If the season ended today…
…The Philadelphia Phillies would be in the playoffs. Over the weekend, they did something they haven’t done since 2010: they swept the Marlins in Miami. Could this be the start of something new? At that time, the Marlins were still called the Florida Marlins and Dan Uggla was their clean-up hitter. Let’s just say, it’s been awhile. The Phillies end the first half of the 2022 season with a record of 49-43, currently tied with the St. Louis Cardinals for the third National League Wild Card spot. —Lauren Amour, Inside the Phillies
Pitching performances:
PHI Aaron Nola: 8.1 IP, 4 H, BB, 10 K
MIA Trevor Rogers: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 4 K
Standout bats:
PHI Yairo Muñoz: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, K
PHI Alec Bohm: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI
PHI Matt Vierling: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI
MIA Garrett Cooper: 0-for-4, 3 K
MORE: Report: Harper to have pins removed following thumb surgery —Ben Silver, Inside the Phillies
Phillies select Justin Crawford 17th overall
With the 17th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Phillies selected outfielder Justin Crawford on Sunday.
Crawford is a dynamic 18-year-old center fielder out of Las Vegas, Nevada, and son of former major leaguer Carl Crawford.
Crawford is great value at the 17th overall pick. He has double-plus speed, and will undoubtedly stick in center field with a plus-glove and arm.
His hit tool is also plus, and some evaluators believe there's more power to be unlocked within the lefty. —Alex Carr, Inside the Phillies
MORE: Phillies select Gabriel Rincones Jr. 93rd overall —Ben Silver, Inside the Phillies
Phillies 2022 MLB Draft tracker
Stay tuned for all of Inside The Phillies’ draft coverage this week, including this tracker, and all of our team's profiles of the Phillies' individual picks this year, linked conveniently down below:
ROUND 1 (17): Justin Crawford, CF, 18 years old - Bishop Gorman High School, Las Vegas, Nevada (Slot Value: $3,792,800)
ROUND 3 (93): Gabriel Rincones Jr., OF, 21 years old - Florida Atlantic University, Boynton Beach, FL (Slot Value: $659,800)
ROUND 4 (122): Alex McFarlane, RHP, 21 years old - University of Miami, St. Thomas (Slot Value: $492,800)
ROUND 5 (152): Orion Kerkering, RHP, 21 years old - University of South Florida, Huntington Beach, CA (Slot Value: $368,100)
ROUND 6 (182): Mavis Graves, LHP, 18 years old - East Side High School, Greer, SC (Slot Value: $281,800)
ROUND 7 (212): Caleb Ricketts, C, 22 years old - University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
ROUND 8 (242): Alex Rao, RHP, 22 years old - University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
ROUND 9 (272): Chad Castillo, OF, 22 years old - California Baptist University, Riverside, CA
ROUND 10 (302): Gustavo Sosa, C, 21 years old - South Mountain Community College, Phoenix, AZ
ROUNDS 11-20: Take place 7/19 @ 2 p.m.
MORE: Phillies select Alec McFarlane, Orion Kerkering in MLB Draft 4th and 5th Rounds —Ben Silver, Inside the Phillies
Schwarbs bombs
Unfortunately, there weren’t many Schwarbombs on Monday night as Kyle Schwarber participated in the MLB Home Run Derby in Los Angeles as the No. 1 seed.
Schwarber, who launched a league-leading 29 home runs in the first half, faced-off against veteran Albert Pujols, the No. 8 seed.
In an upset, the Cardinals legend narrowly defeated Schwarber 20-19 to advance to the second round, where he was taken down by eventual Derby winner Juan Soto.
Schwarber was the first Phillie to appear in the Derby since Rhys Hoskins in 2018. Funnily enough, Schwarber beat his future teammate in Hoskins 21-20, but went on to lose to another future teammate in Bryce Harper in the final round. —Lauren Amour, Inside the Phillies
MORE: Phillies day two MLB Draft recap —Alex Carr, Inside the Phillies
Ben Brown twirls gem, notches 100th strikeout
There have been a multitude of Phillies’ prospects that have lifted their prospect stock in 2022, but none have done so more substantially than Ben Brown. The 22-year-old spun a brilliant seven innings for Jersey Shore this weekend, allowing just two hits, walking none, and cresting 100 total strikeouts on the season with a 13 K performance.
Triple-A: Guthrie Leaves after hit-by-pitch
In an unfortunate turn of events, Dalton Guthrie left Sunday's game with Lehigh Valley after being hit by a pitch to lead off the game. The former sixth round pick has developed an intriguing contact tool, and plays all over the diamond. He has been particularly effective against left-handed pitching, and has managed to string together a solid .279 average, alongside a .755 OPS this season. Luckily, the minor leagues enter their All-Star break beginning on Monday. Hopefully, Guthrie's injury is nothing too serious and he can use the time off to heal up.
Double-A: Johan Rojas continues strong Reading campaign
Across his first 16 games with Double-A, Rojas has slashed .290/.380/.403, alongside an equal strikeout to walk ratio and ten stolen bases, one of which came in Sunday's game against the Fisher Cats. He's logged one home run, one triple, and two doubles in that initial span.
High-A: Andrew Painter is the truth
There's not much more to say about Andrew Painter that hasn't already been said. He has been utterly electric this year, and has substantiated his claim as one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. He went four innings on Saturday, allowing just two hits, and striking out nine. On the season, he's logged a 1.40 ERA in 50.2 innings of work, striking out 88 batters in that span.
Single-A: Hao-Yu Lee returns to Clearwater
Huzzah, Threshers fans rejoice! After nearly a month and a half on the injured list, Hao-Yu Lee has made his triumphant return to Clearwater. It was a hitless re-debut, but it's a positive sign to see the 19-year-old back on the field. —Alex Carr, Inside the Phillies
MORE: Childhood Phillies fan Billy Sullivan living out dream pitching in Reading —Ben Silver, Inside the Phillies
Opinion: The Phillies should pursue Gallo at the trade deadline
The New York Yankees are looking to move on from 2021 trade acquisition Joey Gallo, as the outfielder has struggled mightily this season. However, the Phillies should be in on him at this year’s deadline.
Why? Gallo can, and likely would, benefit from a change of scenery. Especially if that change includes being traded to a team that fosters the kind of environment and culture that Gallo thrives in.
Philadelphia would be wise to acquire Gallo as his value is at rock bottom, but his ceiling is sky high. If he can return to his career offensive production, then the Phillies would add more protection to the middle of the lineup.
They would also be adding an elite defender to an outfield whose defensive metrics and performance are not only suspect, but at times atrocious. It wouldn't be the big, splashy acquisition Philly fans are yearning for, but it may be the most important one the front office could make at this year's deadline. —Kade Kistner, Inside the Phillies
MORE: How could the Phillies acquire Juan Soto? —Alex Carr, Inside the Phillies