Major League Baseball players do not just appear out of the woodwork. Yes, some do, but most come through the ranks of the minor leagues, also called the Farm System. The Phillies have four teams in their farm system. The lowest level is Single-A (A). If a player is good enough, he progresses to Single-A Advanced (A+). Once he has proven himself at this level, he is promoted to Double-A (AA), and finally, the last stop before the major league, is the Triple-A (AAA) team. Lofty, though this may be, not all players here make it to the Major Leagues.
The Philadelphia Phillies Single A affiliate is the Clearwater Threshers in Clearwater, Florida. Their facility (BayCare Ballpark) is also home to the Phillies' spring training camp. Since 1985, the Phillies have had a team in Clearwater (although the ballpark has had many different names). The Threshers mascot is a thresher shark named Phinley and, like the Phanatic, he often entertains the crowd. In 2004 the team was managed by one of the best third basemen of all time, Mike Schmidt. Another interesting tidbit of their history is that they played a 23-inning game on May 23, 2011, against the Jupiter Hammerheads, the Miami Marlins affiliate getting just one run in the third inning and eventually losing 2-1. Currently, the Threshers' top prospect is an 18-year-old outfielder, Justin Crawford. He is expected to make it to the majors in 2026, according to MLB Pipeline (which ranks prospects and their estimated rookie season).
If you want to see a lower-stakes game a little closer to home, check out the Phillies Single-A Advanced affiliate, the Jersey Shore Blueclaws. Called the Lakewood Blueclaws until 2020, the Blueclaws have been playing in Lakewood, NJ, since 2001. They play at Shoretown Ballpark. If you make it out to a game, you'll most likely see Buster, an undefined creature who entertains the fans during games. A notable Phillies alumnus who managed this team in 2012 and 2013 was a Phillies fan favorite, second baseman Mickey Morandini. The Blueclaws have two retired numbers of more recent Phillies alumni; Cole Hamels' #19 and Ryan Howard's #29 have been retired in Lakewood.
Unless you are out west, only a few stadiums have a swimming pool in the outfield! In the Phillies case it is their Double-A affiliate, the Reading Fightin' Phils. FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading, PA, has a pool in right field and is home to a gang of mascots to get (and keep) the crowd going. Reading is home to the famous fightin' ostrich and hot dog man along with Screwball (a baseball), Change Up (a turtle), Blooper (a dog), Quack (a duck), and Bucky (a beaver). Reading is one of the longest affiliations with their MLB counterpart, as they have been affiliates since 1967. Ryan Howard and many other Phillies players are in Reading's Hall of Fame. Two of the most promising pitching prospects there are in Reading at the moment. Andrew Painter, a 19-year-old, right-handed pitcher posted a 1.56 ERA in 103.2 innings during 2022. While he is projected to make his Major League debut in 2025, many say he might be coming as early as 2023. The other prospect in Reading is Mick Abel, a 21-year-old right-handed pitcher. Abel is expected to make it to the majors in 2024. He posted a 3.90 ERA in 108 innings last season.
If you want close to Major League action without the high-ticket price, check out the Triple-A affiliate of the Phillies, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs! The Pigs, named for the iron industry in Allentown, PA, have played at Coca-Cola Park since 2008. This team was previously the Ottawa Lynx (an affiliate of Montreal Expos, Baltimore Orioles, and eventually the Philadelphia Phillies). The mascots here include Ferrous and Fete, their names starting with Fe, the chemical symbol for Iron, to represent the team name. Triple AAA is familiar to many who follow the big league team as many prospects come from here, and big-league players frequently rehab here! In 2022 Bryce Harper played a few games as an Iron Pig to rehab from his broken thumb. One Notable alum from the pigs is Rhys Hoskins, who won MVP and Rookie of the Year here in 2017. The two main prospects from the Pigs are Griff McGarry, a 23-year-old right-handed relief pitcher and Johan Rojas. According to Pipeline, McGarry is expected in 2024, but he may also be coming early. McGarry posted a 3.71 ERA in 87 innings during the 2022 season. Rojas is a 22-year-old outfielder expected to come to Philadelphia this coming season. Rojas batted .244 last season with the Pigs.
Many players on the Phillies' current 40-man roster are now in Allentown. This includes homegrown players such as Darick Hall, Bailey Falter, and Dalton Guthrie. Hall had nine home runs and a .250 average during his Major League stint this past season as a DH to fill in for Bryce Harper. Falter pitched both in Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia this past year, having a 4.36 ERA as a starter. Guthrie, a utility player, was called up when rosters expanded in September and stayed during the postseason. Guthrie had a .333 average during his tenure. Other players on the 40-man include pitcher Cristopher Sanchez who posted a 5.63 ERA this past season. Hans Crouse was called up to Philadelphia but never played, and catcher Donny Sands played three games in the majors with a .000 average, although he hit .308 in the minors.
Some reporters and analysts claim that the farm system needs to be deeper. In position players, they may be correct, but we have plenty of talented pitchers coming through the Pipeline and to the MLB stage soon! Until these prospects make their Major League debut, check them out as an Iron Pig, a Fightin' Phil, a Blueclaw, or a Thresher!
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