Four Trends from Reading's Series against Hartford

(Reading, PA) — The Reading Fightin Phils ended the first half of its season against the Hartford Yard Goats. Reading won two-of-six games.

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

Hendry’s highlights

Phillies’ No. 25 prospect Hendry Mendez put on a show for the Fightin Phils this week, capped with a historic cycle in Friday’s contest. The feat was the first known cycle in the franchise’s history and featured 10 total bases. Overall on the week, Mendez had seven hits in 17 at-bats (.412) and a whopping 1.209 OPS.

Out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the 21-year-old left-hander has worked through Philadelphia’s farm system over the last two seasons after being acquired from Milwaukee in the 2023 Oliver Dunn trade. 2025 is his first season in Reading, and he’s consistently penciled into the heart of the order each game. On a 3-1 pitch Friday, he slapped a ball into the right-field gap, scoring two and stopping at second base as he celebrated before even reaching his destination.

The next night, Mendez started the game with a single in his first at-bat, but was banged up on a collision at home plate later in the inning. He scored on the wild pitch and then exited the game and had the day off for the series finale on Sunday.

The outfielder’s sensational season for the Fightin Phils thus far has featured more ups than downs. His series against Hartford was the peak of Mendez’s success, bringing his season totals to a .298 batting average and .833 OPS entering this week's series at Richmond.

Bullpen stars: Harper, Bechtold

The Fightin Phils received a flurry of strong contributions from their bullpen this week, most notably from Daniel Harper and Andrew Bechtold. Harper secured 2.2 innings of scoreless pitching while Bechtold was just as impressive with 3.1.

Harper began the season in Reading but was injured, causing him to miss multiple weeks before taking a rehab assignment with Clearwater and eventually returning to the Fightin Phils for their series against the Yard Goats. On June 18 in his first game back with Reading, Harper struck out two in a flawless eighth inning. Three days later, in the Fightin Phils’ 12-2 crushing of Hartford, he pitched a scoreless seventh inning and struck out two again.

Bechtold had similar success. As one of the staples of Reading’s bullpen all season, the 29-year-old was called upon for two innings on June 17 in the series opener. He allowed a single and a walk, but scattered those between soft contact and two strikeouts to help preserve the Fightin Phils’ lead. On June 20, he worked through the Yard Goats lineup after entering in a jam.

Harper has a 1.04 ERA in 8.2 innings this season, solidifying himself despite missing some time. Bechtold has a 4.50 ERA in 22.0 innings but has allowed just four earned runs in seven appearances in June. The two continue to fortify Reading’s bullpen in crunch time.

Double season

As part of the Fightin Phils’ offensive explosions this week, they led the Eastern League in doubles with 21. The mark was led by eight doubles on June 21, the most in a game for Reading since June 29, 2018. It also marked just the fourth time since 2005 the Fightin Phils recorded at least eight doubles in a game.

Second baseman Robert Moore tallied four doubles on the week, including two on June 21. Alex Binelas, Leandro Pineda and Luis Verdugo each had three each while Seth Beer and Cade Fergus both recorded two on the week. The surplus in doubles came largely with the use of FirstEnergy Stadium’s large scaling wall from dead-center field to right-center. Reading’s batters often hit the ball high off the wall to cruise into second base.

In total, 10 players on the Fightin Phils recorded at least one double this week, with regulars at the top of the lineup like Aidan Miller and Carson DeMartini not a part of the group. Miller hit a triple in his only game on June 21, and DeMartini added three singles and five walks on the week.

Reading finished the first half of the season ranked third in the Eastern League in doubles at 120, an average of 1.79 per game. Only Erie and Binghamton, the two top teams in the league, recorded more, showing some potential for more success in Baseballtown in the second half.

Cabrera’s progression continues

23-year-old Jean Cabrera is currently the fourth-ranked pitching prospect in the Phillies’ organization, according to MLB Pipeline. After being signed out of Maracay, Venezuela, at 17, he’s now in Reading, moving closer to the Major Leagues. This week against Hartford was another step in the right direction, where he struck out eight in 5.0 innings against the Yard Goats.

Cabrera’s advanced slider and changeup keep hitters off balance. His opponents are batting just .206 against him in 67.2 innings this season, and his 67 strikeouts lead the Fightin Phils’ pitching staff. His progression has continued in his first full season in Double-A after splitting time between Reading and Jersey Shore in 2024.

Hartford struggled to see Cabrera much in his start on June 18. Cabrera ended with the loss due to Reading being shutout, but it was one poor inning that failed him. He worked two scoreless innings before allowing a three spot in the third. He then produced two more scoreless frames before handing the game over to the bullpen.

Cabrera sits at a 1-4 record with a 3.99 ERA at the end of the first half, but his strikeout numbers show intriguing progress. He’s a pitcher to watch throughout the Phillies’ farm system in the second half of 2025.

The Fightin Phils return home from Tuesday, July 1, through Thursday, July 3, against the Somerset Patriots, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. On Tuesday, the first 1,500 adults (21 & older) receive a Yuengling R-Phils T-Shirt. Wednesday is a Tribute to Disney Princesses where fans can come to the game dressed as their favorite Disney princess. The homestand ends Thursday with a Stars and Stripes Celebration and a Carpenter MEGA Blast, the largest fireworks show in stadium history, presented by The Pennsylvania Lottery. 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.