Since 1986 the Phillies have honored the annual top player and pitcher in their minor league system. The award is named in memory of Paul Owens, a Phillies legend who spent 48 years in the Phillies organization as a scout, farm director, general manager, manager and senior advisor. Last year OF Johan Rojas & RHP Orion Kerkering were the award recipients.
The Phillies single A teams end their regular season on 9/8/24, AA Reading concludes on 9/15/24 and AAA Lehigh Valley on 9/22/24.
I’ve been writing about Phillies Player Development since the beginning of 2015,(ten years 😳), during that time amongst the seventeen recipients of the award twelve have or are currently playing in the major leagues - eight award winners from those years are still members of the Phillies organization (Johan Rojas, Orion Kerkering, Scott Kingery, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, Jean Cabrera, Darick Hall and Andrew Painter).
Here’s my early list of nominations for this year’s Paul Owens Awards.
Pitcher of the Year :
RH Max Lazar - Lehigh Valley/Reading - 25 years old - signed as a minor league free agent 12/8/23 - originally drafted and signed by Brewers as 11th round pick in 2017 draft from Coral Springs HS , Coral Springs , FL. Spent seven years in Brewers minor league system. Has a long arm delivery that makes his fastball seemingly jump on hitters - began this season with Reading and was outstanding - 8 appearances (10.1 IP), 0.00 ERA, 0.29 WHIP, .088 BAA, 18 K’s, no walks and only three hits allowed. Promoted to Lehigh Valley 5/8/24 - has appeared in 26 games with the IronPigs - 30 IP, 2.40 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, .202 BAA, 10 saves in 12 chances, 35 K’s, 9 walks. Promoted to major leagues 8/9/24, currently in the Majors - has appeared in 8 MLB games - 2.45 ERA in 7.1 IP, 0.68 WHIP, .148 BAA, 6 K’s, 1 walk, 4 hits allowed. Was Player Development pitcher of the month in June. Overall minor league numbers - 2-3, 13 saves, 1.79 ERA in 34 games (40.1 IP), 53 K’s, 9 BB, 0.84 WHIP, .175 BAA, 5.89 K/BB ratio.
LH Mavis Graves - Clearwater - 20 years old - 2022 6th round draft choice - Eastside HS, Taylors, SC - has recorded a 7-6 record in 18 appearances (16 starts) with a 3.64 ERA in 84 IP, 117 K’s, 36 walks, 1.35 WHIP - was Player Development pitcher of the month in May. Features a five pitch mix - four seamer, two seamer, cutter, curve and change up - fastballs are in the 91-94 mph range, has an outstanding change-up - curve has sweeper/slider depth. Very good first season in full-season play - pitched last year in the FCL.
RH Robinson Pina - Lehigh Valley/Reading - 25 years old - signed as a minor league free agent 12/11/23 from the LA Angels system. Originally signed by the Angels 2/15/17 from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic. Features a 93-95 mph sinker, change-up and slider. Big frame at 6’5” 225. Began the season with Reading and was very good, staff ace - 19 starts, 12 wins, 4 losses - 3.95 ERA in 100.1 IP, 107 K’s and a minuscule 13 walks. Promoted to Lehigh Valley on 8/13/24 - has made three starts for the IronPigs - 3.00 ERA in 15 IP. Overall numbers : 13-6, 3.82 ERA, 22 starts, 115.1 IP, 120 K’s, 1.21 WHIP, 19 BB, 6.32 K/BB ratio.
LH Braeden Fausnaught- Jersey Shore/Reading - 25 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent 8/1/22 - West Chester University - started the year with Jersey Shore - made 19 appearances (18 starts) posting a 3.65 ERA in 98.2 IP and a 8-3 record, 90 K’s, 32 BB, 1.29 WHIP. Promoted to Reading on 8/13/24 where he’s made 3 starts (16.1 IP) recording a 3.31 ERA with 19 K’s and just 3 walks. Is a strike thrower with a four pitch mix, a battler who is not afraid to pitch to contact. Overall numbers : 8-5, 3.60 ERA in 22 appearances (21 starts), 115 IP, 109 K’s, 35 BB, 1.23 WHIP.
RH Eiberson Castellano - Reading/Jersey Shore - 23 years old - signed as an international free agent 7/2/18 - Maracaibo, Venezuela - features both a four seam and two seam fastball in the 93-96 mph range which has been up to 97 mph. He has a power slurve in the low 80’s and is continuing to develop a change up. Posted a 4-2 record in 14 appearances (12 starts) at Jersey Shore with a 4.12 ERA in 63.1 IP with 86 K’s and 20 walks. Promoted to Reading 7/16/24 - in 7 starts (35.1 IP) has a 3.57 ERA with 46 K’s and 9 walks - a .209 BAA and 1.02 WHIP. Was Player Development pitcher of the month in July. Overall numbers : 6-4, 21 games (19 starts), 3.92 ERA, 98.2 IP, 132 K’s, 29 BB, 1.16 WHIP, 4.55 K/BB ratio.
RH Casey Steward - Clearwater/Jersey Shore - 23 years old - 2023 19th round draft choice - Washburn University, Washburn, KS - began the season with Clearwater and recorded a 4-2 record with a 3.38 ERA in 12 appearances (10 starts) with 52 K’s and 19 walks in 50.2 IP - was promoted to Jersey Shore on 6/27/24 and has a 2.96 ERA and 4-2 record in 9 starts (48.2 IP) with 45 K’s and 25 walks. Features a fastball (92-96 mph), slider, changeup and cutter. Overall numbers : 8-4, 21 games (19 starts), 99.1 IP, 3.17 ERA, 97 K’s, 44 BB, 1.22 WHIP, .213 BAA.
RH Jean Cabrera - Reading/Jersey Shore - 22 years old - signed as an international free agent 7/2/19 from Maracay, Venezuela - features a two seamer, change up and sweeper. Previously won the Paul Owens Award in 2021. Began this season with Jersey Shore - posted a 5-4 record in 14 starts (77 IP) with a 3.39 ERA, 91 K’s, 25 walks - a 1.09 WHIP. Was promoted to Reading on 7/9/24 where he’s made six appearances (5 starts) and pitched 29.2 innings - has a 4.85 ERA, 19 K’s and 8 walks. Overall numbers : 6-5, 20 games (19 starts), 106.2 IP, 3.80 ERA, 110 K’s, 33 BB, 1.21 WHIP.
RH Braydon Tucker - Clearwater/Jersey Shore - 25 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent 7/19/23 - Lipscomb University - began the year with Clearwater - appeared in 15 games (9 starts) posting a 5-2 record in 64.1 IP with a 2.94 ERA with 62 K’s and 13 walks - a 1.03 WHIP. Was promoted to Jersey Shore on 7/16/24 and has made 7 starts (34.2 IP) with a 3.63 ERA with 34 K’s and 12 walks - a .244 BAA. Features a fastball (90-92 mph), slider, changeup, sweeper and cutter. Overall numbers : 8-4, 22 games (16 starts), 99 IP, 3.18 ERA, 96 K’s, 25 BB, 1.10 WHIP.
LH Lachlan Wells - Reading - 27 years old - signed as a free agent 1/7/24 - Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia - has recorded a 6-5 record in 16 starts with a 3.55 ERA, 91.1 IP, 77 K’s, 11 BB, 1.03 WHIP and a 7.00 K/BB ratio. Features a fastball, curve and change up combination - strike thrower who pitches to contact with a unique over the top delivery.
Player of the Year :
OF Justin Crawford - Reading/Jersey Shore - 20 years old - 2022 1st round draft choice - Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, NV - has had a very strong second full season as a professional - began the year with Jersey Shore and posted a .301/.349/.438 slash line with a .787 OPS in 317 plate appearances - 14 doubles, 4 triples, 6 home runs and 35 RBIs - 27 stolen bases. Was promoted to Reading 7/12/24 - has a .310/.353/.429 slash line and .782 OPS in 137 plate appearances at the AA level with 9 doubles, 2 home runs, 20 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Overall for the season has played in 100 games with 454 plate appearances hitting .304/.350/.435 with a .785 OPS - 127 hits, 23 doubles, 4 triples, 8 home runs, 55 RBIs, 29 walks and 39 stolen bases, 182 total bases. Very strong arm defensively, quick as all get out in running ability.
1B Keaton Anthony - Jersey Shore/Clearwater - 23 years old - Jersey Shore - signed as an un-drafted free agent 7/18/23 - University of Iowa. Has outstanding numbers - at Clearwater hit .322/.446/.470 in 186 plate appearances with a .916 OPS - was promoted to Jersey Shore on 6/25/24 - in 216 plate appearances with the BlueClaws has a .335/.398/.450 slash line with a .848 OPS. Overall numbers for the season - a .329/.420/.459 slash line and .879 OPS in 94 games and 402 plate appearances with 112 hits, 50 runs scored, 19 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs, 61 RBIs, 48 walks and 156 total bases. Reminds many of current Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos in his build and offensive capabilities/approach. Is a gap to gap hitter with sneaky power.
SS Aidan Miller - Jersey Shore/Clearwater - 20 years old - 2023 1st round draft choice - Mitchell HS , New Port Richey, FL - appeared in 39 games with Clearwater and hit .275/.401/.483 with a .884 OPS in 182 plate appearances - was promoted to Jersey Shore on 6/11/24 and pushed thru some nagging leg injuries to post a .258/.353/.444 slash line and .797 OPS in 258 plate appearances with an especially strong month of August. Overall for the season in 97 games and 440 plate appearances has a .265/.373/.460 slash line and .833 OPS with 99 hits, 28 doubles, 6 triples, 11 home runs, 58 RBIs, 56 walks, 22 stolen bases and 172 total bases. Has played a very solid defensive shortstop as well, has all the tools to stick there, strong arm and great instincts, smart player.
C Eduardo Tait - FCL/Clearwater - 18 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent 1/15/23 - Panama City, Panama - posted a .321/.377/.500 slash line and .877 OPS in 212 plate appearances with the FCL Phillies - had 6 home runs and 49 RBIs in just 51 games - was named to the FCL All-League team. Promoted to Clearwater on 7/23/24 where’s he’s recorded a .260/.305/.458 slash line in 105 plate appearances with 5 home runs and 21 RBIs. Overall for the season he’s hitting .300/.353/.486 with a .839 OPS in 317 plate appearances in 76 games with 84 hits, 17 doubles, a triple, 11 home runs and 70 RBIs (second most in the organization despite playing 20 to 25 fewer games than leaders in the category), 20 walks, 5 stolen bases and 136 total bases. He just turned 18 years of age on 8/27/24 - has a rocket arm, can throw the ball as well as or better than any receiver in the organization and is a quick study, hard worker. When runners are on base he’s an RBI machine. He wants to be the best and is showing the skillset/acumen/desire at a very young age to be just that.
3B Otto Kemp - Reading/Jersey Shore/Clearwater - 24 years old - signed as an un-drafted free agent 8/1/22 from Point Loma Nazarene University in California - began the year on the IL with an oblique strain - was placed on rehab assignment with the Threshers in early April and played five games there before joining Jersey Shore where he posted a .333/.440/.533 slash line and .973 OPS in 182 plate appearances. Was promoted to Reading on 6/11/24 - at the AA level has hit .260/.358/.480 with an .838 OPS with 58 hits in 260 plate appearances - 35 runs scored, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 11 home runs, 36 RBIs and 22 walks - overall for the season in 107 games has 201 total bases, 115 hits, 76 runs scored, 20 doubles, 9 triples, 16 home runs and 61 RBIs - has drawn 46 walks, stolen 19 bases and is posting a .297/.403/.519 slash line and .922 OPS in 462 plate appearances. Is also a very good defensive third baseman who often makes spectacular plays.
1B Carson Taylor - Reading - 25 years old - acquired in the minor league Rule 5 draft on 12/6/23 from the LA Dodgers system - was the Dodgers 2020 4th round draft choice from Virginia Tech University - has had a solid season posting a .286/.398/.487 slash line with a .885 OPS in 101 games and 415 plate appearances with 98 hits, 51 runs scored, 15 doubles, 3 triples, 16 home runs and 72 RBIs - has drawn 62 walks and has 167 total bases. Converted this season to a full time first baseman after spending time at Catcher in the Dodgers organization.
OF Victor Cardoza - DSL Phillies Red - Outfielder - 18 years old - signed as an international free agent 1/15/23 - Puerto Cabello, Venezuela - Hit .333/.390/.562 for the season with a .952 OPS in 45 games, 178 PA’s with 12 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs, 25 RBIs, 12 walks and 16 stolen bases with 91 total bases.
IF Scott Kingery - Lehigh Valley - Utility - 30 years old - Lehigh Valley - 2015 2nd round draft choice - University of Arizona - he’s not going to win the award but nonetheless deserves a mention as he’s had a very strong season - in 110 games and 444 plate appearances he has posted a .275/.323/.502 slash line with a .825 OPS and has 112 hits, 66 runs scored, 14 doubles, 5 triples, 23 home runs and 64 RBIs with 30 walks and 23 stolen bases, 205 total bases. He’s slated to become a minor league free agent this off-season - some team will certainly extend a spring training invitation.
Paul Owens Award Winners since 2015 :
2015 - C Andrew Knapp & RHP Ricardo Pinto
2016 - OF Dylan Cozens, 1B Rhys Hoskins & RHP Ben Lively
2017 - INF Scott Kingery & RHP Thomas Eshelman
2018 - OF Austin Listi & LHP David Parkinson
2019 - 3B Alec Bohm & LHP Ethan Lindow
2020 - no awards - lost season
2021 - INF Bryson Stott & RHP Jean Cabrera
2022 - 1B Darick Hall & RHP Andrew Painter
2023 - OF Johan Rojas & RHP Orion Kerkering
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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