Yoel Mecias, Image- Tug Haines for PhoulBallz.com

Despite having his 2013 campaign shortened due to a severe elbow injury, Venezuelan born hurler Yoel Mecias made a name for himself as a notable prospect in the Phillies system last year. The lefty, who turned 20 years old this off-season, underwent Tommy John surgery in June after an impressive stint with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws.

Signed as an amateur free agent in December 2010, Mecias made his pro debut with the Gulf Coast League Phillies in 2012, tallying a 0-2 record with two saves and a 2.16 ERA in 14 games (four starts). In his 10 relief outings, Mecias sported a 1.90 ERA. Overall, he struck out 34 batters and walked 11 in 41 2/3 innings that year after some time in extended spring training.

Mecias also made an appearance for Aragua of the Venezuelan Winter League in 2012 as well.

In 13 games (11 starts) with Lakewood last season, Mecias posted a 4-3 record and a 3.79 ERA along with an 11.05 K/9 mark. His efforts were enough to gain him recognition as a South Atlantic League All-Star. He was also honored as the Phillies’ minor league pitcher of the month in May when he posted a 3-1 record and a 1.50 ERA over six starts. Continue reading Prospect Nation 2014: #15 LHP Yoel Mecias

Roman Quinn , Image- Jay Floyd

This week, PhilliesNation’s own minor league expert Jay Floyd chatted with highly regarded shortstop prospect Roman Quinn about his recovery from off-season surgery, exclusively for ShoreSportsNetwork.com .

In the feature, the 20-year-old indicated that he’s well ahead of schedule as he recovers from the procedure to remedy his ruptured right Achilles tendon.? Quinn was doing routine sprints in October near his home in Florida, when he felt a pop in the back of his ankle.? Surgery came soon after for the Phils’ 2nd round draft choice from 2011.

Quinn, who posted a .238 average with five home runs, 21 RBI and 32 steals in 67 games for Class A Lakewood last year, is targeting a late-June or early-July return.

The youngster was still recovering from a broken left wrist that he suffered after being hit by a pitch in a game in June, at the time of the Achillies injury, but that first ailment is now 100%.

In the Floyd piece, Quinn details that he was very disappointed when he learned the diagnosis of his Achilles issue, but that a discussion with a friend in the Phils’ system provided him the boost that he needed to turn his outlook around.

“It brought me down real low, man,” Quinn explained. “It was just very discouraging until I talked with Albert Cartwright , actually. He had the same injury. I talked to him about his injury and everything and he was just telling me, ‘Stay with it and just go hard in your rehab, man, and you can come back even faster, even stronger.’ ‘Cause that’s exactly what he did and as soon as I heard that, it gave me all my confidence back.”

Continue reading Quinn progressing well from Achilles surgery

Catcher Andrew Knapp was selected by the Phillies in the 2nd round of the 2013 draft out of the University of California.? In a half-season in the organization, the 21-year-old posted very good numbers, batting .253 with four home runs, 23 RBI and seven steals in 62 games for the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters.

Prior to being drafted by the Phillies last year, Knapp led the Cal Golden Bears in batting average with a .350 mark, and slammed eight homers with 41 RBI in his junior season, proving himself worthy of the ranking as a Preseason All-American by Baseball America.

This off-season the Phillies announced that the switch-hitting Knapp had undergone Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and would miss considerable time recovering.

This weekend, the six-foot-one 190-pounder took some time to answer questions about his first pro season, his recovery and more.? Read ahead for that full interview.

- Andrew, what was your draft experience like last year? What were you doing when you found out? Were you watching the draft?

My draft experience was awesome. I was at home with friends and family just sitting around watching it on TV. It was pretty stressful just sitting and waiting but I had talked to my agent earlier that day and he had told me that he would give me a call if he heard from any teams. Supposedly, he was trying to call me right before the Phillies pick in the 2nd (round), to let me know they were gonna take me, but his call didn’t make it through to my phone and I ended up watching Jim Bunning read off my name at the draft, which was very cool. Everyone that was over just went nuts and there were tons of hugs and stuff so my draft experience was very awesome.

- Were you expecting to be selected by the Phillies or was it a surprise?

Being drafted by the Phillies did come as a surprise for me because I had not had very much contact with them before hand, however I didn’t go into the draft thinking a certain team was going to pick me.? I tried to go into it with no expectations. Continue reading PN Interview: Catching Prospect Andrew Knapp

Adam Morgan with Reading in 2012, Image- Jay Floyd

Two of the Phillies’ top pitching prospects are likely out of action until August according to reports.? Right-hander Shane Watson , who spoke with me exclusively last month about his upcoming procedure, is slated to go under the knife in the coming days, while left-hander Adam Morgan underwent surgery to repair his recurring shoulder issues this week.

Watson, the Phillies’ first round draft selection in 2012, is currently in Los Angeles, where he will have surgery to repair an enlarged capsule in his throwing shoulder. The 20-year-old posted a 4-6 record along with a 4.75 ERA and a .230 batting average against in 16 starts at Class A Lakewood last season.

Morgan missed considerable time last season with a shoulder strain, but returned to close out the season in a strong fashion, tallying a 1.59 ERA in his first seven Triple-A starts off the disabled? list before allowing four earned runs in 1 1/3 innings in his final outing of the season.

Although he bounced back and looked great to wrap up his 2013 campaign, the Phils’ 3rd round draft pick from 2011 suffered a setback that required surgical repair, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki . Continue reading Pitching prospects Morgan and Watson reportedly out till August

With the new year upon us, it’s time to kick off our annual countdown of the top 25 prospects in the Phillies organization.? In the coming weeks, as a fresh season approaches, I will be unveiling player reviews for each of the top developmental talents that you, as Phillies fans, should be familiar with.

Taken into consideration when reviewing these developing talents will be age, minor league performance relative to levels played, value to the organization as well as future potential and possible proximity to the big leagues.

These rankings will not include players over 25 years of age or individuals that have spent lengthy and multiple stretches in the big leagues.

Some very talented youngsters did not make the cut simply because other individuals ranked higher. Players that drew? consideration included righty pitcher Mitch Gueller , lefty hurler Hoby Milner , and catcher Andrew Knapp .

Gueller, the Phils’ supplementary first round pick in 2012, has failed to crack the rankings based on a lack of urgency and velocity. The 20-year-old posted a 3-8 record with a 5.86 ERA while striking out 35 and walking 26 in 58 1/3 innings in 14 starts at Class A short season Williamsport last year. Gueller, a six-foot-three 210-pounder is still viewed as promising, but must learn to better deal with the lows that come with being a pro pitcher in order to dig himself out of holes. Continue reading Prospect Nation 2014: The Prelude

Shane Watson, image- Jay Floyd

To follow up on a previous story , Phillies right-handed pitching prospect Shane Watson learned this week that rehab would not be enough to allow his ailing shoulder to return to form and he’ll require surgery.

Watson, the Phils’ top draft choice in 2012, missed time during the regular season with a shoulder issue, but had rehabbed through the fall instructional league and was thought to be in good health until recently.? On a the latest edition of the PhoulBallz Podcast , Watson told me that he woke up one day in November with considerable discomfort in his joint and the pain worsened over the week that followed. The 21-year-old also admitted that the issue, which has kept him out of action since July, initially popped up in 2012 when he was playing racquetball.

Earlier this month, Watson was diagnosed by Phillies team doctor Michael Ciccotti with an enlarged capsule.? The procedure, which will occur in January in Los Angeles, will help to correct inflammation and clear more room for the arm to move in the socket.? If things go as expected, Watson would miss three months total.

After a difficult start to the 2013 regular season, in which he posted a 6.35 ERA in his first 12 starts with Class A Lakewood, the California native sported a 0.86 ERA in his final four outings prior to being sidelined. Overall in 16 starts, Watson posted a 4-6 record, a 6.62 K/9 mark and a .230 batting average against.

Watson with Lakewood in 2013, image- Jay Floyd

In an interview I conducted on the PhoulBallz Minor League Podcast this Thursday, Phillies righty pitching prospect Shane Watson admitted that his recurring shoulder injury was a result of reckless play in a sport away from the baseball diamond.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with me and the show’s co-host and producer Tug Haines, the Phillies top draft pick from 2012 admitted that the issue, which has kept him out of action since July, initially popped up in 2012 when he was playing racquetball.

“Well, um, well it first started was me, when I was first? drafted…me being young and, uh, young a dumb, if you will, a whole year and a half ago,” Watson stated. “I was actually playing, like, tennis or racquetball or something and I, uh, like, ran into the wall and I injured my shoulder that way and they said it’s inflamed from that.”

Haines then jokingly reminded Watson that action on the court is not a contact sport. As a group, we shared a laugh, but the revelation that the 20-year-old hurler suffered damage to his throwing shoulder because of sports activity off the baseball field is certainly noteworthy. It would seem the Phillies are aware of this, if the organization’s physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti has knowledge of this mishap.? Ciccotti officially diagnosed Watson with an enlarged capsule during a visit to Philadelphia this week. Continue reading Watson: Shoulder Injury Occurred While Playing Racquetball

Watson with Lakewood in 2013, image- Jay Floyd

Righty pitching prospect Shane Watson is dealing with another setback related to his throwing shoulder. The Phillies’ first round draft choice from 2012 visited team physician Michael Ciccotti in Philadelphia this week and was diagnosed with an enlarged capsule. Watson is back in Florida and is slated to rehab the injury through early next week at which time he will be reevaluated. If the shoulder hasn’t improved at that time, surgery will be in order to correct the issue.

Watson and Dr. Ciccotti are optimistic about a return to the mound, whether surgery is needed or not.

The 20-year-old missed considerable time during the 2013 regular season with inflammation in the joint then rehabbed the ailment at the Phillies’ spring training headquarters in Clearwater, FL through the closing months of the season and throughout the fall instructional league season.

After a rough start to the 2013 regular season, in which he posted a 6.35 ERA in his first 12 starts with Class A Lakewood, the California native sported a 0.86 ERA in his final four outings prior to being sidelined in July. Overall in 16 starts, Watson posted a 4-6 record, a 6.62 K/9 mark and a .230 batting average against.

Watson will be a guest on the PhoulBallz Podcast on Thursday to further address the concerns with his health.

Shane Watson, photo- Jay Floyd

A pair of injured Class A prospects have used time at the Fall Instructional League to rehab their ailments and grow close to a return to the field. Phillies top 2012 draft choice (40th overall) Shane Watson has been sidelined since July with shoulder inflammation while third baseman Mitch Walding , the team’s fifth round pick in 2011, missed time with a broken rib dating back to the latter portion of August. Neither player will see game action at instructs, but each of them is nearly ready to get back to full baseball activities.

Watson, a righty hurler, has been progressing through a rehab program that included arm slot correction therapy and throwing on flat ground. The 20-year-old is slated to throw his first bullpen session in many weeks this Saturday at the Phils’ training facility in Clearwater, FL. Instructs will wrap up next week and Watson will continue to follow a strict throwing program through the off-season, after he returns home to California.

In 16 starts for the Lakewood BlueClaws this year, Watson sported a 4-6 record along with a 4.75 ERA and a 6.63 K/9 mark.

The lefty batting Walding was initially thought to have a back strain this summer, but further cracked a misdiagnosed fractured rib while going about his normal routine one day in the clubhouse. After spending the past month in Florida rehabbing the injury, the 21-year-old is now throwing and fielding. Walding expects to start hitting in about a week. He’ll get a break of about two weeks, then will be among a group of Phillies minor leaguers to get some time at the Phillies’ winter baseball academy in the Dominican Republic. Continue reading Injury Updates on Watson, Walding

Per the Phillies’ Twitter account, Michael Stutes has been activated for tonight’s game against the New York Mets . Stutes last pitched in an 8-7 win over the New York Mets on June 22, allowing three earned runs and leaving with bicep tendonitis before recording an out. Stutes will be replacing Kyle Kendrick on the active roster and Zach Miner will replace Kyle Kendrick in the rotation for the remainder of the season. Kendrick is out with elbow tendonitis.