That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies Farm System Report: Top Prospect Figuring it out

By Mike Azzalina

Mar 13, 2017; Sarasota, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop J.P. Crawford (67) walks up to batting practice prior to the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2017; Sarasota, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop J.P. Crawford (67) walks up to batting practice prior to the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Lakewood Blueclaws

Week Record (2-6)

Year Record to Date (23-19)

Recap and Standouts

Again in Lakewood, the BlueClaws are looking strong on the pitching end of things. They had a few tough starts, but some more promising starts from a loaded staff. On the offensive end, there are some guys who are sputtering, but there could be reasons that many are not yet considering.

Daniel Brito and Mickey Moniak are the two position players to really keep an eye on at Lakewood. Yes, Luke Williams, Cord Sandberg, and Arquimedes Gamboa are all players that could have futures but are not on the same level as Brito and Moniak.

Those two seem to be in their first slumps of their early careers. Just a week ago, both of them were up around .300 and hitting their ways into the journals of scouts and minor league writers. They have both dipped. Brito is down around .260 and Moniak is floating around .270, and I believe there are valid reasons.

Let’s focus on Moniak. At this time last season, he was wrapping up his high school season and preparing for the draft. He has already eclipsed his at-bat total and game total. Part of his development is simply adjusting to the wear and tear the everyday at-bats take on a player’s body and mental state.

I believe both of them will be mentally strong enough to break through their early offensive struggles.

On the pitching side of things, the BlueClaws suffered losses with both Ranger Suarez and Adonis Medina on the mound. It is certainly unusual, but will absolutely happen. Medina allowing four earned is unusual though and something I do not expect to become a habit.

The pitcher who is standing out to me at the moment is Bailey Falter. I wrote about him a bit last week in my article and he is going to be a positive once again. He had two starts last week, in which he logged 13 innings, allowing only four earned runs on ten hits. He only walked two and struck out eleven hitters.

Next: Phillies starting pitching power rankings

He continues to control the strike zone, and when a pitcher is able to be effective within the zone, they will find success. Falter has seen exactly how that works.

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