JON MARKS | JE STAFF
IronPigs first basemen Rhys Hoskins takes a swing.

IRON IGS: PHOTO PROVIDED; STITCHING: M_PAVLOV/ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK.COM;
ince the future doesn’t appear to be now for the 2017
Phillies, why not hop in the car this summer and see for
yourselves what the future may hold?
Depending upon where you live, it’s no more than 75 to 100
miles from your door to the home of any of three minor league
franchises within the Phillies system.

That way you can see for yourself whether Rhys Hoskins,
J.P. Crawford, Dylan Cozens, Roman Quinn or any of a number of
pitchers are the real deal for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs
of the International League.

You can head to Reading and, once you’re done at the outlet
stores, find your way to FirstEnergy Stadium, where the Eastern
League Double-A Fightin Phils seem well stocked with Scott
Kingery, Andrew Pullin and pitchers Brandon Leibrandt and
Shane Watson, a former first-round draft choice.

Or, if you’re intrigued by what’s in the system a few years
down the road, the Lakewood BlueClaws of the Class A South
Atlantic League may be the spot to hit. Located 60 to 70 miles
from Center City, the Jersey shore town that Ryan Howard,
Maikel Franco and Freddy Galvis once called home is a place full
of potential.

Of course, it won’t be known for at least a couple of years
whether players like pitchers Sixto Sanchez and Adonis Medina
and outfielder Mickey Moniak, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft,
ever realize that potential.

20 JUNE 8, 2017
But if the Phillies aren’t your team, there are still options —
especially if you’re a Yankees fan. The Double-A Trenton
Thunder, where Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Roger Clemens
once did rehab stints and, before that, Nomar Garciaparra and
Kevin Youkilis played when the Red Sox ran the team, is only
minutes away.

And if you don’t mind the two-and-a-half-hour or so trek to
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, you’ll find yourselves at the home of the
Yankees Triple-A RailRiders.

Finally, the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the Class A-Advanced
Carolina League are in the midst of celebrating their 25th season.

A Kansas City Royals affiliate throughout most of its history, the
team has produced 163 major leaguers, including Johnny Damon,
Carlos Beltran, Zack Greinke and Eric Hosmer.

So if you love baseball, but coming out to Citizen Bark Park does-
n’t seem too appetizing, here’s a closer look at those alternatives.

TRIPLE-A LEHIGH VALLEY IRONPIGS
Completed in 2008, Coca-Cola Park in Allentown has a capacity
of 8,278, which doesn’t include close to 2,000 more who can hang
out in the picnic areas and other attractions scattered throughout
the ballpark. The IronPigs — a reference to the pig iron synony-
mous with the steel manufactured in the region — have served as
the Phillies Triple-A club since the stadium opened.

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Throughout the years, the franchise has had only
moderate success, but it traditionally has been at or
near the top of attendance in the International League.

They’re currently atop the Northern Division, having
recently gone on a 12-game winning streak.

SCRANTON/WILKES-BARRE RAILRIDERS
The former home of the Phillies has been a Yankees affiliate since
2007 but the team did not become the RailRiders until 2013. The
defending International League and Triple-A national champions
have produced players like current Yankees Aaron Judge, Gary
Sanchez, Greg Bird and Luis Severino.

Located in Moosic, PNC Field officially seats 10,000, although
more than 12,000 fans have packed the place on several occasions.

At the end of the minor league season, PNC Field will host the
Triple-A national championship game.

DOUBLE A
READING FIGHTIN PHILS
The Double-A home of the Phils since 1967, Reading is tied for
the longest continuous affiliation of any major league franchise.

And FirstEnergy Stadium, which was built in 1951, is the oldest in
the Eastern League, though it has been frequently renovated.

That means Phillies fans have trekked to Berks County to
watch hot prospects like Mike Schmidt, Larry Bowa, Bob Boone,
Darren Daulton and Cole Hamels, among many others, for more
than half a century.

As in most minor league ballparks, tickets are affordable —
ranging from $8 for lawn seats and up — plus fans get a more inti-
mate place to watch players develop who might be that far away
from “the show.”
In recent seasons, Phils like Franco, Aaron Altherr, Aaron Nola
and César Hernández came through Reading at some point. So
did current IronPigs Hoskins, Cozens, Crawford, Quinn and
Jorge Alfaro; most, if not all of them, project to be factors at the
major league level.

In the case of the BlueClaws, who play at 6,588 capac-
ity FirstEnergy Park, it means checking out Moniak, who
could be the Phillies’ centerfielder of the future. Going
through the record books, among the current major leaguers
who have spent time here since the franchise started in 2001 are
Carlos Carrasco, Jonathan Villar, Jarred Cosart and Domingo
Santana, all prospects the Phils dealt in trades.

Considering Lakewood is still three steps removed from
Citizens Bank Park, though, there’s no guarantee a player who
excels here will eventually climb to the top of the ladder.

CLASS A - ADVANCED
WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS
The same holds true for the Royals’ long-
time affiliate, although a cursory glance
at alumni shows some impressive names.

For whatever reason, Wilmington’s
Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, where you
can get a $7 ticket with Groupon, seems
to attract real talent.

Wilmington Blue
Again, with a nice view of the
Rocks mascot
Delaware waterfront, it’s not too far away
for anybody, and convenient.

And for players who made a name for
themselves with the Blue Rocks — from current Royals Mike
Moustakas, Salvador Pérez and Raul Mondesi Jr., to Brandon
Finnegan (Reds), Wil Myers (Padres) and Greg Holland (Rockies)
— between Philly, Baltimore, New York and Washington, there
are plenty of places to follow them once they’ve made it. l
Contact: jmarks@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0729
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TRENTON THUNDER
It’s been 23 years since baseball came back to Trenton, N.J., where
there are records of the game being played going as far back to just
after the Civil War. Later, shortly after Jackie Robinson crossed
baseball’s color line, Willie Mays made his minor league debut
playing for the Trenton Giants.

As for the current incarnation as the Yankees Double-A outlet,
while there’s likely not a Mays, Robinson Canó or even Brett
Gardner among them, there could be some players not too far
removed from wearing the pinstripes. Besides, being only 30
miles or so from Center City, Arm & Hammer Park has always
been a great place to take the family.

For one thing, it’s easily accessible from just about anywhere.

For another, between tickets, parking and concessions, you’ll
spend a lot less than at any major league ballpark. Plus, even if the
game’s not very entertaining, there’s enough going on to sustain
anyone’s interest.

CLASS A
LAKEWOOD BLUECLAWS
For the most part, Class A minor league baseball is for the serious
fan. That’s the guy who’s intrigued by some of the names he sees
rising through the system and wants to see for himself how good
these guys are.

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