With all of the trade rumors swirling around the Phillies, there may be some more opportunity for their young talent to either advance in the organization or get some time in the big leagues before September call-ups. So far this season, we have seen plenty of swaps from Triple-A to Philadelphia, with Maikel Franco and Aaron Nola headlining the call-ups. Who could be next? Let's take a look at some of the recent top performers at the Phillies minor league levels.
LHP Jesse Biddle – Triple-A Lehigh Valley
Since giving up seven earned runs in his first start with the Ironpigs, Biddle has rebounded nicely. In his last two starts, he's pitched 12 2/3 combined innings of one-run ball, striking out 12 and walking five. His second start was good enough to earn him International League Pitcher of the Week. On July 17th against Rochester, Biddle hurled seven shutout innings, scattering three hits while striking out seven and walking just one. These last two outings are likely helping Biddle's confidence and if he keeps it up, he could see some time in red pinstripes come September.
RHP Nefi Ogando – Triple-A Lehigh Valley
Depending on how the trade deadline works out, Ogando could see some extended time in the Phillies bullpen as the season progresses through the second half. In 24 games for Double-A Reading this season, they 26-year-old went 2-3 with a 2.86 ERA. Those numbers were good enough to get a promotion to Triple-A, where he has pitched 9 2/3 shutout innings, earning one save.
OF Aaron Altherr - Triple-A Lehigh Valley
Altherr was promoted to Lehigh Valley after slashing .293/.371/.480 in Reading. Since his call-up, he's impressed for the Ironpigs, showing off some slick defense in the outfield while also displaying some power at the plate. In 19 games, Altherr is hitting .305 with five doubles, a triple and four home runs. Over his last three games, he's 5-for-13 with a run scored, three RBI's and two steals. Altherr was selected by the Phillies in the ninth round of the 2009 draft.
Gabriel Lino – Triple-A Lehigh Valley
Likely the best defensive catcher in the Phillies organization at this point, Lino was promoted to Triple-A after Tommy Joseph was sidelined with yet another concussion. Since joining the Ironpigs, Lino is hitting .259 and has caught 39% of base stealers.
SS J.P. Crawford – Double-A Reading
In 21 games with Clearwater this season, the Phillies top prospect hit .392. They quickly promoted him to Reading, where he got off to a great start, hitting as high as .333 in the middle of June. Unfortunately, Crawford has struggled recently, hitting just .211 in his last 10 games and .266 overall. Over his last three games, he's 3-for-11 with a double, home run, three walks and four runs scored. He's walked 31 times this year and struck out 22, so his plate discipline is definitely worth noting.
LHP Tom Windle – Double-A Reading
Windle came over to the Phillies in the Jimmy Rollins trade and was placed in Double-A after posting a 4.26 ERA in High 'A' ball last season. Windle struggled as a starter for Reading, going 2-5 with an ERA of 5.35. The Phillies opted to move the southpaw to the bullpen, where he has seen some success. In 9 2/3 innings, Windle has given up two runs and struck out eight over six games.
C Andrew Knapp – Double-A Reading
Once viewed as one of the top catching prospects in the Phillies organization, Knapp is really coming into his own at Reading. He came up to Reading when the Phils promoted Gabriel Lino to Triple-A and has really done well at the plate. He's hitting .343 in 70 at-bats with seven doubles, a triple, a homer and 21 RBI's.
OF Kelly Dugan – Double-A Reading
The Phillies second round pick from 2009 has been a disappointment up until now. After being limited to just 76 games last season, Dugan is hitting a solid .324 in 35 games with Reading. He's hit 10 doubles and driven in 14 runs. On Wednesday night against Bowie, Dugan went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and a a walk.
RHP Edubray Ramos – Double-A Reading
The 22-year-old right-hander out of Venezuela had been a strong force for the Threshers out of the bullpen this season before getting called up to Reading. In 49 1/3 innings with Clearwater, he posted a 1.68 ERA and had eight saves. So far with Reading, he's given up one run in 5 1/3 innings.
LHP Brandon Leibrandt – Advanced 'A' Clearwater
The Threshers rotation features a really strong rotation led by Leibrandt, the Phillies sixth round pick from a year ago. The 22-year-old out of Florida State currently sports a 6-2 record to go along with a 2.86 ERA. He hasn't allowed more than one run to score in each of his last five starts.
RHP Ricardo Pinto – Advanced 'A' Clearwater
Pinto, 21, is ranked as the ninth best prospect in the Phillies organization by Baseball America and is another member of the impressive Threshers pitching rotation this season. He is 6-2 with 2.43 ERA in six starts. He made 11 starts with Lakewood this season before being promoted.
C Willians Astudillo – Advanced 'A' Clearwater
23 years old out of Venezuela, Astudillo is hitting .389 over his last 10 games and .313 overall this season for the Threshers. He has hit 16 doubles, three home runs and 41 RBI's. Both his walk (6) and strikeout (9) numbers are unusually low for a guy who has 288 at-bats.
OF Carlos Tocci - Advanced 'A' Clearwater
One of the Phillies top 10 prospects, Tocci has really turned things on lately, hitting .390 over his last 10 contests and .314 overall. Though his average is high, he hasn't been producing too many runs, with just seven RBI's in 21 games. In the last two games, he went 5-for-10 with three doubles, an RBI and three runs scored.
1B Kyle Martin – Class 'A' Lakewood
The Phillies fourth round pick from this year's draft is already starting to prove his worth in the minors. In 25 games for Lakewood, the 22-year-old out of South Carolina is hitting .361 with 10 doubles, a triple, two home runs and 19 RBI's. Over his last 10 games, he's hitting .395.
RHP Ranfi Casimiro – Class 'A' Lakewood
Towering at 6-foot-8, Casimiro has performed well for the Blueclaws this year in the rotation. The last guy in the Phillies organization this tall may have been Phillippe Aumont, but Casimiro has more upside. He's 6-5 with a 3.23 ERA this season.
RHP Franklyn Kilome – Short Season Williamsport
Now the Phillies third best prospect according to Baseball America, Kilome has been dominant through four starts this season. He's 2-0 with a 0.46 ERA, striking out 17 and walking six in 19 2/3 innings.
