Phillies Prospect Watch: Strong Start For Dromboski, Free Pass Party

Phillies prospects continue to play their Arizona Fall League slate, and right-handed Penn graduate Ryan Dromboski highlighted the past week of play with a strong start on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Dromboski struck out six batters in 4.1 innings, needing 65 pitches (44 of them for strikes) to pitch into the fifth inning against some of the minor leagues’ top prospects.

The rest of the Phillies’ pitching prospects had an up-and-down week: Estibenzon Jimenez struck out two batters in a scoreless inning on Oct. 15, but his scoreless streak to begin Fall League play came to an end on Tuesday, when he allowed two runs in two innings. Left-hander Kevin Warunek struck out two batters on Oct. 17, while Keegan Batka got tagged for two runs in one inning despite a pair of strikeouts on Oct. 19.

Aidan Miller, who powered the Phillies’ organization through the first two weeks of the Fall League, came back down to earth, going 0-for-7 on the week despite drawing a trio of walks. That was the theme throughout for the Phillies’ bats, most dramatically on Oct. 16, when they drew seven: three from Miller, three from catcher Kehden Hettiger (1-for-6 on the week) and one from infielder Aroon Escobar (1-for-8 on the week).

Outfielder Dante Nori continued to struggle with his bat, going 1-for-10 on the week, but managed to make his one hit, a double, count. He also drew four walks and stole a base. Catcher Luke Davis went 1-for-7 with a single for the Scottsdale Scorpions after a hot start to the offseason.