Phillies Prospect Watch: Dante Nori Makes Rehab Start, Leaves Early

Phillies affiliates went 2-2 on Saturday, Aug. 15, with outfielder Dante Nori making his first start since hitting the injured list with a hip stress fracture in early June. Nori appeared in a rehab stint for Single-A Clearwater, notching an RBI single before leaving for a defensive substitution in the sixth inning. Whether he’s able to make it back in the lineup for Clearwater’s Sunday series finale remains unclear. The Threshers won 8-2 behind homers from unstaffed free agent Jack Hopko and outfielder Jonathan Hogart.

Triple-A Lehigh Valley won 5-4, an eighth inning RBI groundout from Otto Kemp putting them over the top. 38-year-old outfielder Tommy Pham continued to play a crucial role for the IronPigs’ offense, going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Catcher Payton Henry homered, and right fielder Steward Berroa added a double of his own.

Double-A Reading lost 9-3 after starting pitcher Braydon Tucker got knocked around for seven runs and four homers in five innings. Shortstop Bryan Rincon (3-for-5 with a double) managed the Fightin Phils’ lone extra base hit, while outfielder Pedro León went 2-for-5 with a pair of singles.

High-A Jersey Shore lost a 1-0 heartbreaker, managing just three hits on the day. Catcher Kodey Shojinaga doubled and Nathan Humphreys and TJayy Walton each singled and walked, but 5.2 shutout innings from starter Trent Gresham were wasted as the BlueClaws couldn’t muster any offense. Gresham fanned five batters and allowed four hits, working around a pair of doubles to keep the Brooklyn Cyclones off the board early.