Phillies vs Tigers @ Lakeland @ 1:05 PM
Lineup :
RF Gabriel Rincones Jr.
DH Nick Castellanos
LF Edmundo Sosa
1B Kody Clemens
C Rafael Marchán
3B Buddy Kennedy
SS Rodolfo Castro
2B Christian Arroyo
CF Oscár Mercado
Jesus Luzardo LHP
Minor League Call-Ups : - note that these players are reserves (may not play)
Pitchers : Andrew Bechtold, Brendan Beckel, Josh Hejka, Emmanuel Mejia, Mitch Neunborn
Catchers : Kody Shojinaga
Infielders : Keaton Anthony, Robert Moore, Carson DeMartini, Luis Verdugo
Outfielders : Ethan Wilson
Notes on today’s minor league callups :
1B Keaton Anthony - 23 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent on 7/18/23 - University of Iowa - winner of the 2024 minor league gold glove for first basemen - began the year with the Low A level Clearwater Threshers and was a key contributor to the team’s Florida State League first half championship run, he posted a .322/.446/.470 slash line in 44 games and a .916 OPS in 186 plate appearances with 10 doubles, 4 home runs and 21 RBIs drawing an equal amount of walks and strikeouts (28). On June 25th he was promoted to High A level Jersey Shore where he continued to rake - in 53 games (232 plate appearances) he had a .356/.418/.483 slash line with a .901 OPS - 10 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs and 45 RBIs with 21 walks and 34 strikeouts. He was promoted to AA level Reading on 9/6/24 to finish the 2024 season. Overall he hit .327/.414/.454 in 444 plate appearances with 20 doubles, 8 home runs and 67 RBIs - drew 50 walks and struck out just 68 times.
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.
INF Robert Moore - 22 years old - acquired in trade with Milwaukee Brewers for Oliver Dunn 11/14/23 - was the Brewers 2022 CB-B round draft pick - University of Arkansas - played in 107 games (435 plate appearances) for Reading in 2024 posting a .240/.323/.364 slash line with 20 doubles, 9 home runs, 41 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. Walked 39 times and struck out in 73 plate appearances. Defensively played 61 games at shortstop and 41 at second base. Has a high baseball IQ, plays smart baseball, good hands and shows patience as a hitter, generally won’t get himself out. He’s the son of Dayton Moore - former President of KC Royals.
Carson DeMartini - 22 years old - 2024 4th round draft pick - Virginia Tech University - advanced left handed hitter who posted a .315/.385/.478 slash line in 104 plate appearances at Clearwater after he signed with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs and 9 RBIs, he drew 9 walks, struck out 14 times and stole 8 bases. Showed strong contact skills offensively with pop that was “loud” - the two home runs we saw at Clearwater jumped off his bat. Defensively played primarily third base in his initial 24 pro games but also saw time at both second base and shortstop. He played third base in college, to me that looks like where he belongs, plenty of arm to man the position and decent range. I think he’s a good candidate from the ‘24 draft class to advance out of spring camp directly to Jersey Shore and claim the post as primary third baseman. A lot to like in his game and approach.
Ethan Wilson - 25 years old - 2021 2nd round draft pick - University of South Alabama - began the ‘24 season on the IL due to a medical procedure - was activated 4/25/24 by Reading after rehabbing at the Complex in Clearwater. Struggled to get on track during the summer but picked it up in August posting a .270/.329/.619 slash line with 6 home runs in 63 AB’s. Was transferred to AAA Lehigh Valley on 9/17/24 and played in five games for the IronPigs. Ethan is a hard worker, is an adequate defensive outfielder, has played both corners - lacks foot speed and is more suited to left field due to arm strength. He’s got the ability to drive the ball out of the yard - needs to establish consistency and put the ball in play more - when he barrels it the ball is generally hit hard.
Kodey Shojinaga - 22 years old - 2024 6th round draft pick - University of Kansas - played primarily infield during his college career after earning all-state high school honors during his senior year in Hawaii as a catcher/infielder. Played in 15 games with the Threshers after signing - seven at catcher and six as a first baseman. In college displayed excellent bat to ball skills - rarely struck out - that was also the case in his first 42 pro AB’s - just 4 strikeouts. Seems to be a determined worker - will need to learn the nuances of becoming a professional catcher but has displayed a skill set and willingness to do so.
Pitchers :
RH Josh Hejka - 27 years old - acquired from Mets for cash considerations 2/5/25 - was signed by the Mets on 6/27/19 as an un-drafted free agent from Johns Hopkins University. He pitched last season at three levels - at High A he posted a 1.22 ERA in 22 games (35.2 IP), moved up to the AA level on 7/1/24 and appeared in 14 games with Binghamton recording a 6.30 ERA in 20 IP - he was moved to the AAA level on 9/6/24 and appeared in two games. It was a comeback season for Heika as he had missed the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery. He’s a side armer with an upper eighties arsenal with the slider being his out pitch. “Throughout his time with the Mets’ organization, Hejka’s fully embraced the analytical movement. He’s worked with several third-party organizations, such as Driveline, to fully optimize his unique delivery. He features a sinker, rising slider and cutter.” - Mets Minors dot net Over his four year minor league career he’s appeared in 126 games and has a 3.73 ERA with 12 saves in 193 IP. I saw him pitch in live BP last week - extreme sidearm - Quisenberry like - interesting movement on pitches.
RH Emmanuel Mejia - RHP - 26 years old - taken from Rays in December’s minor league portion of Rule 5 draft - from Bonao, Dominican Republic - signed by the Pirates as an international free agent 2/20/19 - taken by the Rays in the 2022 Rule 5 minor league draft - last season he was a reliever for the Rays AAA affiliate Durham where he appeared in 42 games (5 starts) and recorded a 7.83 ERA in 54 IP with 59 K’s and 34 walks. The year before he split time at the AA and AAA levels and recorded a 3.91 ERA in 50.2 IP with 74 K’s and 29 walks. He features a fastball that is in the 94 to 98 mph range, slider/curve and changeup. Pitches for the Gigantes del Cibao team in the Dominican Winter League. He’s a big fella with a big arm.
RH Mitch Neunborn - 27 years old - signed as an international free agent - 6/5/23 - born in Johannesburg, South Africa - pitched internationally in the Australian Baseball League - features three pitches, a fastball (92 to 95 mph), slider and split finger change up. Throws his splitter with a Vulcan grip between his ring and index finger, creates good deception, reduction in velocity and downward movement, will throw it often and for strikes. Began 2024 with Reading, was transferred to Jersey Shore on 6/1/24 where he became part of the starting rotation - returned to Reading on 9/12/24. At Jersey Shore he was 5-5 in 14 games (all starts) accumulating 67.2 IP and posting a 2.39 ERA with 70 K’s and 24 walks. At Reading he was 2-1 in 15 games (one start) in 23.2 IP with a 5.32 ERA - 26 K’s and 18 walks. Overall he pitched in 29 games (91.1 IP) with 96 K’s and 42 walks - a 3.15 ERA.
Mitch has also been a previous standout for the Adelaide Giants in the Australian Baseball League putting up stellar numbers out of the bullpen in the 2022-2023 season for the league champions. He has been used as both a starter and bulk reliever, his repertoire of pitches and command enable him to throw multiple innings. Mitch pitched collegiate baseball for Phillies Minor League Pitching Coordinator Travis Hergert at North Iowa Community College who told me that “Mitch has a good feel for his arsenal. He has a tremendous change-up. We feel he can gain a few ticks on the fastball and be a valuable bulk reliever in the upper levels.”
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 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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