Make Reading Fun Again!
Double-A Reading last played at home on Sunday, July 14. Since then we’ve had multiple promotions to Reading, the All Star Break, the Futures Game and the run-up to the trade deadline. Some players have returned from injury. They begin the first of their last three home series today, with “The Morning Game.”
Photo: Steven Kiebach
Roster Update
Here’s a summary of the major roster moves since early July:
- RHP Jean Cabrera and LHP Sam Aldegheri promoted from A+ Jersey Shore. Two top-10 or fringe-top-10 prospects in the Phillies system.
- OF Justin Crawford promoted from A+ Jersey Shore, put on the inactive list and sent to the Futures Game. He’s a top 3 or 4 player in the system.
- Three players were released: OF Baron Radcliff, RHP Efrain Contreras, and RHP Matt Russell.
- INF Erik Brito promoted from A+ Jersey Shore.
- LHP Andrew Walling promoted from A+ Jersey Shore
- OF/1B Leandro Pineda promoted from A+ Jersey Shore
- RHP Eiberson Castellano promoted from A+ Jersey Shore
- RHP Christian McGowan returned from injured list
- OF Justin Crawford returned from inactive list
- OF Gabriel Rincones, Jr. returned from injured list
- LHP Sam Aldegheri traded to Los Angeles Angels
It’s a lot, and while Aldegheri has come and gone, it’s a few upper level prospects who have arrived in Reading, a couple key injured players getting healthy, and the lineup and rotation have filled out nicely.
The Lineup
Here’s what the lineup looked like Saturday evening in New Hampshire:
Justin Crawford DH
Gabriel Rincones, Jr. RF
Caleb Ricketts C
Carson Taylor 1B
Otto Kemp 3B
Leandro Pineda LF
Kendall Simmons 2B
Marcus Lee Sang CF
Erik Brito SS
Notes: Rincones looked sharp early in the season, and is on most prospect lists. Ricketts is a top 20 prospect on many lists. Carson Taylor has been the best player in Reading this season. Kemp has played very well since getting promoted from Jersey earlier in the season. Pineda is a big power guy. Simmons and Lee Sang have been on the team all season. Brito is an exciting young infielder.
The Rotation
The Aldegheri trade leaves somewhat of a hole in the rotation, but it’s still a solid group:
LHP Lachlan Wells
LHP Matt Osterberg (Injured List)
RHP Jean Cabrera
RHP Christian McGowan
RHP Robinson Pina
RHP Eiberson Castellano
Notes: Osterberg had perhaps his best outing of the season last week before hitting the injured list. Wells and Pina have both been honored for outstanding play recently. Noah Skirrow takes the ball today. Here’s what the rotation looks like so far this week:
Tue (11AM): RHP Noah Skirrow
Wed: RHP Christian McGowan
Thu: RHP Jean Cabrera
Fri: RHP Robinson Pina
“The Morning Game”
It’s a tradition in Reading, dating back years to when they used to open the stadium at 7:30AM and play a game at 9:35AM so that the third-shift workers could come to the game after work. With the MLB takeover in 2020 the early morning is no more, but the 11AM start is still deemed “the Morning Game” locally. There’s usually a nice giveaway, a promotion, and all the area senior citizens come out for the game. Today we recognize ‘SOS’ as the team plays as “Cream Chipped Beef.” There’s a hat giveaway. You can have Cream Chipped Beef added to your hot dog. There might be free coffee. You can stroll the warning track. It’s a good time.
Three To Go
It hardly seems possible, but this is the start of three home stands remaining for Reading. The Schedule has the team on the road a bunch down the stretch. This week they are home for Hartford (AA-Colorado), August 13 they are home for New Hampshire (AA-Toronto) and September 3 they are home for Erie (AA-Detroit) and that’s it, with away series in Akron, Binghamton, Somerset and finishing in Harrisburg.
If you haven’t been to Reading for a baseball game in a while—or even if you have—pick out a game in the final three series and get on out to Baseballtown. It’s a good time! And, none of the final series’ overlap with the IronPigs.
See you at the ballpark,
@Kram207
Featured Image is a Ronald Moore home run. By Steven Kiebach.