Former Threshers on the Rise
July 16, 2015 - Florida State League (FSL1)
Clearwater Threshers News Release
The first half champions in the Florida State League North have seen a number of deserving prospects receive the bump up to AA Reading this summer.
JP Crawford did not spend much time in a Threshers uniform this season, but made a formidable splash during his stint in Clearwater. The Phillies No. 1 prospect was sidelined through the first month of the season with an oblique strain, before making his 2015 debut with the Threshers on May 6.
In his first game back, the 20-year old singled to open the bottom of the first, and launched a two-run home run in the third inning to give the Threshers the lead on Brevard County.
Crawford went on to bat .392 with a .489 on-base percentage in 21 games before getting the call up to the Reading Fightin Phils, where he went on to be named an Eastern League All Star. The 2013 first round draft pick also represented the Phillies organization in the MLB All-Star Futures game on July 12, knocking home the first run for the US team with a single in the third inning.
At the Eastern League All-Star break, Crawford was batting .273 for Reading, with 28 walks compared to 19 strikeouts in 39 games.
All-Star catcher Andrew Knapp got the call to join Crawford in Reading less than a week after representing Clearwater at this year's midsummer classic in St. Lucie.
Knapp scored what would be the decisive run in Clearwater's 3-2, title-clinching victory over the Daytona Tortugas on June 24, and got word after the game that he would be headed north to make his AA debut.
A second round draft pick out of California in 2013, Knapp underwent Tommy John surgery in October of that year and did not resume catching duties until the middle of the 2014 season.
This year, Knapp threw out 38.1% of opposing base stealers while batting .262 with Clearwater. Counting his final three games with the Threshers, Knapp carried a 16-game hitting streak into the Eastern League All-Star break, having hit .327 with 14 RBI in 13 games for Reading.
After emerging as one of the top pitchers in the Florida State League, and earning FSL All Star honors as well, Mark Leiter, Jr. also received promotion to AA just before the end of the first half.
Leiter started the year in the Threshers bullpen, but by midseason had become one of the most dominant starting pitchers in the league. At the time of his promotion on June 14, Leiter ranked sixth in the FSL in ERA (1.97), third in innings (68.2), fourth in WHIP (0.95), and fourth in opponent batting average (.202).
The 24-year old has continued that success at the next level, going six innings or more and permitting three runs or less in each of his first three starts for the Fightin Phils.
Another recent member of the Threshers starting rotation heard the call to Reading two weeks later. Colin Kleven, who earned the win in Clearwater's first half-clinching victory over Daytona, had gone five or more innings and allowed three runs or less in 11 of his 13 starts for the Threshers.
The right-hander compiled a 5-3 record and a 2.89 ERA in his 71.2 innings for the Threshers this season. Kleven rose to the occasion when he earned the starting nod in the first half finale against the Tortugas. He tied a season-high with eight strikeouts - including six in a row - allowing only a run on two hits in the decisive win.
Kleven's debut for Reading was a strong one, as he held New Britain to a run on three hits across six innings on June 30.
Clearwater also saw its most dominant reliever make the jump to Double A, as Edubray Ramos got the callup on July 10.
The 22-year old Ramos, who had not pitched above short-season ball entering this year, was ranked tops amongst relievers in the Florida State League in lowest walks per nine and fewest baserunners per nine, and second in opponent batting average.
Ramos had not allowed a run since June 4 - an impressive streak of 17.2 shutout innings over nine appearances. He finished with a 1.46 ERA in 29 games for Clearwater, and made his Reading debut by retiring both batters he faced at Akron on July 11.
Reinier Roibal pitched in just six games for the Threshers at the start of the season, but dominated to the tune of a 1.54 ERA and just two walks with 11 strikeouts in 11.2 innings for Clearwater. The right-hander joined Reading on May 18 as a reliever, and has also made four spot starts for the Fightins rotation.
Roibal signed with Philadelphia as a free agent on January 23, having not pitched professionally since 2012. In 12 games for Reading before the All Star break, the 26-year old was 2-1 with a 2.48 ERA in 29 innings, having walked just eight and struck out 28.
Infielder Brodie Greene made the Threshers opening day roster and played nine games for Clearwater before receiving the bump up to Reading.
Greene, who had spent the last three seasons in AA in the Cincinnati Reds organization, collected hits in eight of the nine games he played in a Threshers uniform, batting .333. Greene turned in a solid first half for the Fightins, batting .264 with 11 doubles and 25 walks in 59 games.
At the break, 18 of the 25 men on Reading's active roster played for the Threshers over the last three seasons.
Florida State League Stories from July 16, 2015
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- Former Threshers on the Rise - Clearwater Threshers
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