Phillies Prospect Watch: Matthew Fisher Finds Feet in Single-A

Phillies affiliates went 1-2 on Wednesday, July 1, with a step in the right direction from a top pitching prospect and a brutally close loss in Double-A.

Single-A Clearwater salvaged the night with a 6-1 win. Phillies 2025 seventh round pick Matthew Fisher, a 20-year-old right-handed pitcher, managed a strong start for the second game in a row, striking out five batters and allowing one earned run over four innings (74 pitches). Fisher’s ERA sits at 4.88 this season between rookie ball and Single-A, but he’s allowed just one run in seven innings since a rough first start with the Threshers.

Second baseman Robert Phelps went 2-for-3 with a homer from the leadoff spot, while Matt Ferrara and Griffin Burkholder each singled.

Double-A Reading fell 11-10 with the tying run 90 feet away; an RBI single from infielder Aroon Escobar (1-for-5 with a walk) brought them within a run, but the Fightin Phils couldn’t complete the two-out rally. Catcher Caleb Ricketts hit a three-run homer, and Bryan Rincon and Riley Tirotta (a recent signee released from the Blue Jays’ organization) each amassed four hits. Rincon, Alex Binelas and Kehden Hettiger all doubled in the back-and-forth loss.

High-A Jersey Shore lost 8-1, left-hander Mavis Graves knocked around for three homers and five earned runs in 4.2 innings. Graves struck out seven batters across 85 pitches despite his struggles, but a lack of run support doomed the BlueClaws to a loss.

Triple-A Lehigh Valley’s game was suspended with two on and nobody out in the fifth inning; the IronPigs led 2-0 at the time thanks to home runs from Otto Kemp and Paul McIntosh. Starting pitcher Brian Keller managed four innings of one-hit ball before the pause.