Four Trends from Reading's Series Against Somerset

(Reading, PA) — The Reading Fightin Phils began the month of July with a six-game set against the Somerset Patriots, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. Reading won one-of-six games over the Patriots, dropping the final three games by a combined four runs.

Here are four intriguing trends that stick out from the Fightin Phils series against Somerset:

Miller time

As the Phillies’ No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 22-ranked player, the expectations for Aidan Miller to perform every week are through the roof. Miller has seen ups and downs in just his second full professional season. But against the Patriots, he displayed a consistent approach that paid dividends.

Miller batted .286 with six hits and a team-high. 947 OPS against the Patriots. He swiped four bases, tallied a triple and a home run and walked five times. His 11 total bases also led the Fightin Phils.

After batting just .196 in June and missing multiple games, the series against Somerset allowed for a fresh start in the month of July. Miller started on the wrong foot on July 2, striking out three times in the series opener. He then recorded two runs and a single in the twin bill of the doubleheader and tallied another single and two walks on July 3. He provided some additional fireworks on America’s birthday with a solo blast, and added his single and triple the following night.

With a spectacular start to July, Miller’s batting average climbed to .238 and his OPS to .734. Where he’s grown more dynamic this season is on the basepaths. He added four more stolen bases this week to improve to 31 on the year. The mark makes him the first Fightin Phils’ player to swipe 31 or more bases since Roman Quinn in 2016, adding on to Miller’s impressive start to his professional career.

Starter’s star

Jean Cabrera is one of Philadelphia’s top pitching prospects. Estibenzon Jimenez didn’t appear in Double-A until two weeks ago. And Chuck King thought his baseball career was over after college. Yet all three performed masterfully against Somerset to lead Reading’s starting group.

On July 3, King posted one of his best outings of his professional career. He allowed one run on five hits in 5.1 innings of work, striking out four batters. His totals allowed Reading to build a 2-1 lead and capture its only win of the week. Jimenez took the mound the next night for his third start in Reading and executed to his best ability yet. He struck out seven and allowed only three hits and one run in 6.0 innings. Jimenez didn’t earn a win like King, due to Somerset walking the game off.

The same then happened to Cabrera. The Phillies’ No. 11 prospect struck out six batters in 6.0 innings and only allowed one run on four hits. Despite holding a 3-1 lead entering the ninth inning, the Fightin Phils couldn’t hold on for Cabrera as the Patriots walked it off.

All three starters combined to allow only three runs in 17.1 innings of work. They also combined for 17 strikeouts. Cabrera’s stellar start adds to his 3.61 ERA in a team-high 84.2 innings. Jimenez has a 4.86 ERA in 16.2 innings. King has posted a 4.64 in 73.2 innings.

Walking the walk

Reading’s offense found its way onto the bases against the Patriots with extended patience and ability to walk. The Fightin Phils walked 26 times in six games, 4.33 per game, to rank second in the Eastern League only behind the Erie SeaWolves, the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.

The squad’s .215 average and 57 strikeouts deterred many chances, but the walk totals allowed Reading to play in multiple close games. Miller led the team in walks this week at five, adding on to his team lead of 40. Third baseman Carson DeMartini walked three times as did Hendry Mendez. Paul McIntosh also walked three times, despite appearing in only three games. Eleven out of the 13 batters for the Fightin Phils this week recorded at least one walk.

The games with the most walks came on July 2 and July 5. In the doubleheader, Reading walked a combined 11 times, even tallying seven walks in the seven-inning contest at night. While mixing in three and four walks on the following two nights, the Fightin Phils recorded eight in their 4-3 loss Saturday. Seven of the nine batters in the starting lineup reached base at least once on a walk.

Reading ranks third in the Eastern League in walks at 301 on the season. The mark is only behind Erie and the Akron RubberDucks, the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians.

Dallas deals

Jack Dallas has acted as one of the more consistent pitchers for the Fightin Phils in 2025, posting 34.2 innings and a 9.35 SO/9 mark. The success continued against Somerset with nine strikeouts in 4.1 innings.

Dallas’s totals reeled in an absurd 18.69 SO/9. He appeared in two games and started one in an opening role. The first appearance, this one out of the bullpen, came in the opening day of the series on July 2. He allowed a run and walked two, but struck out four in 2.1 innings. The next was as a starter in the series finale. He put the Fightin Phils in a position to salvage the final game of the series, striking out five and allowing just one hit and one run in 2.0 innings. Reading then lost by two.

At 26 years old, Dallas looks to break through for an eventual shot at the Major Leagues. He pitched at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, his hometown, and signed a Minor League deal with Philadelphia in August 2022. His performances against the Patriots were another step in the right direction.

The Fightin Phils return to the field on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. against the Chesapeake Baysox and starting pitchers have yet to be announced. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

The Fightin Phils return home from Friday, July 18, through Sunday July 27. July 18-20 will feature a matchup against the Portland Sea Dogs, Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Friday night will showcase fireworks, thanks to PA Virtual Charter School, Alvernia University, Members 1st Federal Credit Union and Berks Technical Institute. It will also feature an appearance by Swoggle, with VIP tickets available. Saturday is a Carpenter MEGA Blast Fireworks Show, presented by Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center, honoring Emergency Responders; and its also a tribute to Margaritaville, with the R-Phils wearing special Margaritaville Jerseys. The series ends Sunday when the first 2,000 kids get an Alec Bohm R-Phils Jersey T-Shirt, thanks to Rotary House Print Works. Tickets are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2025 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.