(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies, Double-A) are playing host to the Colorado Rockies (Colorado Rockies, Double-A) for game one in a best-of-three series to start the Eastern League playoffs.
Making History In Baseballtown
Reading checked off several milestones this season. The team finished the regular season at 70-68. The 70 wins marks the most by an R-Phils team since 2019. This was also the team’s first winning season since a group that featured Alec Bohm and Mickey Moniak put up an 80-59 record seven years ago.
This also marks the first postseason berth for the Fightins since that magical 2019 season, although that team was swept 3-0 by the Trenton Thunder. The team’s last playoff win was Sept. 9, 2016, in a 13-5 triumph over Trenton.
A Second Half To Remember
After stumbling out of the gates with a 30-39 first-half record, the Phillies' Double-A affiliate went 40-28 in the second half to clinch a spot in the postseason.
“I’m very proud of this team,” fourth-year field manager Al Pedrique said after the team stamped a bid to the postseason on Thursday. “We had a rough start [in the] first half… these kids, throughout the whole season, they play hard together, battle, and they compete every single night.”
The Fightins either split or won every six-game set in the second half. The only series they dropped was a five-game set sequence against the Chesapeake Baysox, where the Baltimore Orioles’ affiliate edged the R-Phils 3-2.
Reading scored 398 runs in the second half, marking the third-best mark in the Eastern League while averaging 5.9 runs per contest. The Fightins capped off a successful run by taking four of six games from the playoff-bound Erie Seawolves (Detroit Tigers, Double-A), including a sequence where they tallied 11 or more runs in four of the last five games.
Red-Hot Rincon
Bryan Rincon (Phillies No. 4 prospect) has had a breakout year with the R-Phils, setting career-high marks across the board. Before this season, the 22-year-old shortstop had never logged 100 games in a professional season. 118 contests later, Rincon throttled 26 home runs (T-1st in the Eastern League) and tallied 67 runs batted in.
The 2022 14th-round pick’s success didn’t stop there; he led the Eastern League in on-base percentage, OPS (.927), walks (95), was second in slugging percentage (.517), second in runs scored (92), tied for third in extra-base hits (52), and was fourth in total bases (219). Rincon has risen to the No. 100 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline.
Here Come The Reinforcements!
While workhorses like Raylin Heredia (135 games) and Phillies No. 6 prospect Aroon Escobar (132 games) have led the R-Phils from wire-to-wire, the team got some key cornerstones back down the stretch.
Dante Nori (Phillies No. 7 prospect) started the season off as the team’s every day leadoff hitter. The 2026 World Baseball Classic All-Tournament Team honoree then missed time from June 7 to August 14 with hip discomfort. The R-Phils outfielder has gone a perfect 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts since re-joining the team.
Phillies No. 24 prospect Carson DeMartini was sidelined from May 7 to July 27 with a wrist injury. Since returning, the 2024 fourth-round pick is slashing .298/.472/.585 (1.057 OPS) with five homers and 19 runs batted in. DeMartini has nine homers, 30 RBI, and 18 stolen bases over 55 games. Over a 138 game pace, that would be a season with 22 home runs, 75 runs batted in and 45 stolen bases.
The Virginia Tech alum has shifted over to third base in the last few weeks, and he said his glove has been a prominent emphasis in the offseason.
“I have not played great defense since I’ve gotten into pro ball, that was a big knock on me,” DeMartini said. “I know that I’m a good defender, so [I] just put in a lot of work with Marty Malloy and in spring training.”
Bryson Ware has notably been a swiss army knife for this year’s group, playing seven different positions over the course of the 2026 campaign. The Auburn alum missed time from June 29-Aug. 6 with a hamstring injury, yet in just over half a season in Reading (79 games), he posted a career-high in home runs (16) and OPS (.822).
Austin Murr has made for a steady, veteran presence on the roster. The 27-year-old was originally a 2021 sixth-round pick, as the Detroit Tigers selected him out of NC State. Murr spent five years in the Tigers’ organization before the Phillies selected him in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft (Minor League Phase) ahead of the season. Murr was hitting a team-best .311 through the first two months before a hand injury took him out from June 4- Aug. 17. He finished out the year slashing .286/.347/.495 (.842 OPS) with seven long balls and 27 RBI.
Aidan Miller (Phillies No. 2 prospect) has gone through the ultimate rollercoaster. Entering the month of September, Miller hadn’t played in a single professional game this year.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had that much time off from playing baseball in my entire life,” Miller said.
The 2023 first-round pick missed the first six months of the season with a lower back injury, but he has made a full recovery and is back where he stole 52 bases in 108 games.
By The Numbers
Reading's Eastern League rankings are as follows: 177 HR (3rd, 2nd most in team history) .771 OPS (3rd), 735 R (4th), 1,130 H (4th), 591 BB (2nd), .428 SLG (4th), 456 BB allowed (least)
Hartford's Eastern League rankings are as follows: 243 2B (T-2nd), 267 SB (2nd), 670 R allowed (3rd), 64 HBP (1st)
The pitching matchups for this week are as follows:
- Tuesday: RHP Connor Staine (7-3, 4.60 ERA) vs. RHP Gage Wood (1-3, 4.72 ERA)
- Thursday: RHP Jackson Sox (2-4. 4.29 ERA) vs. RHP Cody Bowker (2-1, 4.05 ERA)
- Friday: TBA vs. TBA
The Rockies’ top 30 prospects (per MLB.com) on the Yard Goats roster are as follows:
- No. 8 - Jackson Sox - RHP
- No. 10 - Jared Thomas - OF
- No. 15 - Andy Perez - SS
- No. 17 - Konner Eaton - LHP
- No. 30 - Roynier Hernandez - 2B/3B
The 2026 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.