Phillies pitching prospect Jesse Biddle will make his return to affiliated baseball tonight for Clearwater as they take on the Daytona Cubs at Bright House Field.
Jesse Biddle will start for single-A Clearwater tonight. First game with affiliated team since June 23.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) August 6, 2014
This news comes after Biddle threw two innings for the GCL Phillies on July 26th. He allowed one hit, a homer, and faced eight batters. Biddle walked two and struck out three. It was the first time he had pitched since June 23rd, an outing against the Binghamton Mets when he allowed 10 runs on eight hits and three walks in three innings. He was placed on the Double-A temporary inactive list quickly after that.
Biddle was out of commission with a concussion after getting hit in the head during a dangerous hail storm in May. Once he returned, his pitching went downhill. He stated to the media that he felt miserable on the mound, that he just wasn't happy and didn't know why.
In 5 starts since returning from concussion, Reading's Jesse Biddle has allowed 24 ER & 26 H in 22 IP, with 16 BB & 15 Ks #phillies
— Mike Drago (@mldrago) June 24, 2014
Director of Player Development, Joe Jordan, said after his outing with the GCL Phillies that he believes Biddle is in a good place right now and that his concussion may only have been a small part of his struggles. (via Philly.com Sports)
“It may have helped manifest some of the stuff,” Jordan said. “If it was part of it, it probably was a small part. I’m just guessing, but the doctors who examined him probably thought it played a part. But I think we’ve got him back in a pretty good place now. Where he’s at is very encouraging.”
While Biddle, 22, may still have a long road ahead to get back to top prospect form, it is good to see him getting back into the swing of things after taking some time off from the game.
Entering the 2013 season, Biddle was ranked as the #1 prospect in the Phillies organization. He was selected by the Phillies in the first round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, 27th overall, out of Germantown Friends School. Biddle led the Florida State League in strikeouts, tied for second in wins, ranked third in ERA and fourth in innings pitched and complete games in 2012. In 2013, he posted a 5-14 record to go along with a 3.64 ERA in Double-A. This season, between the GCL and Reading, Biddle is 3-9 with a 5.02 ERA.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com
