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It's your weekly rundown of top performers from the Phillies' developmental ranks with some not-so-good performers mixed in as well. Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs (9-23 record, last in International League North Division- worst record in the league)... Hot: Maikel Franco, image- Jay Floyd 3B Maikel Franco has continued to shine on offense, as the 22-year-old has gone 12-for-25 (.480 avg) with three homers and eight RBI in his last six games. Overall, the Dominican native has notched a .341 average with four home runs and 18 RBI in 30 games this season. RHP Phillippe Aumont sports a 1-1 record and a 1.93 ERA in three starts since joining the Pigs' rotation. In seven appearances this year, the 26-year-old has a 1.73 ERA and a .188 batting average against. Cold: Catcher Tommy Joseph is 2-for-32 (.063 avg) in his last 10 games. Overall, in 20 games this season, the 23-year-old sports a .123 average with four doubles and six RBI. Double-A Reading Fightins ...

After roughly a week and a half of the minor league schedule has past, so here's a quick run down of the top performers from the Phillies' developmental ranks thus far in the young baseball season. Triple-A Lehigh Valley... 3B/1B Maikel Franco - The righty hitting slugger sports a .386 average with a homer and eight RBI through 10 games. After going 0-for-3 on opening day, the 22-year-old has put together a nine-game hitting streak with at least one extra-base hit in eight of those games. RHP Phillippe Aumont - In three appearances, the 26-year-old has allowed one earned run in eight innings (1.13 ERA) while striking out 10 and walking four. Aumont has a career 6.13 ERA in 45 big league outings. Double-A Reading... RHP Zach Eflin - In two starts, the 21-year-old right has a 2-0 record while throwing 14 scoreless frames, having struck out seven and walked two. Eflin was acquired over the off-season from the Dodgers in the Jimmy Rollins trade. LHP Jesse Biddle - T...

This past weekend I spoke with the coaching staff in Lehigh Valley about several players on the Triple-A IronPigs roster. Check out what skipper Dave Brundage and pitching coach Ray Burris had to say about several hurlers on their team's roster. Jason Marquis, Image- Jay Floyd -Brundage on the game plan going forward for RHP Jason Marquis , who has allowed one earned run in 11 innings over two starts in the minors since the Phillies signed him this month. I don't know. You're talking to the wrong guy. If I was the G.M., or if I was the big league manager, maybe I'd have a different answer. We're gonna run him out there every 5th day and we'll see what we have. I'm sure (the Phillies) were watching they have a pretty good idea of what they got to see. His stuff was a little bit better than what I thought. Then again, he's just been pitching down in extended spring. (Friday) he gets to come up, in front of a bigger crowd and with some adren...

On Monday, I guested on Corey Seidman's HD radio show on the Phillies 24/7 channel. During my interview segment, we talked about some promising names in the Phils organization including Kenny Giles , J.P. Crawford , Cam Perkins and Maikel Franco . Top draft pick Aaron Nola and a pair of troubling Canadians in Phillippe Aumont and Tyson Gillies were discussed as well. To hear my segment with Corey on Monday's edition of "Phillies Today", click here and skip to the 9:00 mark of the show to get right to me.

On the 39th edition of the PhoulBallz Podcast, Jay chats with lefty pitching prospect Adam Morgan , who dealt with a shoulder injury in 2013 but made a lot of progress.  Additionally, Tug and Jay chat about the Phillies' Paul Owens Award winners Severino Gonzalez and Maikel Franco , Trevor May thoughts on being traded by the Phils last off-season, Tyson Gillies ' feelings toward his season, September call-ups as well as much more. Use the media player below to stream the full episode, or simply download it by clicking HERE . You can also check out previous episodes and subscribe on iTunes .

On the latest edition of Phillies Nation TV, Pat and Corey discuss the Chase Utley contract extension. Also, Corey and I chat about rising Phils talent such as Ethan Martin , Adam Morgan , Cameron Rupp , Tommy Joseph , Cody Asche and others. Johnny Goodtimes returns to interview Penn Professor Bruce Kuklick about Shibe Park. Check out the media player below for the full episode and look for new episodes premiering every Tuesday at 6pm on The Comcast Network. Your browser does not support iframes.

On this week's edition of Phillies Nation TV, I spoke with Lehigh Valley IronPigs outfielder Darin Ruf about getting back to the big leagues and third base prospect Cody Asche about his quick ascent up the Phils' developmental ladder. Also, from Lehigh Valley's Coca Cola Park, Ian Riccaboni talked with Phillippe Aumont about his demotion from the big leagues. Pat Gallen and Corey Seidman focus on Domonic Brown 's torrid offensive output and offer their usual analysis on the big league club. Check out the full episode in the media player below and look for new episodes each Tuesday at 6PM on The Comcast Network, as well as replays all throughout the week on TCN and Comcast SportsNet. Your browser does not support iframes.

Phillippe Aumont, Photo- Jay Floyd The Phillies saw enough of their dismal middle relief and began making adjustments to that portion of their roster back on May 22nd, sending imposing right-hander Phillippe Aumont down to the minor leagues after a shaky stretch to open the season. Since the demotion, Aumont has continued to have control issues and has looked troubled through five contests. Selected in the 1st round by Seattle in the 2007 draft, Aumont was later traded to the Phillies, along with Tyson Gillies and J.C. Ramirez , in the December, 2009 deal for Cliff Lee . This year, Aumont opened the season on the same roster as Lee, with the Phillies, but while Lee steadily performs like an All-Star, the 6-foot-7, 260-pounder lacked command and the team took notice. Following his two outings on May 18th against Cincinnati and May 20th against Miami, in which he allowed three earned runs in one total inning, Aumont's ERA spiked from 2.25 to 4.15 and he lost his spot on t...

I spent some time this week chatting with the Phillies minor league pitching coordinator Gorman Heimueller , who offered his thoughts on several talented young hurlers in the Phils' system. Heimueller, who has been the Phils' minor league pitching coordinator since 2002, pitched 14 seasons as a pro, including parts of two with the Athletics. Prior to his current position, Heimueller was a pitching coach at the Double-A and Triple-A level for the Phillies. Gorm shared his opinions on several prospects including Brody Colvin , Austin Wright , Shane Watson , Jake Diekman and he even danced around a question about when Phils fans might expect to see Phillippe Aumont back with the big club after his recent demotion to Triple-A.  Read ahead for the full interview. - Austin Wright's been a guy that missed some time with an injury and has allowed a lot of runs in his two starts (0-2, 22.22 ERA) with Reading since being activated.  Is there much concern with h...

The PhoulBallz Minor League Podcast is back with its 27th episode.  On this edition of the show, Phillies outfield prospect Kelly Dugan calls in to chat with the guys.  Additionally, Jay and Tug discuss shortstop Roman Quinn 's recent offensive improvements leading the way for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws as well as righty pitcher Perci Garner 's success with Class A Advanced Clearwater.  Some breaking TheFightins.com news is announced and discussions also include Brian Gump , Bill Rice and some local independent league clubs. Use the media player below to stream the full episode, or simply download it by clicking HERE . You can also check out previous episodes and subscribe on iTunes .

Following Wednesday's 3-0 victory over the Miami Marlins, the Phillies announced that reliever Phillippe Aumont had been demoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, with a corresponding move to follow prior to the team's next game on Friday. For a club that entered that evening's contest with a bullpen ERA that ranked 4th worst in all of Major League Baseball, surely some adjustments were in order.  However, Aumont was not the problem.  As recently as Sunday, the 24-year-old righty's season ERA was 2.92 and sat at 2.25 last Friday. After coughing up two earned runs in 2/3 of an inning on Monday, Aumont's season ERA rose to an unlucky 4.15 in 16 games. Surely Aumont, who gave up runs in each of his two most recent appearances and who sported the worst WHIP (2.08) on the pitching staff, hadn't been sparkling as of late, but he had an ERA better than the Phils' stud 8th inning guy Mike Adams just last weekend. And even with his recent efforts, or lack there...

The tournament held every four years to crown the world champions of baseball is back. In the World Baseball Classic, a combined 16 national teams play in four separate pools to earn bids in future rounds, all with hopes of vying against the most elite teams in order to earn the top title in the sport. Team Japan has won the first two titles, with the inaugural WBC being held back in 2006. By local time standards, the worldwide tournament kicked off on Saturday, with Australia taking on Chinese Taipei in Taichung, Taiwan in Pool B action. Other teams in Pool B include Korea and the Netherlands.  Games will continue through March 19th, when the finals are slated to be held in San Francisco, CA. Pool A also begins on Saturday and features China, Brazil, Cuba and Japan. Those games are set to be played in Fukuoka, Japan. Pool C, set to be played in San Juan, Puerto Rico beginning on Thursday, features, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and, of course, Puerto Rico. ...

On the latest episode of Phillies Nation TV, I joined Pat and Corey to discuss the potential contributions of Darin Ruf following his addition to the big league roster as well as the Phils' exciting young bullpen contributors like Phillippe Aumont , Jake Diekman , B.J. Rosenberg and Justin De Fratus . Additionally, the guys also discuss the Phillies' postseason chances and field some viewer questions. Check out the full episode, as seen on Service Electric 2 Sports, in the media player below.

We're back with another brand new edition of the PhoulBallz Minor League Podcast. On episode 16, Tug and I discuss the unreal seasons of Darin Ruf and Tyler Cloyd along with recent big league promotions for Cloyd, Phillippe Aumont and Steven Lerud . Also, we review the Reading Eagle's recent prospect ranking survey, September call-up possibilities, playoff chances for the Phils' minor league clubs and we play The Twitter Game. Check out the media player below to hear the full show, or download it by clicking HERE . You can also check out previous episodes and subscribe on iTunes .

Following the Phillies' 12-5 romp over the visiting Reds on Monday night, the team announced that lefty reliever Jeremy Horst was placed on paternity leave and that right-hander Phillippe Aumont would be called up to the Phils, in order to fill his void. The 23-year-old Quebec, Canada native was acquired from Seattle in the December, 2009 Cliff Lee trade, along with RHP J.C. Ramirez and OF Tyson Gillies . Aumont was originally an 11th round pick of the Mariners in the 2007 draft. Aumont, ranked as the Phillies' #4 prospect by PhilliesNation.com prior to the 2012 season, had posted a 3-1 record with a 4.26 ERA and 14 saves in 41 relief outings for Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season. Until this week, Aumont had been quite hot, posting a 2.08 ERA with a 1-0 record and five saves in 15 outings since the International League All-Star break. However, in his most recent outing, he surrendered four earned runs in 2/3 of an inning during a loss to Toledo on Sunday. At s...

On Tuesday, the Phillies reassigned right-handed hurlers Phillippe Aumont and Michael Schwimer to minor league camp. Aumont was recently ranked 4th on the PhilliesNation.com Top 25 Prospects Countdown , while Schwimer came in at number 13. Aumont, who sports a high-90's fastball, struggled a bit with his command this spring and notched a 4.50 ERA with no decisions while walking 4 and striking out 4 in 4 innings of work in Grapefruit League play. Aumont is 23-year-old. In 4 exhibition appearances, the 26-year-old Schwimer posted a 1-0 record with a 3.86 ERA while walking 5 and striking out 1 in 4 2/3 innings. It is very likely that these two promising relievers will be back with the big club in the near future. While the opening day roster is likely to include 12 pitchers, it's very common for teams to utilize up to about 10 more hurlers as injuries arise throughout a season. Both men would be expected to begin the regular season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Additiona...

Righty hurler Phillippe Aumont is the third prospect that the Phillies acquired in the December 2009 trade that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle to appear on this countdown. Upon joining the Phillies, organizational brass chose to switch the young reliever into a starting pitcher. Aumont would go on to struggle in that role, during his first season in the Philadelphia system, but has since gotten himself back on track in the bullpen, where he is most comfortable. A first round draft choice (11th overall) by Seattle in 2007, Aumont was a highly regarded hurler when he was traded to Philadelphia. In two seasons in the Mariners' system, Aumont tallied a 6-10 record, a 3.29 ERA and 18 saves in 59 games (8 starts). He also represented Seattle in the 2008 MLB All-Star Futures Game, although he did not appear in the exhibition. In 2009, Aumont, who was a member of the Junior National Team for Canada in his teen years, pitched for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic. In one WBC o...

Righty hurler Justin De Fratus , known to his brother Steven and those close to him as "J-Bone", joins us live and direct, once again, from Clearwater, FL to offer his thoughts from inside Phillies spring training. The 24-year-old reliever went 6-3 with 15 saves, a 2.99 ERA and 99 strike outs in 75 1/3 innings in his time with Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley last year before making his Major League debut in September and holding opponents to a .083 batting average in 5 appearances. Heading forward, De Fratus, an 11th round draft choice in 2007, hopes to be an impact contributor in the Phillies bullpen for years to come. In the latest edition of The J-Bone Zone, Justin discusses sharing the big league spring training experience with close friends, the Phillies additions of veterans who might present a roadblock for younger prospects and plenty more. Read on for exclusive insider content direct from Florida. On his ailing elbow that has him sidelined from throwi...

From time to time this off-season, we'll take a look at young players within the Phillies organization that could impact the big league roster in 2012. In this edition, relievers Justin De Fratus and Phillippe Aumont will be the focus, as they target filling out a Philadelphia bullpen that has multiple potential vacancies. With the Phillies' refusal of Brad Lidge 's option and with free agent Ryan Madson possibly on the move out of town, the club has some openings up for grabs in the coming season. A pair of young fireballers stand a great shot at filling those voids on the roster for the five-time defending National League East division champions. Righty hurlers Justin De Fratus and Phillippe Aumont are two of the top candidates to make a big splash on the Phillies pitching staff next year. Each of the two relievers looked sharp at two levels of the developmental ranks this year. De Fratus was drafted in the 11th round of the 2007 amateur draft by the Phillies. Often pr...

As Phillies hurler Cliff Lee dominates opponents with his arm and his bat this year, his full legacy within the organization may not completely be his own. Lee signed a lengthy contract with the Phillies last off-season, but just one year prior, he had been traded by Philadelphia to Seattle for three minors leaguers that are still under the proverbial microscope despite Lee's return. The premiere target in the December, 2009 swap was right-handed pitcher Phillippe Aumont . The 6-foot-7-inch 255-pound Canadian has had an exceptional season, combined at two levels with the Double A Reading Phillies and the Triple A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In 35 total games, Aumont has posted a 1-5 record with 7 saves and a .206 batting average against, while striking out 65 batters in 44 2/3 innings pitched. Aumont struggled initially after joining the Phillies in 2010 after the organization chose to switch him from a reliever into a starting pitcher. Recognizing the issues that Aumont...