Phillies Prospect Griff McGarry K’s 13 for Jersey Shore BlueClaws
On Wednesday, Phillies #8 prospect, Griff McGarry posted career-high 13 strikeouts in a start for the Jersey Shore BlueClaws against the Brooklyn Cyclones in the High-A South Atlantic League.
McGarry dominated the Cyclones just one week after setting a then career-high mark of 10 strikeouts against the Baltimore Orioles affiliate, the Aberdeen IronBirds. He was even better on Wednesday, as McGarry produced 15 swinging strikes across only 5.1 innings of work. Altogether, the 23-year-old former star at the University of Virginia allowed four hits, an earned run, and a walk, while picking up the win against Brooklyn at Maimonides Park.
McGarry’s 13 strikeouts were the most by a BlueClaws pitcher this year and since Jose Taveras K’d a team record 14 in a 2016 start in Greenville. Brooklyn’s one earned runs came on the 101st and final pitch of the night for Griff.
Scouts have never questioned McGarry’s elite stuff, but his inability to command his pitches was the reason he slid to the 5th round in the 2021 MLB Draft, when Philadelphia scooped him up. That risk has already paid off for the Phillies, as McGarry has posted his lowest walk-rates since the beginning of his college career.
With McGarry, Andrew Painter, and Mick Abel the Phillies currently have a trio of exciting young arms in Lakewood, New Jersey. Painter has been among the standout pitchers as any minor league level this year while Abel, the Phils 2020 1st round pick, has been solid playing against competition two to three years older than himself.
It’s a promising core for new Phillies Director of Player Development Preston Mattingly, who is looking to turn around a franchise that has been among the worst in developing talent over the last decade. This offseason, Mattingly was adamant that the farm system was deeper than the general public was giving them credit for.
So far the results have been positive, and the rise of Griff McGarry is yet another bit of evidence that help is on the way for the Phillies pitching staff in South Philadelphia.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Jersey Shore BlueClaws
