Roman Quinn and Dustin Peterson stood in the left corner of the third-base dugout minutes apart late last month after the IronPigs completed batting practice.
The two outfielders wore similar smiles and spoke with the same inflection in their voices.
They were happy to be in a minor league ballpark on a crisp, windy April night. They were happy to be in the Phillies organization and sharing playing time and an overflowing clubhouse.
“It’s always good to be somewhere where you’re comfortable,” Quinn said. “I know everyone in the organization and it feels like home.”
Quinn and Peterson took different paths to this point in their careers.
Quinn was a 2011 second-round pick of the Phillies and has had a rash of injuries since that have prevented him from being an everyday major leaguer. His ruptured Achilles tendon last May appeared to be the final straw in his decade-long run with the organization.
It made for a long offseason.
“If you ask my wife,” Quinn said, “she’d say it was really tough. She was probably ready to kick me out of the house.”
The couple ran a youth basketball camp during the offseason to keep Quinn from stressing about being DFA’d by the Phillies the day before the lockout, which prevented contact with any team.
The 28-year-old eventually signed with the Marlins, but that marriage lasted only eight spring training games. Quinn was released by Miami, only to re-sign with Philadelphia on April 9.
“It was weird,” he said, “but it was cool to experience what it was like to be with another organization.”
Quinn played in six games with the IronPigs before being promoted to the Phillies 16 days later. He then showed in the April 28 game against the Rockies why there remains optimism that the Florida native can be a regular contributor. He reached on a bunt single, stole second and third and scored on a sacrifice fly.
He is a factor with his feet and glove. He is an above average fielder on an active roster with no other outfielder close to his defensive skills.
A glimpse of Quinn’s skills always offers hope, but it is muted by his laundry list of injuries.
Peterson was a 2013 second-round pick of the Padres who got a cup of coffee with the Braves in 2018 and the first month of 2019 with the Tigers. He spent 2020 in independent league ball and Mexico before a minor league stint last season with the Brewers, who traded him on April 19 to the Phillies for cash.
“It’s kind of good for me,” he said. “I’m excited a new team is giving me an opportunity to play. That’s all I can ask for.
“I wasn’t playing too much in Nashville. I was in a good spot there with family and a girlfriend, but I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity.”
Peterson is slashing .278/.381/.444/.825 in nine games this year with the IronPigs. He has six RBIs, which equals his total in 19 major league teams.
The 27-year-old Phoenix native is hoping for another shot to get his first MLB home run. For now, though, he shares a clubhouse with many teammates he’s either played with or against somewhere in the last decade.
There is comfort in that.
Peterson has history with Lehigh Valley first-year manager Anthony Contreras. He was in rookie ball in Arizona in 2013 when Contreras was a Triple-A player there rehabbing an injury.
“That’s kind of crazy that he’s my manager now,” Peterson said, “but you know baseball is a small world.”
Peterson is coming off a good week against host Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He had two doubles and a home run among a 7-for-20 showing and takes a six-game hitting streak into Tuesday’s game at Syracuse.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder can play all the outfield positions plus first and third base. He is not picky where he plays. He just wants to play.
Who can blame him, considering his recent journey.
“I was in the big leagues in 2019,” he said. “Couldn’t get job in 2020. That opened my eyes, gave me perspective. I never wanted to give up.
“People like to moan and complain about the minor leagues. Go play in indy ball and see what that’s like. When you hit rock bottom, it will open your eyes and make you realize things.”
Quinn and Peterson have been elsewhere physically and emotionally, which is why they are appreciative of their current situations — even if it appears to be less than ideal.
Roster moves
LHPs Damon Jones and Cristopher Sanchez (5.40 ERA in four games) were sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to get Philadelphia’s roster down to 26 players. The IronPigs will be making some roster adjustments. They currently have 26 pitchers among 41 on the roster, which includes seven on the injured list.
Phillies minor league standouts
— First baseman Darick Hall has been scorching in his last 13 games: .370/.452/.963/1.415 slash line with five doubles, nine home runs, eight walks, 19 runs and 24 RBIs. He is first in the Triple-A in RBIs (29), second in home runs (10) and tied for second in runs scored (21).
— Left-hander Bailey Falter returned to the starting rotation with Lehigh Valley. He retired all seven Scranton/Wilkes-Barre batters, five by strikeout, on 37 pitches. He was 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in four relief appearances this season with the Phillies.
— Catcher Donny Sands was 6 for 18 last week (.333) vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He’s batting .328 in 21 games with a league-leading 21 walks.
— Shortstop Bryson Stott was 7 for 23 (.304) in his first week in the minors after an 0-for-18 stretch with the Phillies. Stott had four extra-base hits with the IronPigs.
— Right-hander Connor Brogdon has pitched five scoreless outings since returning to Triple-A. He has allowed one hit and issued five walks in 4.2 IP. He has eight strikeouts despite no uptick in his velocity.
— Catcher Logan O’Hoppe had six hits in 15 at-bats (.400) with three extra-base hits for Double-A Reading to raise his season average to .274 with 12 RBIs.
— Right-hander Francisco Morales is enjoying the transition from starter to back-end reliever. He is 1-0 in seven outings for Reading with 22 strikeouts, five walks and two hits in 13.1 IP.
— Left-hander Erik Miller has an 0.90 ERA in five games with Reading with four hits allowed, three walks and 15 strikeouts in 10 IP as he builds up after a shoulder injury shortened his 2021 season.
— Outfielder Johan Rohas has a South Atlantic League-leading 14 stolen bases for high-A Jersey Shore, which is second with 51 as a team.
— Right-hander Andrew Painter has not allowed an earned run in four starts for low-A Clearwater. The 2021 first-round pick has 36 strikeouts in 16 innings. He’s yielded five walks and six hits.
— Outfielder Yhoswar Garcia has a Florida State League-leading 14 stolen bases for Clearwater, which leads all FSL clubs with 43 swipes.
Looking ahead
Lehigh Valley (13-11) opens a six-game series Tuesday at Syracuse. LHP Ricardo Sanchez (0-0, 4.38 ERA) faces Mets RHP Thomas Szapucki (0-1, 3.38 ERA) in a 6:35 p.m. start at NBT Bank Stadium. After five 6:35 starts, the series wraps up Sunday at 1:05.
The IronPigs, who have won four games in a row, return home May 10 for six in a row vs. Buffalo.
Reading (8-13) opens a six-game series Tuesday in Portland before returning for FirstEnergy Stadium for six in a row vs. Bowie.
Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com
