The Phillies draft picks have been taking up the majority of the story lines over the past day, but bigger news comes Tuesday morining as Ruben Amaro has indicated that a promotion to Triple-A for top pitching prospect Aaron Nola is imminent.
#Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr confirms report from Reading Eagle that Aaron Nola will be moved up to AAA "soon."
— WIP Morning Show (@WIPMorningShow) June 9, 2015
How soon, you ask? That hasn't been determined quite yet, but the Reading Fightin Phils official site does not have Nola listed as a probable starter at all over their next five games, while Ben Lively is on their twice, so the promotion could come as soon as this week.
Nola, 22, has been dominant for Double-A Reading this season, posting a 7-3 record and a 1.76 ERA in 11 starts. For those of you who want to know the math of his ERA, he's given up just 14 earned runs in 71 2/3 innings pitched this season. Nola has phenomenal command of the strike zone, striking out 54 batters while walking just eight this season to go along with a 0.87 WHIP. Opposing batters are hitting just .214 off of the Phillies 2014 first round pick.
Over his last two starts, Nola has pitched 14 innings and given up just two runs on 10 hits while striking out 11 and walking one. He's given up three or more runs just twice this season and has held opponents to one run or less in eight of his 11 starts. Left-handers are hitting just .188 off of Nola and he has a 0.55 ERA at home in five starts.
If Nola is promoted to Lehigh Valley this week, he'll join an Ironpigs rotation that currently includes Joely Rodriguez (2-6, 6.36), Adam Morgan (0-6, 5.07), Phillippe Aumont (2-3, 2.35), Anthony Vazquez (3-1, 1.64) and Severino Gonzalez (1-2, 4.34). Once Nola is added, either Jason Berken or Anthony Vazquez will likely head back to a relief role.
