Phillies Minor League review: June 13-19
Players of the Week
Player - OF Jiandido Tromp, Lakewood… The 22-year-old Tromp batted .467 (13-40) with five doubles, a home run, four RBI, a .733 slugging percentage and 1.248 OPS in seven games. He hit safely in all seven of those games, bringing his hitting streak to 14. The Aruba native has multiple hits in five of his last seven contests, including a season-best four-hit effort on June 17. He is second in the South Atlantic League in extra-base hits (33), third in total bases (122) and tied for third in doubles (20). Tromp was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent on August 8, 2011.
Pitcher - RHP Luke Leftwich, Lakewood… Leftwich, 22, made two starts for Lakewood, combining to go 2-0 with 12.0 scoreless innings pitched, a 0.58 WHIP (1 BB, 6 H) and 19 strikeouts. He tied a career high with 11 strikeouts in his 7.0-inning start on June 13, and then struck out eight more in 5.0 innings of two-hit ball on June 18. Leftwich, who has not allowed a run in his last 20.0 innings, has three double-digit strikeouts performances this season, and has struck out eight or more in six of his 12 starts. His 88 strikeouts and 11.70 strikeouts per nine innings pitched ratio (67.2 IP) both rank first in the South Atlantic League, while his 2.00 ERA ranks third. Leftwich was selected by the Phillies in the seventh round of the 2015 draft.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs - International League North Division…39-31, 3rd place… Lehigh Valley swept a three-game series against Gwinnett before splitting four games with Buffalo to finish the week 5-2. They had three extra-inning games (nine already this season) and their fourth doubleheader of the year, all within the last four days.
Top hitting performers - OF Nick Williams batted .421 (8-19) with a team-high five extra-base hits (4 2B, 3B), five walks and a .542 on-base percentage in five games… SS J.P. Crawford collected eight hits in 26 at-bats (.308) with two doubles, two walks and two stolen bases… OF Cam Perkins also batted .308 (8-26), doubling twice, driving in two runs and stealing a pair of bases.
Top pitching performers - RHP Jake Thompson tossed 8.0 innings on June 16, holding Gwinnett to a run on five hits. He has a 0.43 ERA (1 ER, 21.0 IP) in his last three starts… RHP Edubray Ramos appeared in two games out of the bullpen, striking out four in 4.0 scoreless frames.
Reading Fightin Phils - Eastern League Eastern Division …49-21, 1st place… The Fightins began the week with five straight victories, extending their season-best winning streak to 11 games. They dropped their final two games against Harrisburg, but have still won 16 of their last 19 overall and have a 6.5-game lead in the division.
Top hitting performers - INF Jesmuel Valentin hit safely in all five of his games, batting .450 (9-20) with a triple, two home runs, five RBI and a 1.350 OPS. His hit streak currently stands at eight games… C Jorge Alfaro had a triple, drove in a pair of runs and recorded three hits or more in a game for the sixth time this season.
Top pitching performers - RHP Nick Pivetta recorded his first career complete game shutout, scattering seven hits in his win over Harrisburg. He has allowed one earned run in his last 21.0 IP (0.43 ERA)… RHP Ricardo Pinto struck out eight batters in 6.0 innings on June 16, and followed that with a 7.0-inning performance with three runs (two earned) allowed in his next start… LHP Joely Rodriguez pitched 3.0 innings in relief over two games, picking up a save and allowing no runs or walks.
Clearwater Threshers - Florida State League North Division…37-28, 2nd place… Clearwater had an abbreviated week due to the Florida State League All-Star Break, playing only four games (2-2). Nine Threshers' players were selected to play in the All-Star Game, with top performers including RHP Tom Eshelman (GS, 1.0 IP, BB, SO) and CF Carlos Tocci (2-4).
Top hitting performers - OF Andrew Pullin played in four games, going 7-for-16 (.438) with two doubles, a home run and two RBI… CF Carlos Tocci reached base at a .500 clip, batting .385 (5-13) with three walks and a stolen base… 1B Zach Green recorded two multi-hit games, helping him to a .357 average for the week (5-14) with a home run and four RBI.
Top pitching performers - RHP Ranfi Casimiro threw a season-high 7.0 scoreless innings in his lone start, walking none and allowing only four hits… RHP John Richy struck out six batters in 5.0 frames in his one start, surrendering two runs (one earned) on three hits.
Lakewood BlueClaws - South Atlantic League Northern Division…29-40, 6th place… The BlueClaws won back-to-back series, taking two of three from Hagerstown and three of four from Kannapolis. Lakewood outscored their opponents 35-9 in those five wins.
Top hitting performers - OF Jiandido Tromp hit safely in all seven of his games, batting .467 (14-30) with five doubles, a home run, four RBI, three walks and a 1.248 OPS. He was named Phillies Minor League Player of the Week... C Deivi Grullon batted .389 (7-18) with a double, home run and a team-high seven RBI. He walked four times and posted a .500 on-base percentage… SS Grenny Cumana doubled, homered, drove in four runs, scored seven more and stole a base. He went 9-for-26 (.346) in his seven games played… OF Jose Pujols clubbed three home runs-one in each of his last three games-and drove in eight runs. He leads the South Atlantic League with 13 home runs this season.
Top pitching performers - RHP Luke Leftwich was named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week after tossing a combined 12.0 scoreless innings over two starts while striking out 19 batters. He walked one and allowed six hits (0.58 WHIP)… LHP Tyler Gilbert did not allow a run in his 5.0-inning start, striking out five.
Williamsport Crosscutters - New York-Penn League Pinckney Division…1-2, T-4thplace… Williamsport began their season on June 17, defeating State College 4-1 before dropping the series finale and the first game of a three-game set against Lowell.
Top hitting performers - OF Enmanuel Garcia batted .455 (5-11) with two doubles, a walk and four runs scored… 3B Lucas Williams was 5-for-12 (.417) with a double and stolen base in three games.
Top pitching performers - RHP Adonis Medina made the Opening Day start for Williamsport, throwing 6.0 scoreless innings with three hits allowed… RHP Seranthony Dominguez struck out seven batters and walked one over 6.0 innings in his first start of the season.