Here's the minor league teams at a full week and a half in.
- Lehigh Valley IronPigs (AAA-International League)- They are 3-8 so far. Maikel Franco has been the clear star, slashing .386/.438/.682/1.119, with ten extra base hits, including eight doubles so far. Russ Canzler has posted a .324/.415/.471/.885 so far. The problem on this team has mostly been pitching. Paul Clemens (3.00) and Chad Billingsley (3.24) are the only starters below 4.00, while Phillippe Aumont (1.13, 10 K, 4 BB in 8 IP) has been the best of a rough bullpen. The Pigs are in last, five games out.
- Reading Phillies (AA-Eastern League)- The Fightins' are off to a 6-3 start. They have five players with an OPS over one so far this season. Roman Quinn is off to a fast start, slashing .378/.439/.622/1.061, with five extra base hits and seven steals. Fellow former second round pick Harold Martinez is finally breaking out as well, slashing a .417/.467/.833/1.300 so far. Aaron Altherr has six walks and two doubles in his first three games back. Aaron Nola recovered from a bad first start and proceeded to throw six shutout innings in his second start. Zach Eflin, picked up in the Jimmy Rollins deal, has thrown 14 shutout innings to start the season 2-0, striking out seven along the way. Jesse Biddle has also recovered really nicely from last year, surrendering just two runs through 11 innings (1.64), while striking out 12. Reading holds a half game lead in the division.
- Clearwater Threshers (A-Florida State League)- The Threshers aren't repeating last year, rushing out to a 7-4 record. They are doing this despite slow starts from Aaron Brown, Dylan Cozens, Mitch Walding, and Zach Green, all expected to be contributors. Andrew Knapp has got off to a .289 start behind the plate. Andrew Pullin, .361/.442/.528/.970, has been the offensive star so far. David Whitehead (0.75, 12 Ks, 12 IP), Brandon Leibrandt (2.25, 12 IP, 8 Ks), and Matt Imhof (1.80, 10 IP, 2 Ks) have lead the staff. Clearwater is .5 games out, in second place.
- Lakewood BlueClaws (A-South Atlantic League)- Lakewood is 5-6 so far. Carlos Tocci is the runaway star so far, getting out to a .400/.467/.600/1.067 start with a homer and 4 steals. He's finally growing into A ball. Deivi Grullion, Cord Sandberg, and Jiandido Tromp are all off to slow starts. Ricardo Pinto has a 1.38 ERA and 12 Ks in 13 IPs. Lakewood is in sixth, two games out.
