The IronPigs Are Fun Again

Well, you wouldn’t know it by how little I’ve been writing about them, but the 15th-Anniversary squad over at Coca Cola Park has been a lot of fun to watch.

It’s been well-established.  Triple-A baseball is not for top-prospect development, usually, it’s for MLB spare parts and 40-man guys to stay ready to help the big club.  When it works out great is when you find an MiLB free-agent who is coming into his own and can contribute in a big way.  The first two names that come to mind are Joey Meneses and Brandon Moss, around these parts.

I’m not sure whether we have one of those guys or not, but when the team is playing hard and having fun and you have a good mix of quality veterans and exciting youth?  It can make for some good baseball which is fun to be around for folks who are at the park everyday, as well as great entertainment for the more casual fan who wants to see a competitive game played out on the field.

So since we never got around to a roster preview or anything of that nature as this season began, let’s take a moment now and go through the IronPigs lineup–we’ll use the lineup from. 5/26, a 7-3 win over Buffalo:

1. CF Jake Cave:  Cave made the Phillies out of Spring Training but was sent down to Triple-A on May 2, ostensibly because Dalton Guthrie can play a better CF and is right-handed.  Since then, all he’s done it hit–in all 19 games since getting sent down.  In media quotes he’s not taking this assignment lightly, knowing that he has to play and play well to get back to the big leagues.  He hustled from Los Angeles to Syracuse, NY in less than 24 hours in order to join the IronPigs on the road.  This is like the reverse Hector Luna who used to show up at the last minute and make sure it was late enough not to be on the lineup card for one extra night.  Cave has done well in CF at Coca Cola Park, and although I have some questions about his arm, I think he’s put himself in position to get recalled by the Phillies.  [No Guthrie hate; I like him too and he’s fun to watch as well.  And he probably needs playing time at this juncture.]. Over the 19 games The Caveman is hitting an absurd .444/.516/.852 for a 1.368 OPS.  6 HR, 10 BB, 14 K.
2. 3B Drew Ellis:  Originally a second-round pick of the Diamondbacks in 2017, Ellis made it to the big leagues in 2021, then found himself with the Seattle Mariners in 2022.  After getting released in Spring Training this season with Seattle, Ellis found himself without a job for almost a month before signing on with the Phillies under a minors deal.  He worked out in Clearwater before getting added to the Reading roster following an injury to SS Pedro Martinez (no, not that Pedro Martinez).  In his short time in Reading he showed some power, but his numbers were not otherwise gaudy.  However, with the injury to INF Esteban Quiroz he was promoted to the IronPigs.  Since then over a small-sample eight games he’s slashing .355/.429/.871.  He’s been solid at 3B and just adds to a fun lineup and a tough start to the game for the opposing pitcher.
3. RF Jordan Qsar:  Jordan was well-liked in the Tampa organization who drafted him, and with the Triple-A Durham Bulls.  He arrives as a MiLB free agent looking for greener pastures.  His slash-line isn’t eye-popping (.250/.346/.500) and he often bats lower in the lineup.  However, his numbers go up with 2-outs and runners in scoring position, and the eye test bears that out.  He seems to have that “clutch” gene that he’s always doing things and lighting a spark or coming through in a big spot.  He’s played really well in right field, too, which has made it tough to get prospect Jhailyn Ortiz on the field or in the lineup (see below).

   

4. SS Weston Wilson:  Wilson is a little tough to figure.  He had a very nice Spring Training with the Phillies.  I don’t think he’s a natural shortstop, but he’s been serviceable there, on a team that doesn’t have a natural option at the position.  After a somewhat down year in Triple-A Nashville last season, his numbers have returned to his 2021 Triple-A level, although he was injured part of that season.  When you can lead your team in HR (13) and play a decent shortstop, you can bat cleanup and be in the lineup every day.  From afar, it seems that he has a leadership role on the team.

   

5. LF SÍmon Muzziotti:  As the current International League batting leader (.360/.400/.488) he often finds himself hitting higher in the lineup.  Since signing with the Phillies as an international free agent out of Venezuela, injuries, pandemics and international relations have dogged his development.  Last season in Reading I had a strong view of him as the latest version of Carlos Tocci.  However, this season SÍmon was able to get into Spring relatively on time, and he looks stronger and healthier than he did last season.  He’s not hitting for a ton of power, but he’s hitting and hitting a lot.  I think he’s maybe a more natural CF, but the current conjecture is that he’s playing a lot of LF with the hopes that he can get back up to the Phillies and fill that spot and get Schwarbs off his feet when Harper can play 1B.  We’ll see; he’s another LH bat as the Phillies continue to search for RH power to replace the injured Rhys Hoskins.
6. 2B Esteban Quiroz:  Junior was calling him the “Short King” all through April and the 5’4″ infielder was making plays and swinging the bat.  With the ABS, you really don’t want to exaggerate your physical traits, eh? Coming out of Mexico, Quiroz first affiliated appearance was will the Red Sox organization.  He reached Triple-A with Durham and Iowa.  He had a serviceable cup of coffee with the big league Cubs last season.  He’s coming off a stint on the Injured List, but .246/.411/.342 with six stolen bases will play on this team.  He’s been solid at both 3B and 2B.  He has 30 BB.
7. 1B James “DELCO Jim” Haley:  It seems we usually have a veteran local guy on the team, and this season is no different.  Haley is listed as 3B, but at this juncture he probably serves us best on 1B, at least until Darick Hall needs a lengthy rehab assignment. He’s from Landsdowne, PA and went to college at Penn State, where he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays.  He was also with Durham last season, and while his numbers are not eye-popping, he adds leadership and has come through in some big spots so far this young season.

   

8. DH Vimael “Welcome To The” Machín:  Another 3B who has also played elsewhere on the diamond, the native of Puerto Rico went to college at Virginia Commonwealth before getting drafted by the Cubs.  He has MLB time in three different seasons with Oakland.  Right now, his numbers are below his career Triple-A averages, but like Haley, Quiroz and Qsar, shows good leadership on the field and has a number of clutch or rally-sustaining hits.
9. C Aramis Garcia:  The defensive catcher out of Florida International–a former second-round pick of the Giants, has MLB service time over four seasons with San Francisco, Oakland and Cincinnati. The IronPigs are 10-9 with Garcia behind the plate and 13-11 with Hicks.  40-man member Rafael Marchan should be healthy later in the summer.

   

On The Bench

2B Scott Kingery:. Scotty Jetpax started off the season on fire, but has since cooled off a bit.  He’s played well at CF, 2B and SS, and is in the lineup most nights–although he’s lost the privilege of batting in the top three.  This is Scott’s last good chance to prove he deserves an MLB contract next season–or at least a Spring Training invite.  He’s likely done in the Phillies organization following this season, but you never know, and he’s highly motivated to play well.  He’s still fun to watch and it’s interesting to follow his career and the adjustments he’s making to his swing and his game.

RF Jhailyn Ortiz:  The thinking right now is that Ortiz could be nursing an injury that is not bad enough to land him on the Injured List.  With the addition of Stevenson (see below) we’ll watch to see if anything changes.  Jhailyn was signed as a top prospect out of the Dominican Republic as a teenager.  He’s worked his way up through the system and gets his first look at Triple-A this season after having spent 140 games over two seasons with Double-A Reading.  So far, his Triple-A numbers have been respectable:  .284/.392/.519 with 4 HR, 14 BB, 21 K over a small sample of 24 games.  He missed some time passing through waivers, and as mentioned, watch to see if he maybe needs an injured-list stint coming up.  The other issue is that Cave and Muzzioti are playing very, very well and are on the 40-man and on the Phillies’ radar.  That leaves beating out Jordan Qsar or grabbing the DH from a veteran as his ways to get on the field.  Just something to watch.

C John “Jazz” Hicks:  A defensive catcher with some power, not terribly different from Aramis Garcia.  Hicks has 264 games of MLB experience over six seasons with Seattle, Detroit and Texas.  His career numbers in Triple-A are a respectable .279/.325/.437, although he’s not at that level yet this season.

OF Cal Stevenson:  Just added to the roster yesterday after being plucked off waivers from San Francisco.  Stevenson is listed as a center fielder, stands 5’9″ 175lbs and has major league time with Oakland and San Francisco.  He’s another left-handed bat for the outfield, which doesn’t totally make sense, but we’ll see when he starts playing if he’s more than just additional depth in the run-up to the trade deadline.  His career Triple-A numbers are .271/.382/.386.

Pitching

If you want to know how such a fun lineup as I’ve described above is a perfectly mediocre 24-24 and 10.0 games back of the lead in the International League, it comes down to pitching.  The rotation has been problematic all season with unproven promotions from Double-A (McArthur, now traded) to go with under-performing 40-man lefties in Cris Sanchez and Michael Plassmeyer, plus a bunch of bullpen games and now the return of somewhat foundering LHP Bailey Falter (who did get the win last night).  Injuries to two of the top three prospects has also depleted the depth here.

The relievers have been decent, but with the larger rosters plus “Development List” guys still in place, it’s hard to get a clear read on anyone from a fan perspective.  That’s plenty of depth and a good way to cover those bullpen days and doubleheaders, but not exactly the part of this team that’s “fun” like the lineup.

Outlook

It doesn’t look like the IronPigs are going to win the first half title, so we look forward to the second.  I won’t be looking very hard, because even winning the second half only guarantees ‘Away’ playoff games (taking a page out of the Phantoms’ book here).  But, perhaps some pitching prospects make their way here as we look ahead to June, the All-Star Break, and the trade deadline.  Here are some players to look forward to in the coming days, weeks, months:

RHP Griff McGarry:  He’s a college starting pitcher with a big arm who made a cameo out of the ‘pen with us last season.  Don’t remember?  Don’t worry; it didn’t go well.  And, he started off the season on the injured list, but has made a few starts at Double-A recently.  I think he looks good enough to continue stretching out and developing here at Triple-A.  We’ll see how long it takes the Phillies braintrust to agree with me.  (Disclaimer:  I don’t get to see everything, including some of the advanced metrics.  It won’t hurt him to stay with Reading; that’s just my read on it.)

RHP Mick Able:  The consensus #2 prospect in the Phillies’ system has had his ups and downs with Reading.  The stuff is really there, but sometimes it doesn’t find the strike zone.  Sometimes it finds too much of the strike zone.  Pitch-sequencing and strategy are still being worked on, I think.  His promotion is not imminent (I’d be surprised) but I think he gets to Allentown this season at some point.

RHP Andrew Painter:  The top prospect with the sore elbow has been throwing from flat ground for some time now, with no setbacks (*knocks wood).  Reports have him due to get on a mound very shortly.  I think we’ll see him–however briefly–make his way through Allentown later this season.

RHP Jon Duplantier:  He was signed from the Dodgers system to be Triple-A pitching depth, but has been injured.  Expect him back in the coming week or two to reinforce the rotation a bit.  Other pitchers on the injured list don’t have clear paths back at this juncture.  But things could change.

Rehabs:  We didn’t get our Harper rehab this season, but we could get a look at OF Christian Pache, 1B Darick Hall, and LHP Jose Alvarado,  If Hall’s LHB isn’t needed with the big club right away we could have him via option.

Promotions:  There’s no one in Reading shoving their way to the IronPigs right this minute, but OF Johan Rojas is on the 40-man and they might want a look.  OF Ethan Wilson was on fire for a while, but has cooled.  The Phillies may want to keep him climbing up the system as well.

Good-Byes:  I’ve been around long enough to know that June 1–or thereabouts–usually brings some roster turnover.  For whatever reason be it opt-outs, promotions, or just in general.  With the trade deadline and the Phillies’ need for pitching could come with some players leaving us as well.

But right now, I think this is a rather fun IronPigs lineup to watch.  Get yourself out to the park this weekend or next week (we’ve got two home-stands in a row here) while these guys are still around and playing well.

See you at the park,

@Kram207