There is simply no stopping the ferreBUS right now. Over the past week, from May 5th to May 10th, the Phillies minor league affiliates delivered a mix of standout performances and ongoing struggles, but one name is on fire: Bryan Rincon.
Starting on the mound, the news was mostly tough. Bryse Wilson made two starts, covering 9.2 innings but allowing 15 hits and 6 earned runs. Charles King and Jean Cabrera also had rough outings, each giving up multiple runs in short appearances. However, there were bright spots. Tucker Davidson tossed a gem: 6 scoreless innings with just 4 hits and 4 strikeouts. Alan Rangel struck out 7 over 5 innings, and Seth Johnson continues to impress out of the bullpen. Over his last 9 appearances, Johnson has posted a stellar line: 9 innings, 7 hits, 1 earned run, 3 walks, and 15 strikeouts. That's the kind of consistency every team needs.
At the plate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs saw some encouraging signs. Otto Kemp had a breakout week, launching his first three AAA home runs of the season. Steward Berroa showed patience with 8 walks, while Bryan De La Cruz and Liover Peguero each collected 7 hits. But the real story is in Reading and beyond.
The Fightin' Phils' pitching staff hit a rough patch. Kyle Brnovich and Gabriel Barbosa both struggled, combining for 14 earned runs over 14 innings. Luke Russo and Adam Seminaris offered some relief with quality starts, and Alex McFarlane continues to be a reliable arm out of the pen with 4 strikeouts in 3 scoreless innings.
Offensively, the spotlight belongs to Bryan Rincon. The previously offensively-challenged prospect is now slashing .255/.371/.500 with 6 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and 19 walks against just 26 strikeouts in 132 plate appearances. It's the best stretch of his career since being drafted. Aroon Escobar also had a strong week, hitting his 3rd homer and swiping his 10th base without being caught once. Alex Binelas continues to mash, now up to 10 homers on the season.
Dante Nori and Dylan Campbell each showed flashes of speed and power, while Carson DeMartini is starting to find his rhythm. The ferreBUS is rolling, and Rincon is driving the bus.