Phillies Minor League review for May 22-28

May 30th, 2017

Players of the Week
Player - OF , Lehigh Valley… Williams, 23, batted .435 (10-23) with a double, five home runs, 15 RBI, one stolen base, eight runs and a 1.565 OPS in six games. He leads all of Minor League Baseball with seven home runs since May 20. Among qualifying hitters in the International League this season, he owns the fifth-best HR/AB ratio, averaging a home run every 17.10 at-bats. Williams, who was also named the International League Batter of the Week, was acquired by the Phillies as part of a trade that sent Cole Hamels to the Texas Rangers on July 31, 2015.  
Pitcher - LHP Nick Fanti, Lakewood… The 20-year-old lefty logged quality starts in both of his outings, going 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (2 ER, 12.0 IP) and 18 strikeouts. Since May 6, Fanti is 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA (3 ER, 25.2 IP) and 31 strikeouts in four starts. He owns the lowest ERA (1.52) and the second-lowest WHIP (0.82) in the South Atlantic League this season, while also posting the lowest batting average against (.156) among qualifying starters. Fanti was selected by the Phillies in the 31st round of the June 2015 draft.  
Lehigh Valley IronPigs - International League North Division…35-15, 1st place… The IronPigs went 5-1 during the week, and their bullpen did not surrender a run (18.2 IP) in those six games. Lehigh Valley has won nine of its last 10 games and is currently riding a four-game winning streak. The IronPigs lead the league with 58 home runs this season, and the pitching staff owns the lowest ERA (3.26) among International League clubs.
Top hitting performers - OF Nick Williams, the Phillies Minor League Player of the Week and International League Batter of the Week, slugged six extra-base hits in six games. He registered 15 RBI with a 1.565 OPS… 1B Rhys Hoskins slashed .389/.560/.722 (7-18) with three doubles, one home run, two RBI, nine runs, six walks and a stolen base in six games… OF went 7-20 (.350) with a double, two home runs, five RBI, four runs, two walks and two stolen bases in five games. He has registered 13 extra-base hits in 24 games during the month of May.
Top pitching performers - RHP earned victories in his two starts, surrendering three earned runs over 13.0 innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out 13… RHP allowed one unearned run in a season-high 8.0 innings during his lone start of the week. He leads the league with six wins… LHP tossed 3.2 scoreless innings over three relief appearances, extending his scoreless streak to 15 games (19.1 IP) to begin the season… SHP Pat Venditte (1-0, 2.1 IP, 0 R) owns the lowest batting average against (.103, 8-78) among qualifying relievers in the International League this season.
Reading Fightin Phils - Eastern League Eastern Division…24-22, 3rd place… Reading was winless in its seven games, losing by three or fewer runs in five of those games. The Fightins are currently in third place in the division. 
Top hitting performers - 2B Scott Kingery, who leads all of Minor League Baseball with 16 home runs this season, batted .385 (10-26) with one double, two home runs, two RBI, six runs, four walks, three steals and a 1.121 OPS in seven games… OF Andrew Pullin went 8-for-27 (.296) with five extra-base hits, five RBI, four runs and two walks in seven games. Pullin leads the league with 17 doubles this season… OF Carlos Tocci hit .296 (8-27) with one RBI, two runs and one walk in seven games. He has posted a .398 OBP in 26 games during the month of May. 
Top pitching performers - RHP Tyler Viza recorded season highs in innings pitched (6.0) and strikeouts (seven) in his only start of the week on May 26… LHP Brandon Leibrandt suffered the loss despite recording a quality start on May 24. He allowed one run on three hits over 6.0 innings, while walking two and striking out six… RHP Yacksel Rios made two hitless appearances (4.1 IP, 0 R) with one walk and four strikeouts. Rios is averaging 12.00 strikeouts per 9.0 IP (40 SO, 30.0 IP) this season, which is the third-best mark among qualifying relievers in the league.
Clearwater Threshers - Florida State League North Division…28-23, 2nd place… Clearwater took three of four games in its series at Florida and ended the week with a win at St. Lucie to avoid a sweep against the Mets. The Threshers are currently one game out of first place. The pitching staff owns the second-best ERA (3.20) in the league this season.
Top hitting performers - INF Damek Tomscha hit safely in all six games, batting .350 (7-20) with five doubles, one home run, six RBI, three runs, five walks, one stolen base and a 1.230 OPS. He leads the team with 29 RBI this season… OF Cornelius Randolph collected 13 total bases, going 7-22 (.318) with one double, one triple and one home run over six games… SS Grenny Cumana batted .500 (9-18) with four multi-hit games.
Top pitching performers -RHP Franklyn Kilome went 1-0 in two scoreless starts (10.0 IP). He combined for seven strikeouts, while allowing eight hits and one walk… RHP Jose Taveras, who has six quality starts this season, did not factor in the decision in his lone outing of the week on May 27, holding St. Lucie to one run over 6.0 innings… RHP earned the win on May 25 after surrendering one run on eight hits in 5.2 innings, while walking two with five strikeouts.
Lakewood BlueClaws - South Atlantic League Northern Division…30-21, 2nd place… The BlueClaws swept their three-game series against Greensboro before splitting their four-game set with Delmarva. Lakewood has gone 8-2 in its last 10 games and is just a half game out of first place.
Top hitting performers - C Edgar Cabral went 8-20 (.400), including three extra-base hits in five games during the week. He collected a career-high four hits on May 25… 1B Brett Barbier slashed .389/.450/.667 (7-18) with two doubles, one home run and four RBI… OF Mickey Moniak registered six hits in five games, three of which went for extra bases (double, triple and home run).
Top pitching performers - LHP Nick Fanti was named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week after recording 18 strikeouts in two starts (12.0 IP). He went 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (2 ER, 12.0 IP) in his two outings during the week… LHP Ranger Suarez logged a season-high 7.2 innings and a career-high-tying 10 strikeouts in his victory on May 24, as he held Greensboro scoreless. It was his second 10-strikeout performance of the season… LHP Bailey Falter earned the win in his one start, striking out seven over 6.0 scoreless innings on May 26… RHP Will Hibbs (2 SV, 4.1 IP, 0 R) logged two hitless relief outings and combined for seven strikeouts. He extended his scoreless streak to 15 games (27.0 IP) to start the season.