Phillies Prospect Watch: Threshers Start Second Half With a Track Meet

Phillies affiliates went 1-3 on Friday, July 17 as the second half began, Single-A Clearwater providing the lone win in a 16-11 track meet that saw them cross the finish line with six runs in the tenth. Shortstop Juan Villavicencio homered twice and drew four free passes, 2025 shortstop pick Matt Ferrara went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a walk, and first baseman Nolan Beltran added a pair of two-baggers.

Triple-A Lehigh Valley lost 2-1, mustering just two hits and two walks: the lone run came from 33-year-old shortstop Dylan Moore, who cleared the fences in the sixth inning. 32-year-old right-hander Brian Keller contributed six innings of one-run ball, striking out six batters and dropping his ERA to 2.23 on the season. Keller has yet to make his big league debut, spending the past four seasons in Japan; he also dealt with Tommy John surgery in that time, but could make a spot start for the Phillies down the stretch.

Double-A Reading lost 6-2, a pair of walks from infield prospect Aroon Escobar one of the lone highlights. High-A Jersey Shore fell 5-4 via walkoff, running out of gas late in a bullpen game. Brandon Lewis and Carter Mathison homered and Devin Saltiban added a double: the BlueClaws broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the ninth, then saw their hopes evaporate in the home half of the inning.