Phillies vs Tigers @ Clearwater @ 1:05 PM
Lineup :
Trea Turner 6
Bryce Harper 3
Alec Bohm 5
Kyle Schwarber DH
JT Realmuto 2
Nick Castellanos 9
Bryson Stott 4
Brandon Marsh 8
Buddy Kennedy 7
Zack Wheeler RHP
Minor League Call-Ups : - note that these players are reserves (may not play)
Pitchers : Andrew Bechtold, Brandon Beckel, Carlos Francisco, Wesley Moore
Infielders : Carson Taylor, Luis Verdugo, Brady Day, Erick Brito
Outfielder : Jerffson Pena, Cade Fergus
Catcher : Lou Albrecht
Notes on today’s minor league callups :
1B Carson Taylor - 25 years old - was selected by the Phillies in the minor league portion of the rule five draft on 12/6/23 from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Carson was the Dodgers 4th round draft selection in the 2020 draft from Virginia Tech University. He is well regarded for his ability to control the strike zone during his AB’s and making hard contact. Has raw power that produced 16 doubles, 3 triples, 16 home runs and 77 RBIs (led the minor league organization) between AA Reading and AAA Lehigh Valley in 2024 (promoted there on 9/17/24 - played in 6 games - .316/.519/.316 in 27 PA’s) and posted a very solid .279/.396/.458 overall slash line in 477 plate appearances.
INF Luis Verdugo - 24 years old - signed as a minor league free agent 12/12/24 - was in the Chicago Cubs organization prior to electing free agency. He was signed by the Cubs as an international free agent on 7/2/17 from La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Luis played the 2024 season at the AA level for the Tennessee Smokies and posted a .257/.313/.328 slash line in 447 plate appearances with 21 doubles, 2 home runs and 42 RBIs. Defensively he played all four infield positions but primarily saw time at third base. In his minor league career he’s played in 456 games making 1,824 plate appearances and has a .246/.311/.358 slash line with 94 doubles, 26 home runs and 207 RBIs. He also played in the Mexican Winter Pacific League this year for Tomateros de Culiacan and hit .286/.320/.471 in 77 plate appearances with 5 doubles and 2 home runs. He’s noted as a solid hitter with a selective approach who can hit to all fields - has been known as a streaky hitter. He’s given good grades as a fielder with good footwork and soft hands along with a plus arm - noted for excellent athleticism.
Jerffson Peña - 21 years old - signed as an international free agent 11/16/21 - Montecristi, Dominican Republic - played in 41 games for the FCL Phillies in 2024 - posted a .267/.364/.427 slash line in 151 plate appearances with 10 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs and 10 RBIs with 12 stolen bases. Is another very strong defender - I saw him run down plenty of long flies this summer, accurate arm, good wheels, well schooled - is a left handed hitter and right handed thrower - has shown good pop in his brief career with 8 home runs on the expansive back fields in the DSL and FCL.
Brady Day - 23 years old - 2024 10th round draft selection - Kansas State University - played in 22 games with the 2024 Clearwater Threshers after signing and accumulated 87 plate appearances - defensively appeared at both second and third base. Is a left handed hitter who coming out of college was “considered a contact-oriented hitter with a high on-base percentage, known for his ability to draw walks and put the ball in play consistently.”
OF Cade Fergus - 24 years old - 2022 13th round draft selection - George Washington University - began the 2024 season with High A Jersey Shore - made one cameo appearance with AAA Lehigh Valley and then was assigned to AA Reading on 6/8/24 - played in 72 games (34 - Jersey Shore, 37 - Reading and 1 LHV) accumulating 255 plate appearances and posting a collective .215/.339/.369 slash line with 8 home runs and 29 RBIs - sort of a disjointed season for him. When I’ve watched him play I’ve noted good hands and bat speed as a hitter, turns on fastballs, has pop. He is an outstanding outfield defender, premium speed, excellent throwing arm, can cover a lot of ground. Cordial young man, pleasant personality. Loves to play, plays hard.
INF Erick Brito - 22 years old - signed as an international free agent 11/29/18 - Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela - played at two levels in 2024 - 70 games with Jersey Shore and 41 with Reading (promoted 7/16/24). Overall hit .243/.319/.326 with 22 doubles, 2 home runs, 30 RBIs and 21 stolen bases in 437 plate appearances. Played defensively at 2B, SS and 3B in 2024 but has also played 1B and all three outfield spots. Erick has made a steady progression in his pro career playing initially in the Dominican Summer League for two seasons before advancing to Clearwater in 2022 where he was the primary shortstop. In 2023 he began at Clearwater as the primary second baseman, was promoted to Jersey Shore on 6/13/23 and played mostly shortstop thereafter for the BlueClaws. We have seen him play all four infield spots, has shown good defensive skills and has made some spectacular plays as well, good range and decent arm wherever he plays. Offensively has shown some pop, will generally give a good plate appearance each time, battles and has delivered some key hits. He will surprise you with his power, we’ve seen him turn pitches around quickly and deep beyond the fences. Plays hard and smart baseball, knows how to win.
Catcher Lou Albrecht - 23 years old - signed 7/21/23 as an un-drafted free agent - Central Arizona JC, Coolidge, AZ - played sparingly in 2024 appearing in 13 games with the Clearwater Threshers. He played in the 2025/2025 Australian Baseball League as part of the Phillies contingent on the Adelaide Giants. Prior to playing for Central Arizona he attended and played for Washington State University. Lou is from Renton, Washington and attended Kentridge High School. He was ranked as the No. 1 catcher in Washington by Perfect Game while in High School.
Pitchers :
RH Andrew Bechtold - 28 years old - signed a minor league free agent contract with the Phillies on 1/31/25. He is from Glenn Mills, PA and attended Garnett Valley High School where he was a 2014 graduate. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 37th round of the 2014 draft but enrolled at the University of Maryland instead where he received a medical redshirt his freshman year. The following season he was the Terrapins starting third baseman. In 2017 he transferred to Chipola JC in Florida where he hit .419 in 60 games. The Minnesota Twins drafted him in the 5th round of the 2017 draft and he signed. Bechtold played primarily third base in the Twins organization from 2017 to 2023 but also saw time at catcher, first base and second base. In 2023 he converted to a two way player pitching in 20 games at the AAA level (18 IP) while also making 502 plate appearances as a hitter. He was in the Twins organization till December of 2023 when he was signed as a free agent by the Blue Jays. Andrew converted to a full time pitcher in 2024 with the Blue Jays as a reliever making most of his 33 appearances (29) at AA New Hampshire before finishing the season at AAA Buffalo.He has a four seam fastball that’s 97-100 mph, it averaged 97.1 last season. Also a new cutter that’s 90-93 and then a slider which was his best pitch last year as far as swing and miss which is 87-91.
RH Carlos Francisco - 25 years old - 2019 28th round draft selection - Hillsborough CC, Tampa, FL - appeared in 41 games with Reading in 2024 accumulating 54 innings with a 5.17 ERA - 52 K’s and 32 walks. Carlos has proven to be a workhorse reliever over his career. He also pitches winter league baseball in Puerto Rico before heading to spring camp including this past winter when he posted a 1.17 ERA in 21 appearances (23 IP) for league champion Mayaguez. Features a fastball (92-95 mph, reached 97), splitter (changeup) and slider, a power pitcher approach. From my perspective he’s always been a pitcher that’s intrigued me, an under the radar type that is attempting to make a path to the show by performing at a steady pace. He has a strong demeanor and work ethic and a sneaky fast heater offset by a splitter that’s got swing and miss qualities. Pitching Coordinator Travis Hergert : “An interesting bullpen arm that made strides in both his strike throwing and walk prevention but also his splitter usage. It can be a very effective pitch when ahead in the count to both handed hitters. He has a unique delivery that gives him some deception advantage.”
LH Wesley Moore - 25 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent 11/9/22 - Kansas State University - opened the ‘24 season with a return to Jersey Shore (after making 25 appearances there to end 2023 - 1.91 ERA) and continued to dominate (9 appearances - 2.61 ERA). Was promoted to Reading on 5/7/24 - after three appearances was placed on the IL on 5/19/24 - returned to Jersey Shore on rehab assignment on 7/20/24 (made 3 appearances) and then activated by Reading on 7/30/24 where he finished the year making 16 appearances at the AA level - in his last nine games (9 IP) did not allow a run and only four hits while striking out seven batters. Wesley attended and played for Vauxhall High School in Vauxhall, Alberta, Canada as well as the Team Canada Junior National Team, pitched in the 18U World Cup as a teenager. He features a sinking fastball (sits in the 92 to 94 mph range) curve and changeup with the change being a plus pitch, it is a swing and miss delivery. He has repeatable mechanics and a very good speed differential with the change-up off the fastball. His release point and arm speed are aligned on all of his pitches, hides the ball, making it difficult to distinguish the various pitches out of his hand. Pitched in the Arizona Fall League appearing in 6 games (5.2 IP).
RH Brandon Beckel - 23 years old - 2023 12th round draft selection - Texas Tech University - began the 2024 season with Clearwater - 25 appearances (three as an opener) - 46.2 IP with a 3.28 ERA - 51 K’s, 17 walks - promoted to Jersey Shore on 8/17/24 - five appearances (7.1 IP) with a 3.68 ERA - 14 K’s, 5 walks. He’s a reliever who can stretch out to three or four frames as needed. Has a sharp slider that he keeps down in the zone, a pitch that’s heavy and is a ground ball maker. Decent fastball - 92-94 mph that has been up to 95 - likely returns to JS to start the 2025 season in a multi inning role - it’s how he was used in college as well.
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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