4/4/25 : Minor League Roundup

International League ( AAA ) - Lehigh Valley 9 (5-2) Rochester 2 (2-4)

Innovative Field•Rochester, NY

Scoring Summary :

Otto Kemp led off the game with a double, Cal Stevenson got an infield single. Payton Henry grounded out to score Kemp.  Oscar Mercado singled to score Stevenson. Josh Breaux reached on a throwing error on which Mercado scored.

A walk and two singles scored two runs for Rochester in the fourth inning.

Otto Kemp homered in the fifth inning.

Payton Henry singled in the sixth inning and went to third when Christian Arroyo reached on a throwing error. Oscar Mercado hit a sacrifice fly to score Henry.  Rafael Lantigua doubled to score Arroyo. Rodolfo Castro walked and stole second base.  Matt Kroon singled to score two runs.

Oscar Mercado homered in the eighth inning.

At Bat :  9 R, 8 H, 2 BB, 7 K’s

Otto Kemp had two hits (double & home run), scored twice and had an RBI.  Oscar Mercado had two hits (single & HR) with a stolen base and three RBIs. Rafael Lantigua doubled. Matt Kroon singled, stole a base and posted two RBIs.

On The Hill : 2 R, 9 H, 4 BB, 9 K’s

RH Seth Johnson - 4 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 3 BB, 6 K’s - 83 pitches - 52 strikes

RH Jose Cuas - 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 K’s - 27 pitches - 17 strikes

RH Koyo Aoyagi - 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K’s - 17 pitches - 9 strikes

RH Joel Kuhnel - 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K’s - 29 pitches - 19 strikes

Did Ya Know 🧐 :

UNCLE RICO: Gabriel Rincones Jr. kncoked out a couple firsts on Thursday, smoking his first triple-A triple and homer. Dubbed Uncle Rico by Kyle Schwarber, Rincones hit a ball over them mountains in game two on Thursday, launching a 414 foot, 11.4 MPH EV solo blast. The distance was third best across triple-A while the EV was 5th best on Thursday.

Sam Jellinek - Manager, Broadcasting & Media Relations - Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Eastern League ( AA ) - Portland 14 (1-0) Reading 6 (0-1)

Reading, PA - First Energy Stadium

Scoring Summary :

Trent Farquhar singled to lead off the first inning, he went to third base on a single by Leandro Pineda and scored on a ground out by Keaton Anthony.  Hendry Mendez singled and Caleb Ricketts singled to score a run.

A walk, single and stolen base (home) scored a run for Portland in the third inning.

Aidan Miller homered in the fifth inning. Leandro Pineda doubled, Keaton Anthony singled. Hendry Mendez singled to score Pineda. Caleb Ricketts grounded out to score Anthony.

Portland scored seven runs in the top of the sixth on a single, two hit batters, walk, single and a grand slam home run by Corey Rosier.  Mikey Romero then went back to back yard.

Portland scored three runs in the seventh inning on two singles, a hit batter, sacrifice fly and double.

Hendry Mendez walked and Caleb Ricketts singled in the bottom of the seventh, Elio Prado walked to load the bases. Mendez scored on a ground out by Andrick Nava.

Three walks and a double scored x runs for Portland in the ninth inning.

On The Hill :  14 R, 10 H, 13 BB, 9 K’s

RH Jean Cabrera - 4.2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 4 BB, 3 K’s - 78 pitches - 46 strikes

RH Nelson Alvarez - 1/3 IP, 4 R, 2 H, 1 HB, 1 BB, 1 K - 19 pitches - 7 strikes

RH Travis Kuhn - 1 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 1 HB, 2 BB, 2 K’s - 34 pitches - 18 strikes

RH Jack Dallas - 2 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s - 35 pitches - 23 strikes

LH Wesley Moore - 2/3 IP, X R, 1 H, 4 BB, 1 K - 37 pitches - 18 strikes

RH OF Cade Fergus - 1/3 IP -retired only batter he faced - 5 pitches - 1 strike

At Bat : 6 R, 13 H, 3 BB, 11 K’s

Five batters each had two hits : Aidan Miller, Leandro Pineda, Hendry Mendez, Keaton Anthony and Caleb Ricketts.  Pineda doubled and Miller homered.  Ricketts had two RBIs.

Did Ya Know 🧐 :

The Fightin Phils opened up the 2025 season, the 58th year of affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies, tonight against the Portland Sea Dogs, Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Tonight marks the first time since 2022 that the R-Phils have opened up the season at home, begining the year on the road in 2023 and ‘24. It’s the first-of-18 matchups between the teams this season.

Jake Starr - Reading Director of PR/Media Relations, Client Fulfillment & Broadcaster

South Atlantic League ( High A )  - Jersey Shore 3 (1-0) Hudson Valley 1 (0-1)

Heritage Financial Park•Wappingers Falls, NY

Scoring Summary :

In the fifth inning Pierce Bennett reached on a fielders choice, he stole second and scored on a single by Devin Saltiban.

Carson DeMartini walked in the eighth inning, Dylan Campbell doubled to score him. Eduardo Lopez doubled to score Campbell.

Hudson Valley scored a run in the 8th inning on two singles and a ground rule double that bounced over the fence.

On The Hill : 1 R, 5 H, 4 BB, 11 K’s

RH Casey Steward - he was excellent - 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 BB, 5 K’s - 69 pitches - 39 strikes

RH Jaydenn Estanista - 1 perfect IP - 1 K - 13 pitches - 10 strikes

RH Luis Avila - 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 HB, 0 BB, 1 K - 15 pitches - 10 strikes

RH Paxton Thompson - 1 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K’s - 25 pitches - 18 strikes

RH Tommy McCollum - 1 perfect IP - 2 K’s - 14 pitches - 9 strikes

At Bat : 3 R, 5 H, 4 BB, 10 K’s

Eduardo Lopez had two hits (single & double) and an RBI. Dylan Campbell doubled. Carson DeMartini walked twice.

Did Ya Know 🧐 :

BlueClaws On Opening Day - coming into tonight The BlueClaws were 10-13 all-time in season openers (since 2001, started 1-9). Last year, Emaarion Boyd tied the game with a ninth inning triple and scored on a wild pitch as the BlueClaws topped Aberdeen 3-2 at ShoreTown Ballpark. In 2023, they lost at Brooklyn 9-8 in 11 innings, with the winning run scoring on a bases loaded walk. The BlueClaws are 2-2 all-time on Opening Day as the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (since 2021), winning the first game on May 4, 2021 by a 6-2 margin over Hudson Valley at ShoreTown Ballpark.

Greg Giombarrese - Vice President - Communications - Jersey Shore BlueClaws

Florida State League ( Low A )  - Clearwater 8 (1-0) Dunedin 4 (0-1)

TD Ballpark•Dunedin, FL

Scoring Summary :

Three two out singles scored a run for Dunedin in the fourth inning.

Sam Shaw homered for Dunedin in the fifth inning.

In the top of the seventh inning Joel Dragoo walked, Brady Day singled. Carter Mathison hit a three run home run. Kehden Hettiger walked, Dante Nori doubled. Aroon Escobar singled to score two runs. Eduardo Tait doubled to score Escobar.

A walk, double and single scored two runs for Dunedin in the bottom of the seventh.

In the eighth inning Kodey Shojinaga singled, Kehden Hettiger, Nolan Beltran and Dante Nori each walked to score a run. Aroon Escobar singled to score a run.

On The Hill : 4 R, 8 H, 2 BB, 7 K’s

RH Sam Highfill - 3.2 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 3 K’s - 70 pitches - 45 strikes

RH Jose Pena Jr - 1/3 IP - retired only batter he faced - 5 pitches - 3 strikes

RH Ryan Dromboski - 4 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 1 HB, 1 BB, 2 K’s - 59 pitches - 36 strikes

RH Titan Hayes - 1 perfect IP - 2 K’s - 10 pitches - 7 strikes

At Bat : 8 R, 10 H, 6 BB, 10 K’s

Aroon Escobar, Brady Day and Joel Dragoo each hit two singles, Escobar had three RBIs. Carter Mathison hit a three run home run. Dante Nori doubled, walked twice, scored a run and had an RBI.  Eduardo Tait doubled. Kehden Hettiger walked twice.

Did Ya Know 🧐 :

The Clearwater Threshers bring back 20 players with experience playing for the Threshers, 19 of whom were with the team in 2024. Cam Brown returns from injury after debuting with Clearwater following his draft year in 2023. Of the returners, four

were members of last season's Opening Day roster (Albrecht, Hettiger, Owusu-Asiedu, and Peña). Gabriel Barbosa joins the Phillies organization and Threshers pitching staff from the Yankees, following a 2024 campaign where he pitched for the FSL-Rival Tampa Tarpons,after the Phillies selected him in the minor league phase of December’s Rule 5 Draft. Seven pitchers (Degges, Dromboski, Gabrysh, Gair, Morgan, Ritchie, and Tukis) will make their professional debuts upon their first outing with the Threshers, with Marty Gair becoming the last 2023 Phillies Draftee to make his minor league debut.

- Josh Sperber - Clearwater Threshers Broadcaster

System Transactions :

Lehigh Valley :   INF Buddy Kennedy (#9) added to the roster.  INF Carson Taylor placed on the 7-day IL.

Reading :   INF Felix Reyes placed on the Development List. LHP Tristan Garnett placed on the 7-day IL.  RHP Christian McGowan placed on the 60-day IL.  RHP Wen-Hui Panplaced on the 60-day IL.

Jersey Shore :   Seven-Day IL Placements - LHP Erubiel Armenta,  LHP Danny Wilkinson, OF Joel Dragoo, OF John Spikerman, C Jared Thomas. 60-Day IL Placements - RHP Nate Karaffa, RHP Alex Rao.

Clearwater :   OF Joel Dragoo has begun a rehab assignment with the Threshers from the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. He will wear #7 and start in left field for the Threshers tonight.  RHP Marty Gair has been added to the Development List.  The following seven players have been added to the Threshers' 7-Day Injured List to start the season: RHP Orlando Gonzalez, C Angel Mata, RHP Danyony Pulido, C/1B Guillermo Rosario, INF Juan Villavicencio, OF TJayy Walton,  and RHP Kevin Warunek.  The following five players have been added to the Threshers' 60-Day Injured List to start the season: LHP Kleyderve Andrade, RHP Tegan Cain, RHP Kyler Carmack, LHP Camron Hill, and RHP Giussepe Velásquez.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

Note : I've partnered  with Fanatics on Phillies Merchandise - if you would like to help support my website and articles here's a link to order merchandise - I get a small commission on any sales - thanks for the support.

http://fanatics.93n6tx.net/NKjZkK