We continue our weekly check-in on the Phillies’ future down at the farm.
In this edition, we lead with the team’s new No. 1 pitching prospect living up to the billing thus far.
Jake Thompson, RHP, Double A Reading
Thompson was exalted as the Phillies’ top minor-league arm the moment he was acquired in the Cole Hamels trade, and he’s pitching like it, too. Last Saturday, the 21-year-old took a no-hitter into the fourth inning en route to finishing six frames of two-hit, two-run ball in Reading’s 4-2 win over Trenton. In his first three starts with the Fightin Phils, the 2012 second-round pick is 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA. His lone blemish has been eight walks compared to nine strikeouts, but Williams has worked around the free passes by holding opponents to just 11 hits in 20 innings. Thompson has the repertoire to fool hitters, and don't be surprised to see him toss a gem once he cuts down the walks.
Nick Williams, CF, Double A Reading
Baseballtown was already the place to be for Phillies fans this summer, and Williams makes it that much more. Seven of his first 12 games at Reading have gone for multiple hits, as the lefty-swinging 21-year-old is batting .377 with three homers, three triples, two doubles, nine RBIs and 13 runs. Last Sunday, Williams hit a laser to dead-center field off rehabbing Yankees starter Michael Pineda and turned it into a triple thanks to his raw speed. J.P. Crawford promptly tripled him home, providing a microcosm for why Reading is a such a treat to watch.
J.P. Crawford, SS, Double A Reading
Speaking of Crawford, baseball’s sixth-ranked prospect by MLB.com had a nice week, collecting a homer, triple, stolen base and three walks. The round-tripper came off left-hander Bryan Harper, the brother of Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, Crawford’s sixth of his minor-league season. He also turned a sparkling double play last Thursday that can be seen here at 1:10 of this highlight.
Andrew Knapp, C, Double A Reading
Guess who's still sizzling at Reading? Knapp is riding another hitting streak, this one a 14-gamer entering Monday night’s action. The first college catcher taken in the 2013 draft, Knapp has hit safely in 36 of 39 games with the Fightin Phils, giving him a .401 batting average with seven home runs, 42 RBIs and 17 doubles.
Nick Pivetta, RHP, Double A Reading
Last Thursday, Pivetta delivered his best start in a Fightin Phils uniform, throwing 5⅔ innings of shutout ball while striking out eight and walking just one. To boot, he did so against his former organization which traded him to the Phillies for Jonathan Papelbon. The 6-foot-5 righty can rack up strikeouts — he has 15 in his last 10⅔ innings — on the strength of a big fastball and knee-bending curveball. Just how good were those pitches last time out? CSNPhilly.com’s John Finger has the story here.
MLB
Tommy Joseph, 1B, Triple A Lehigh Valley
After playing eight rehab games for the Gulf Coast League Phillies, Joseph’s transition to first base is officially underway with Lehigh Valley. After suffering multiple concussions behind the plate as a catcher, the 24-year-old has made the move to first base and is 3 for 15 with a homer and double in his first four games back with the IronPigs, one of which he served as a designated hitter. Joseph was once the Phillies’ top catching prospect when acquired in the Hunter Pence trade. Last week, however, Lehigh Valley manager Dave Brundage said it's "full speed ahead" for Joseph as a first baseman and DH.
Stephen Shackleford, RHP, Double A Reading
Hats off to Shackleford, who set Reading’s single-season saves record with No. 25 last Monday. The 26-year-old, a 35th-round draft pick out of Savannah College of Art & Design, has made quite the journey to Baseballtown. Finger has the story right here.
Tom Windle, LHP, Double A Reading
Windle’s transformation from starter to reliever has done wonders for the 23-year-old. After posting a 5.35 ERA in 14 starts with Reading, the Phils placed him in the bullpen, where he has a 1.50 ERA and .185 opponents’ batting average. Windle believes his stuff is better suited for the 'pen and thinks he can carve out a path to the big leagues as a left-handed reliever. Finger also has more on that here.
Zach Eflin, RHP, Double A Reading
Eflin, one of the Phillies’ top pitching prospects that had been on a rocky stretch since returning from the Pan American Games in Toronto, threw seven shutout innings last Friday for a no-decision in Reading’s 2-1 loss to Trenton. The 21-year-old is 6-6 with a 3.43 ERA in 19 starts.
Jesse Biddle, LHP, Triple A Lehigh Valley
Biddle’s had a rough go at Triple A. Last Thursday, he allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits in 3⅔ innings of Lehigh Valley’s 11-2 loss to Syracuse. The 23-year-old is 0-3 with an 8.40 ERA over his last three starts.