4/25/25 : Extended Spring Training (XST) notes
- Steve Potter
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Written by Steve Potter
This afternoon my wife and I were on site to watch the Phillies XST team square off against the Blue Jays XST team on Roberts Field at Carpenter Complex in Clearwater. The Blue Jays started rehabbing major leaguer Erik Swanson on the mound and he threw a scoreless first inning. Nineteen year old right hander Brad Pacheco started for the Phillies and over the course of his two innings he displayed a skillset that projects very well. The young man has an easy delivery but the ball pops - looked like mid to upper nineties heat coupled with a sharp breaking slider/curve that had hitters lunging and off balance. Was very impressed with his composure, presence and command. I’d say he’s got a very bright future.
Catcher Angel Mata is very smooth behind the dish as a receiver, his stillness and calm catching the baseball is something that isn’t easily taught but rather is a talent realized on its own merit. The way he blocked pitches in the dirt today was textbook. It put me in mind of the first time I saw Rafael Marchan catch in a Fall Instructs game way before folks knew his name. Mata is just 20 years old and is coming back from significant knee surgery that kept him out of action all last season. He’s now back to full heath, has gained “good” weight and is physically toned. He can also throw, has good release mechanics and is perhaps the most skilled defensive catcher in the system with development room to get even better. An offensive output is also indicated by his initial two years in the DSL (2022 & 2023). In my humble observations the Phillies have three very viable young latin born catching prospects in Mata (Venezuela), Eduardo Tait (18 years old - Panama) and Alirio Ferrebus (19 years old - Venezuela ). Just sayin.
Btw the Phillies defeated the Jays 4-0. I will report details tomorrow if they become available.
The Phillies XST team traveled to Tampa yesterday to play the Yankees in a contest at their complex. Here’s a summary.
4/24/25 : Yankees 8 Phillies 1
At Bat : 1 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 10 K’s
The Phillies were held to five hits, third baseman Francisco Loreto homered. Second baseman Nikau Pouaka-Grego doubled. DH Rickardo Perez, first baseman Jaeden Calderon and third baseman Yhoan Escolona each singled. Center fielder Victor Cardoza drew two walks.
On The Hill : 8 R, 14 H, 5 BB, 7 K’s
LH Angel Liranzo - 3 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K’s - 63 pitches - 36 strikes - FB 89-92 mph
RH Pedro Reyes - 3 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 0 BB, 3 K’s - 52 pitches - 39 strikes - FB 91-94 mph
RH Alexis De La Cruz - 2 IP, 4 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K - 37 pitches - 20 strikes - FB 92-93 mph
RH Joel Heredia - 1 perfect IP, 1 K - 10 pitches - 7 strikes - FB 93-96 mph
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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