There is going to be a guy on a crane suspended above the field trying to rob home runs….and that’s just the beginning. Check out the absolute craziness/awesomeness that is going to ensue during the Eastern League All Star game festivities on Tuesday night. Mad props to Reading Phillies general manager Scott Hunsicker and his staff. Someone book me a flight please!!
Tag Archives: Reading Phillies
VIDEO: Double-A Reading Phillies Sum Up The Minor League Baseball Experience In Two Minutes
This is a great promotional video by the Double-A Reading Phillies which gives a great look at all that Minor League Baseball has to offer. Enjoy!!
Joe Savery Makes MLB Debut As A Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher After Starting Season As A High-A Hitter
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Joe Savery has one of the season’s most unlikely paths to the major leagues. A two way star both as a pitcher and as a hitter in college at Rice University, Savery was always a good hitting minor league pitcher. After a 2010 season that saw him go 1-12 on the mound for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, the decision was made to give Savery a look full time at the plate to begin 2011. He opened the year batting for the High-A Clearwater Threshers hitting .307 over 54 games and earned a promotion to the Double-A Reading Phillies. It was in Reading where the decision was made to give it another shot on the mound. Savery looked like a brand new pitcher going 1-0 with a 1.00ERA six appearances out of the Reading bullpen. From there it was a promotion back up to Lehigh Valley, and after going 4-0 with a 1.80ERA in 25 innings, Savery earned a promotion to the Phillies where he made his major league debut today going a third of an inning out of the Phillies bullpen. In the story link below, Savery talks about his unusual path to the big leagues, his hitting ability, and being able to excel on the mound in 2011 after struggling so badly in 2010.
Tucked into a loss, Savery completes his long, strange journey — Trentonian.com
Phillies Pitching Prospect Phillippe Aumont Starting To Live Up To His 1st Round Pick Expectations
Ever since the Seattle Mariners drafted him with the 11th overall pick of the 2007 draft, Phillippe Aumont has had high expectations placed on him. When he was one of the key components in the the Cliff Lee to Seattle deal made with the Philadelphia Phillies, the expectations continued to climb. However up until the 2011 season, the expectations had always outweighed Aumont’s performance. After a 2010 season that saw the 6’7″ righthander struggle to a combined 3-11 record with a 5.68ERA with 80 walks in 122 innings between the High-A Clearwater Threshers and Double-A Reading, 2011 brought with it a move to the bullpen and a chance to flourish. Aumont has responded to the new role going a combined 1-5 with 7 saves and a 2.61ERA in 48.1 innings between Reading and the Triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. He is currently holding opposing hitters to a career low .220 batting average against. In the story which is a very solid read, Aumont talks about dealing with the lofty expectations that were put on him, finding confidence for the first time in a long time, and the impact working in the off season with Phillies sports psychologist Dr. Jack Curtis.
Aumont bouncing back from brutal 2010 season — Fox43.com
Former Kansas City Royals Bonus Baby Chris Lubanski Refuses To Give Up On His Big League Dreams
It’s hard to believe that Chris Lubanski is still just 26 years old. The Kennedy Kenrick High School in Pennsylvania product never lived up to the hype he carried when the Kansas City Royals made him the 5th overall pick of the 2003 draft. After three promising seasons in Low-A, High-A, and Double-A as he climbed the organizational ladder, Lubanski hit a wall when he got to Triple-A batting just .208, .242, and .227 in three seasons with the Omaha Royals. By the end of the 2009 season, the Royals had given up and he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays and put up respectable numbers, hitting .293 with 24(2B), 6(3B), 17HR’s, and 57RBI’s in 100 games during an injury plagued season for the Las Vegas 51’s. He landed with the Florida Marlins organization in 2011 but was released in Spring Training and was not picked up by another club, so the former bonus baby found himself on the fringes of professional baseball as a member of the Chico Outlaws of the independent North American League. Lubanski’s prayers of a second chance at affiliated ball were answered by the Philadelphia Phillies who signed him in early August and sent him to Double-A Reading, miles from where he grew up. In the story, Lubanski talks about refusing to give up on his big league dreams, the opportunity to play at a stadium that he used to roam as a kid, and keeping the faith as he has dealt with loads of adversity. It’s a great read.
Lubanski’s road finally winds to Reading — Reading Eagle
Phillies Phanatic Dances To Lady Gaga During Richmond vs Reading Minor League Game
Who cannot get a laugh at the Phillies Phanatic. One of the best mascots ever, and despite the original Panatic Dave Raymond leaving the costume nearly two decades ago now, current Phanatic Tom Burgoyne has done a fantastic job carrying on the tradition. The Phanatic, always one to stay hip to pop culture trends, gets down to Lady Gaga at a recent Richmond Flying Squirrels vs Reading Phillies game. The Phanatic is a popular promotion across minor league baseball when the Phillies are on the road. Enjoy.
VIDEO: Bryce Harper Wins Game With Helmetless Headfirst Slide Into Home On Play At The Plate
This is a Must Watch video coming from our friend Jason Bristol of WHPTV in Harrisburg. Last night Bryce Harper came up in the ninth with a runner on in a scoreless game between his Harrisburg Senators and the Reading Phillies, and blasted a double down the right field line. The ball was misplayed by the right fielder who then overthrew home plate. Harper never stops and dives into home headfirst without a helmet on to score the eventual game winning run. It’s an awesome sequence. Also seen first in the video is the walkoff pickoff that sent Reading to a win over Harrisburg in the completion of a suspended game, a dancing old guy, as well as an awesome catch by Chris Rahl in game two, but the Harper play at the end of the video is the highlight by far.
Here’s a second angle. Fast forward to 1:40 mark in the video.
Prospect Breakdown: Houston Astros Trade Hunter Pence To Phillies For Jonathan Singleton & Jarred Cosart
The Houston Astros have acquired Philadelphia Phillies prospects Jonathan Singleton and Jarred Cosart as well as Josh Zeid and a player to be named later via trade in exchange for Hunter Pence. The 19 year old Singleton is the Phillies top overall prospect. This season for the High-A Clearwater Threshers Singleton is batting .282 with 14 Doubles, 9 Home Runs and 47 RBI. Last year for the Low-A Lakewood Blueclaws the 6’2″ left handed hitting outfielder batted .290 with 25 Doubles, 2 Triples, 14 Home Runs, and 77RBI. Singleton was an 8th round pick in the 2009 draft out of Millikan High School in California. Cosart is arguably the top young arm in a Phillies organization loaded with them. The 20 year old is currently 9-8 with a 3.92ERA for High-A Clearwater. He’s struck out 79 batters in 108 innings of work and opposing hitters are batting .243 off of Cosart. The right hander went 7-3 with a 3.79 ERA in 71 innings for Lakewood in 2010. Cosart was originally a 38th round pick of the Phillies in the 2008 draft out of Clear Creek High School in Texas. Zeid is a 24 year old relief pitcher currently playing for Double-A Reading where he is 2-3 with a 5.65ERA. After 11 starts, Zeid was moved to the bullpen where he has picked up two saves, and has an ERA of 2.25 in his 10 relief appearances. Zeid went 8-4 with a 2.83ERA for Lakewood in 2010. He was a 10th round pick of the Phillies in the 2009 draft out of Tulane.
Philadelphia Phillies Pitching Prospect Josh Zeid Adjusts To Double-A
After opening his pro career with two straight seasons posting an ERA under 3.00, Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Josh Zeid has found some struggles at the Double-A level with an ERA currently sitting at 5.74 for the Reading Phillies. In the story Zeid, who skipped High-A entirely, talks about adjusting to the Double-A level, moving back and forth between starting and relieving, and his passion for writing.
Hamden Hall Baseball Standout Now Hitting the Minor Leagues — Patch.com
Phillies First Base Prospect Matt Rizzotti Pounds The Ball In Reading
He may have his path to the big leagues being blocked by Ryan Howard, but that hasn’t stopped Phillies prospect Matt Rizzotti from crushing balls at Double-A Reading this year. The 25 year old 22 Doubles, a career high 18 Home Runs, and is hitting a highly respectable .295 in this his second stint at Double-A. Rizzotti talks about his solid season, what he’s looking to improve upon as he moves up the minor league ladder, and his approach to hitting the baseball.
Matt Rizzotti, Archbishop Molloy and Manhattan College product, attracts major attention in Reading — New York Daily News