Minor League’s strikeout leader promoted to Reading

Reading, PA – The Philadelphia Phillies have promoted left-handed pitcher Antonio Bastardo from Class-A Clearwater to Double-A Reading. Bastardo, 22 years-old, will make his first start for the R-Phils on Saturday at Harrisburg at 6:05 PM. Ranked the #26 prospect in the Phillies system by Baseball America prior to the season, Bastardo leads all Minor League pitchers with 47 strikeouts. 

The Phillies have also sent RHP Ron Hill (1-1, 6.94) to Clearwater and returned OF Javon Moran to Reading from Lehigh Valley (AAA). Moran was hitting .211 (4-19) with the IronPigs. In 17 games for Reading he’s hitting .179 (12-67). Moran hit .296 (8-27) in his last seven games for the R-Phils, April 15-21, before his promotion to Triple-A. 

Bastardo, signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent February 17, 2005, was 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in five starts for the Threshers. He’s allowed four runs, all earned, in 30.2 IP on 20 hits and 10 walks. He posted double-digit strikeouts in three of the five games. He was third in the Florida State League in ERA (1.17).

In 2007, Bastardo spent most of the season at Low-A Lakewood where he was 9-0 with a 1.87 ERA in 15 starts. He had 98 SO in 91.2 IP for the BlueClaws. He won his only start for Clearwater during the regular season on September 1 and had a season-high 12 SO in 5.0 IP (4 R, 4 ER). He did not get a decision in one playoff start (4.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO).

Bastardo was also named Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April today.

Today’s transactions put the R-Phils roster back at the maximum 24 active players.

Reading returns home on Monday to begin the longest homestand of the season. 

This information was posted on May 2, 2008