This article is the thirteenth and final of a series on Phillies minor league players - if you missed the first on the catchers - here’s the link - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-12-24-system-review-catchers. The second article was on third basemen - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-16-24-winter-league-roundup. The third article was on first baseman - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-17-24-system-review-first-basemen. The fourth was on middle infielders - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-22-24-system-review-middle-infielders - the fifth on center fielders - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-24-24-system-review-center-fielders - the sixth on corner outfielders - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-27-24-system-review-corner-outfielders. The seventh was on upper level starting pitchers - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/11-29-24-system-review-starting-pitchers-upper-levels
The eighth was on lower level starting pitchers - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/12-1-24-system-review-starting-pitchers-lower-levels. The ninth was on relievers projected at the AAA level - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/12-3-24-system-review-relief-pitchers-aaa-lehigh-valley. The tenth was on relievers projected at the AA level - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/12-4-24-system-review-relief-pitchers-aa-reading. The eleventh was on relievers possibly opening at Jersey Shore - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/12-7-24-system-review-relief-pitchers-high-a-jersey-shore. Article twelve was the first of two on Clearwater/FCL relievers - https://www.philliesbaseballfan.com/post/12-12-24-system-review-relief-pitchers-low-a-clearwater-and-fcl-part-one-of-two
Evaluating pitchers generally falls into basically four categories - “Stuff -velocity/spin/etc”, deception, mechanics (ability to repeat) and control/command. It’s rare to find a hurler that excels in all four “out of the box”, it’s easiest to recognize “stuff” - that’s also the variable that can’t be taught - mechanics, deception and command can help make stuff better but without it the work is much more difficult. That’s not to say that a pitcher who doesn’t have elite stuff can’t develop into a major leaguer, they can - just have to excel in the three other variables.
The off-season roster build is in progress - I conclude my look (position by position) at returning minor league players and where they might be assigned for 2025 - final article in the series - some potential bullpen candidates at the Low A/FCL level playing for the Clearwater Threshers or FCL Phillies - part two of two.
Low A Clearwater/Extended Spring Training :
RH Tegan Cain - 22 years old - 2024 13th round draft selection - University of Kansas - He had Tommy John surgery in August after making his second appearance with the Clearwater Threshers - he pitched in two games in total - two perfect innings with two strikeouts. Tegan told me he felt a pop in his elbow and knew something was wrong - in his two games he showed a sinker in the 94-96 mph range and a slider. He has begun his rehab work at the complex and will miss the 2025 season working his way back to action.
RH Marty Gair - 21 years old - 2023 13th round draft selection - Florida Southwestern State Junior College - missed all of the past two seasons working his way back from TJ surgery which he had in the late summer of 2023. He was throwing bullpens this past September so hopefully he’s close to returning to game action. We’ve seen young Mr Gair in bullpen sessions and have been continually impressed. He’s a big fella at 6’6” and comes over the top with his delivery. In our observations this old baseball man thinks there’s a great deal of upside with this right hander. Found this note on him from his college days ““Marty Gair was FSW’s best pitcher this season and is seen as one of the best JUCO pitching prospects in the entire country. At 6’6″, 230 lbs he is a big, physical and imposing on the mound,” FSW head coach Zac Cole said. Cole compared Gair to other large, powerful pitchers. That comp is also fair when you consider Marty’s cannon of an arm. He has thrown as high as 100 MPH in a college baseball game. Thanks to his size, arm strength and accuracy, Gair has been garnering a lot of attention from evaluators.” - NBC2 News - Fort Myers, FL. Hopefully is able to be a full participant in minor league ST camp - will either break as part of the opening day Clearwater Threshers roster else be part of extended spring training.
LH Kevin Warunek - 22 years old - 2024 18th round draft selection - Longwood University, VA - did not pitch in an official game after signing, instead worked at the complex on mechanics, strength and conditioning coming off some elbow discomfort from his college season. I have yet to see him throw off the mound - notes I’ve gotten is he’s tall (6’4”) with an athletic frame who throws from a three quarter slot with loose quick arm action who’s in the lower nineties with his fastball and has a high spin slider that is an out pitch. In college he was a reliever in two of his three seasons with 2024 being his best as he posted a 2.08 ERA in 12 games (21.2 IP) with 25 K’s and 13 walks. If ready to go he will likely compete in spring camp for a bullpen role with the Clearwater Threshers however there is consideration I believe to perhaps stretch him out as a starter.
RH Luke Gabrysh - 21 years old - 2024 15th round draft selection - St Joseph’s University - did not pitch in an official game after signing, instead he worked at the complex on mechanics, strength and conditioning. Luke did pitch in a couple “Bridge League” games and showed a very live fastball in the 94 to 97 mph range. I have yet to personally see him throw off the mound. Notes on him indicate that he has a high spin rate slider and change-up as well. Was a participant in Fall High Performance Camp. In college he pitched in 40 games (three starts) totaling 68.2 IP with 55 K’s but 51 walks - both control and command were issues. He pitched for Trenton in the MLB draft league in the summer of 2024 and posted a strong 2.13 ERA in 9 games (12.2 IP) with 23 K’s and 5 walks showing what he’s capable of when in the zone. Profiles as a back end reliever - will compete for a Clearwater Threshers role in 2025 ST camp - could possibly benefit from time in extended spring training and a few innings in the FCL as well.
RH Eliecer Bata - 20 years old - signed as an international free agent - Achaguas, Venezuela - 12/5/21 - began the 2024 season on the IL - pitched in five games posting a 2.03 ERA (13.1 IP) for DSL Phillies White. Was promoted stateside on 7/3/24 and appeared in five FCL Phillies games (seven IP) - struggled with command/control. Pitched in a couple “Bridge League” games in August. Appeared in 19 DSL games (15 starts) in 2022 and 2023 (63 IP total) with 57 K’s and just 14 walks. Control hadn’t been an issue till coming stateside. Matt Winkelman of Phillies Minor Thoughts does a great job of tracking and charting pitches - he has Elicier with a fastball in the 87 to 89 mph range along with a slider, curve and changeup. He’s a big frame with potential to develop as either a starter or perhaps bulk reliever - will likely compete for a 2025 FCL job in spring and extended spring camps.
LH Claudio Gatier - 22 years old - signed as an international free agent - Higuey, Dominican Republic - 4/27/22 - after pitching in one DSL game was promoted stateside to the FCL on 6/10/24. He appeared in seven FCL games (10 IP) with 14 K’s and 10 walks. He has a fastball (88-92 mph), change-up and slider. In consideration for ST competition for a FCL or Clearwater roster spot.
RH Josbel Garcia - 20 years old - signed as an international free agent - Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela - 10/21/21 - pitched in 14 FCL games (five starts) in 2024 posting a 4.33 ERA in 35.1 IP with 27 K’s and 24 walks - promoted to the Clearwater Threshers on 8/31/24 - pitched two innings in his only Threshers appearance - he has a four seamer and sinker (range of 90 to 95 mph), slider, cutter and curve. Josbel had a great 2023 DSL season appearing in 14 regular season games posting a 1.69 ERA in 32 IP with 15 K’s and 6 walks. He’s a young power arm that has had struggles with control - will compete in ST for an opening day roster spot with the Threshers perhaps as a bulk reliever else could do a second stint in extended spring and the FCL.
RH Tanner Gresham - 23 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent - 8/13/24 - Army - has yet to pitch in a professional game - played four seasons for Army in the Patriot League although he missed most of the 2024 year coming back from offseason Tommy John surgery. He returned to action in late April and made five appearances - was the 2023 Patriot League Pitcher of the Year after going 5-1 in ten starts (59 IP) and posting a 2.90 ERA. Gresham was both a starter and reliever in his collegiate career - in total he pitched 124.1 innings with 117 K’s and 59 walks. His career ERA was 3.76. The 6’3” 220 pound right-hander has a plus change-up and a fastball that has reached 93 mph. He pitched in the 2024 MLB draft league for the Trenton Thunder and had a 2.70 ERA in three appearances (3.1 IP) with seven strikeouts and two walks. He went to Hopewell High School in Huntersville, NC. Tanner told me he will participate with the Phillies as a WCAP (World Class Athlete). He said it’s “essentially an active duty Olympian. I will play for the Phillies while serving active duty. Thus in the 2028 Olympics i will participate as a member of team USA. I will be playing for the Phillies and that will count as service time since I will be acting as a “liaison” to the military and baseball.” Given his late signing date and coming off injury will likely be part of extended spring training with initial play in the FCL.
RH Zack Tukis - 22 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent - 7/23/24 - Millersville University, PA - did not pitch in an official game after signing, instead worked at the complex on mechanics, strength and conditioning. Zack did pitch in a “Bridge League” game and showed a very good fastball in the 93 to 97 mph range. I have yet to personally see him throw off the mound. He was a participant in Fall High Performance Camp. He is from Mechanicsburg, Pa - went to Cumberland Valley High School - played for the Williamsport CrossCutters in the draft league - in three seasons at Millersville pitched in 19 games (24.1 IP) posting 38 K’s. Notes are that his fastball reaches the upper nineties and that he has a very sharp slider to use as a put away pitch. He didn’t pitch in high school. “I couldn’t be prouder of Zack,” said Millersville coach Jon Shehan in a statement. “He worked so hard to see his dreams come true. He got cut in high school, and he’s a testament to what can happen when a talented guy sets a goal and really commits himself to it. This is a special story that deserves to be told, and the story may only be just beginning. I told him what I told our other picks through the years. ‘The job isn’t done.’ The goal is to make the big leagues now.” - 12/14/24 - Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Given his relative inexperience he’s likely a candidate for both ST and extended spring camp with a 2025 debut in the FCL but never say never - could impress in ST camp and make the opening day Clearwater Threshers.
RH Luis Gonzalez - 19 years old - signed as an international free agent - Barquisimeto, Venezuela - 1/15/22 - came stateside on 4/22/24 after spending his first two pro seasons in the DSL - he was a DSL All-Star in 2023 when he posted a 1.99 ERA in 11 games (nine starts) totaling 49.2 IP. In 2024 with the FCL Phillies he appeared in 10 games (two starts) primarily as a bulk reliever and posted a 4.13 ERA in 32.2 IP with 34 K’s and just 9 walks. He’s a great strike thrower with very good command and control of his pitches. His fastball generally sits in the 90-93 mph range and he uses a change-up, slider and cutter as secondaries. Mixes pitches well, is a pitch-ability type hurler. Likely returns for a second season of extended spring training and FCL play perhaps as a starter this go round.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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RH Cam Brown - 93-94 mph
RH Luke Gabrysh - 94-97 mph