Phillies Prospect Watch: Pitching Concentrated in Double-A

Phillies’ prospects went 1-3 on Wednesday, June 24, with two of the organization’s top arms — arms close to the big leagues — pitching for Double-A Reading. Starter and 2025 first round pick Gage Wood fired 3.2 innings, striking out four batters and allowing two runs on 68 pitches. Alex McFarlane needed 12 pitches to complete the eighth, striking out a pair of batters in the opportunity to stretch — he last pitched on June 19.

The Fightin Phils lost 8-4 despite the efforts of center fielder Pedro León, who went 4-for-5 with a double; 29-year-old designated hitter Luke Ritter, who the Phillies signed as a minor league free agent on June 14, went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks. 

Triple-A Lehigh Valley lost 5-4, squandering a three run lead in the late innings. 32-year-old starter Brian Keller got the IronPigs started with six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits on 82 pitches; catcher Paul McIntosh homered, Dylan Moore went 2-for-4 with a double and a caught stealing, and Bryan De La Cruz walked twice.

High-A Jersey Shore lost 12-2, left-hander Mavis Graves knocked around for six runs (five earned) in 3.1 frames; he also fanned six batters. Kodey Shojinaga doubled, one of three hits for the BlueClaws, while third baseman Tyler Pettorini went 1-for-3 with two free passes.

Single-A Clearwater salvaged the night with a 5-0 win. Griffin Burkholder homered, Robert Phelps went 1-for-2 with two walks, and Alirio Ferrebus and Matt Ferrara each reached base twice.