Philadelphia Phillies: Pitching Prospect Tyler Cloyd Having Season for the Ages

The Philadelphia Phillies haven’t had too much to be happy about this season, but down in the minor leagues, Triple-A starting pitching prospect Tyler Cloyd is having one of the best minor league seasons in Phillies’ history. Adding another win to his season on Thursday night, Cloyd threw seven innings of three-hit ball, allowing just one run. His ERA dwindled to 1.91, and his record between Double-A and Triple-A is now an unbelievable 14-1, with 11 of those wins coming for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. 

Tyler Cloyd from Bellevue, Neb., was selected in the 18th round of the 2008 first-year player draft. Going into this season, Cloyd did not break the top twenty in any of the Phillies’ best prospects lists. Now, Cloyd is having the best season out of any other pitcher in all the minor leagues. 

So far in 2012, Tyler was an Eastern League (Double-A) and International League (Triple-A) player of the week, and he has also pitched in the International League All-Star Game. Cloyd currently leads the International League in ERA, wins and shutouts, and he is second in WHIP.

Tyler has made everyone in the Phillies’ organization turn their heads, and they’re not looking away. With Joe Blanton entering free agency, Cloyd has pitched himself into being one of the leading candidates to assume Blanton’s role in the 2013 Phillies’ starting rotation. If Cloyd can keep up this kind of production, we will see him in Philadelphia before the season ends. 

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