed across 10 innings in may. He’s got 15 strikeouts, good for a 13.5 K/9 over that time, and has hitters batting just .143 against him over the month. The problems with walks continue (six over that time) and contribute to his inability to go deeper into games to secure wins (averaging 3.1 innings per start this month). Brandon Beckel has had a strong month that started in the pen but his most reacent appearance was as a starter. He’s averaging just under 3.1 innings per appearance, but the whole JS staff has had issues with length – he’s allowed two runs on seven hits over 9.2 innings, but has walked just one batter during that time and has 12 strikeouts. Ethan Chenault has not allowed an earned run since April 29. He has six appearances for six innings in the month of May and has opponents batting just .150 against him over that time. Jaydenn Estanista has been the most consistent player in the pen. He has appeared in 12 games and if you take out his one bad outing on May 3, he has 11.2 innings pitches with 13 strikeouts and five walks on the season. He’s allowed just one run outside the one blown save on the season (he is currently 2/3 in save opportunities on the season).

Pierce Bennett has had the strongest month at the plate, recording a slash line of .341/.442/.523 in May.  This month, he has seven walks and strikeouts with five runs and six RBI’s – which may not seem like a whole lot, but is pretty impressive when there’s only two other batters who aren’t injured able to get on base at a clip well above once every five plate appearances. Cole Roberts joined Reading in mid-April, but made just five appearances before being sent to Jersey Shore. Since that time two weeks ago, he’s seen much more regular playing time with 23 at bats and, while he’s not hit for power, he does hold a .304 average and .407 on-base percentage to help out a largely anemic lineup.

Notable injuries: CF Raylin Heredia (7-Day), SS Devin Saltiban (7-Day), P Micah Ottenbreit (7-Day), P Erubiel Armenta (7-Day), Nathan Karaffa (60-Day, has not played this season)

Clearwater Threshers (A)

Clearwater has fallen a game back, but it still third overall in the Florida State league with a record of 22-18. Veteran pitcher Lucas Sims will technically be assigned to the FCL Phillies, so he’ll be in the Clearwater area even though he won’t be with the team – that placement likely means that the team has identified mechanical changes with his delivery they’d like him to work on before elevating him to higher competition.

The rotation in Clearwater has taken that next step forward to get length with Ryan Degges going 4 and 5.1 innings in his last two starts to extend his ERA to 1.16 on the season (opponent average .152, 11.19 K/9), Ryan Dromboski going 5 and 5.1 in his last two starts (1.83, .202, 8.65 K/9), and Luke Gabrysh reaching five innings in his last three starts (1.89 ERA this month, .212 opponent average in May). Titan Hayes continues to be the strongest arm in the pen with 6/7 save opportunities converted and a 0.61 ERA on the season as he allowed his first and only run of the season on May 2 in a two-inning appearance (his blown save was also a two inning appearance where the two runs were both unearned). Adilson Peralta made his debut in Clearwater on May 6 and has four appearances since then. He allowed just two runs in six innings and has opponents hitting just .100 against him with nine strikeouts to just four walks and two hits during that time period.

Top-100 prospect Eduardo Tait has continued his strong season making contact with a .291 average in the month of May that actually elevates his season stats. OF Avery Owusu-Asiedu has begun to turn his season around – since May 4m, he’s batting .352 with his first two home runs of the season and four stolen bases to go along with eight RBIs and seven runs. SS Brady Day hasn’t hit for power but continues a strong season of getting on base and making contact, now up to a .282/.361/.371 slash line in 32 games with 16 RBIs and 20 runs scored.

Notable injuries: P Marcus Morgan (7-Day), P Orlando Gonzalez (7-Day), P Danyony Pulido (7-Day, has not played this season), OF TJayy Walton (60-Day, has not played this season)