Reading's Biddle Named April Player of the Month
Published on May 7, 2013 under Eastern League (EL1) News Release
Portland, ME - The Eastern League is pleased to announce Reading Fightin Phils left-handed starting pitcher Jesse Biddle has been selected as the Eastern League Player of the Month for the month of April. Jesse, who entered the season ranked by Baseball America as the top prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, made five starts during the month and had a record of 2-1 with 40 strikeouts, 12 walks and a 1.74 ERA over 31.0 innings of work. The 21-year old made his Double-A debut on April 5th at New Hampshire and gave up just one run on one hit and two walks while striking out six batters over six innings to earn the win in Reading's 6-1 victory. Biddle was even more impressive as the month went on, closing out the month by striking out a combined 26 batters over 13 shutout innings in his final two starts of the month. That included a performance on April 22nd at Harrisburg in which he took a perfect game into the seventh inning and set a Reading modern day franchise record with 16 strikeouts while allowing just one hit over seven innings in a 3-2 win. Biddle, who is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, followed that up by striking out 10 batters and surrendering one hit over six shutout innings at FirstEnergy Stadium against New Hampshire. Those two performances led to Jesse being named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the period of April 22nd-28th.
The 6'4", 225 lb. hurler led all Eastern League pitchers in strikeouts (40) and batting average against (.114) during the month of April. He also finished ranked among the monthly leaders in WHIP (0.77-3rd), innings pitched (31.0) and ERA (1.74). Biddle has given up just 13 hits over 31.2 innings for the Fightin Phils this season and currently leads the league with a .121 batting average against. He is also ranked third in WHIP (0.92), tied for fourth in strikeouts (40) and ranked seventh in ERA (2.56).
Jesse, who had a record of 10-6 with a 3.22 ERA while striking out a league-high 151 batters in 26 starts last season with the Clearwater Threshers of the Florida State League, was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round of the 2010 draft with the 27th overall selection out of Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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