PHILADELPHIA— Another big win for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs took place on Saturday afternoon in Rochester, New York.
The Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies organization is loaded with talent this season. A mixture of up-and-coming prospects as well as veterans of Major League Baseball has Lehigh Valley in a strong position.
With today’s win, the IronPigs improved to a 6-2 record in the young season. While the Phillies keep winning on the big league level, it is promising to see the collection of talent stashed away for depth just a few hours away from home.
IronPigs Offense Explodes
It’s always a good day at the ballpark when the offense can put together 10 runs.
Otto Kemp, Buddy Kennedy, Garrett Stubbs, Oscar Mercado, and Christian Arroyo combined to produce 14 hits in the ballgame. Each IronPig had at least two knocks on the day, with Kemp and Arroyo going deep. The 3rd inning home run for Kemp was his third in just 8 Triple-A games this season. A promising sign for the 25-year-old infielder.
Garrett Stubbs raised his batting average up to .286 in Triple-A with today’s performance. Stubbs, of course, spent the last three seasons in the big leagues with the Phillies, and while he is not playing every day to start the Triple-A season, he has played well in his outings.
It was a rough day for top prospect Justin Crawford. The 21-year-old went 0-6 on the afternoon, sinking his batting average to .241 in Lehigh Valley. This is the first taste of action at this level after spending time in both Single-A and Double-A last season.
Good Sign for Mick Abel
If there was ever a player who needed a strong start to their season, it’s Mick Abel.
The former first-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies had a quick ascent once arriving in the organization. However, Abel has plateaued in the minor leagues, causing doubt on his future at the major league level.
In his first start of 2025, Abel wasn’t at his best. Tossing 5 innings, the young right-hander allowed 4 earned runs. That included a pair of long balls that did not stay in the park. His 4:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio was a promising sign. It gave him a positive takeaway to build upon for his next time out.
Building off that start on Saturday, Abel was determined to make a stronger impression. Today, against the Red Wings, he put away 7 batters on strikes and did not surrender a walk. He dropped his hits, allowed from 9 to 4, and kept Rochester off the board.
Abel’s earned run average improved to 3.27 for the young season. A step in the right direction for the young IronPig.
IronPigs and Crew
The Phillies’ minor league system will be one to watch in 2025. With the team expected to compete again for a World Series title, the depth of the minors will be important.
Whether it is an injury or a trade, these players could be making an impact at the big league level before you know it.
For now, the IronPigs, Fightin Phils, Blue Claws, and Thrashers continue to get in gear as the season starts to unfold.
Photo By: TMB/Icon Sportswire
