Moniak mashes in Reading's final game
Here’s a look at the top performances of the past week by Phillies prospects in the Minor Leagues:
Friday, Sept. 6: Moniak notches pair of hits
In what would prove to be his final game this season for Double-A Reading, No. 8 prospect Mickey Moniak went 2-for-5 with a run scored as the Fightin’ Phils fell 12-2 to Trenton, losing their Eastern League division series 3-0. Moniak, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, showed signs of improvement this season, especially when it came to his power at the plate. The 21-year-old set a career high in home runs with 11 and slugging percentage at .439, while also swiping a career-best 15 bags and driving in 67 runs, also a career high. Friday's prospect stats »
Thursday, Sept. 5: Parkinson throws seven shutout innings
David Parkinson saved one of his best outings of the season for the Double-A Eastern League division series on Thursday, but it still wasn’t enough as Reading fell, 3-0, to Trenton in 10 innings, putting the Fightin' Phils down 2-0 in the best-of-five series. The Phillies’ No. 18 prospect pitched seven shutout innings with just three hits and a walk allowed and five strikeouts. Over 22 starts at the Double-A level in 2019, the lefty posted a 4.08 ERA with 118 strikeouts over 119 innings. Reading’s road doesn’t get any easier from here, as the series returns to Trenton for the remaining games. Thursday's prospect stats »
Wednesday, Sept. 4: Howard spins playoff gem
No. 4 prospect Spencer Howard set a career high in strikeouts and carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning for Double-A Reading in a dominant start against Trenton in Game 1 of the Eastern League semifinals. However, Trenton did ultimately win the game 4-3. The 23-year-old racked up 12 strikeouts and allowed one run on two hits and two walks over seven innings while throwing 66 of 99 pitches for strikes.
Howard’s double-digit strikeout performance was his third of the season and second in seven starts with the Fightin Phils. He generated whiffs (22, to be exact) with each of his four pitches in the outing, mixing a mid-90s fastball that reached 98 mph with a 12-to-6 curveball, tight slider and fading changeup. He was particularly effective in neutralizing Trenton’s left-handed hitters with the latter. Wednesday's prospect stats »
Monday, Sept. 2: Bohm drives in three
Alec Bohm, the No. 3 pick in last year’s Draft, recorded a pair of run-scoring hits and finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, though it wasn’t enough to keep Double-A Reading from falling to Trenton, 8-7. The Phillies’ top prospect (MLB No. 34) delivered an RBI single in the first inning and then connected on a two-run homer to left field in the fifth for his 14th Double-A home run. Climbing three levels, from Class A Lakewood to Reading, in his first full season, the 23-year-old third baseman produced a .305/.378/.518 line with 21 homers, 30 doubles and 80 RBIs in 125 games. Bohm’s season will continue in the Eastern League playoffs, with Reading and Trenton set to square off in the opening round starting Wednesday. Monday's prospect stats »
Sunday, Sept. 1: Reliable Seabold strong again
No. 30 prospect Connor Seabold recorded his third straight win in his fifth consecutive quality start for Double-A Reading. Throwing 67 of his 92 pitches for strikes over seven innings, the 23-year-old right-hander allowed two runs on six hits and one walk and struck out five. He also recorded 10 ground-ball outs. After losing the first half of the season due to injury, Seabold, the Phillies’ third-round pick in the 2017 Draft, has come off the shelf to post a 2.25 ERA in 40 innings (seven starts) with the Fightin Phils.
Saturday, Aug. 31: Grullon homers twice for IronPigs
Make it back-to-back seasons with 21 homers for Deivy Grullon. The Phillies’ No. 19 prospect went deep twice for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday, hitting a pair of solo blasts in his second multihomer game this season for the IronPigs. The 23-year-old backstop has four homers in his past eight games and leads all Phillies farmhands in dingers. More than just a right-handed slugger, Grullon has compiled a .283/.354/.496 batting line with 77 RBIs in 108 games this season in his first Triple-A campaign. Saturday's prospect stats »