Reading teammates Susdorf, Mitchell commanding attention

English composition instructors advise, "Begin your essay with a strong opening statement."

So here goes: Reading's Steve Susdorf is profoundly underrated.

Take a look at that .336 batting average this season through Sunday's action. Better yet, ponder the .303 career average he's compiled since the Phillies drafted him in the 19th round out of Fresno State in 2008.

"He's been on fire," said Phils assistant general manager Chuck LaMar, who oversees the minor leagues. "Historically, he's a .300 hitter, but his last month at Reading has been as good a month as he's had since we signed him. I think he's going to get the opportunity, if he continues to perform, to move up to Triple A."

LaMar likened Susdorf, 25, to a "Greg Dobbs-type hitter" who shows signs of power, but primarily hits line drives, makes contact and uses all parts of the field. Dobbs, of course, has put together a pretty good major league career as a valuable bat off the bench.

"Some people get moved up because of their potential, others get moved up because they just get the job done at every level, and Stephen fits the latter," LaMar said. "We're going to keep moving him up and we'll see what happens."

Reading teammate Derrick Mitchell also warrants a mention. Mitchell (.277, 15 homers, 57 RBI, 11 stolen bases) is a 6-3, 210-pound outfielder who has been around a while - he was drafted in the 23rd round out of Paw Paw High School in Michigan in 2005. He's a bit of late bloomer, but has put up good numbers the last two seasons, hitting for contact, power and showing plenty of speed. Of his 90 hits this season through Sunday, 31 have been for extra bases.

"Like Susdorf, Mitchell's had a good year," LaMar said.

Here are a few others worthy of a longer look:

-- Michael Schwimer, RHP, Lehigh Valley (5-0, 1.71, eight saves). Talk about unheralded, this guy has been dominant in Triple A all season. He's a 6-8, 240-pounder nabbed in the 14th round out of the University of Virginia in 2008. At 25, Schwimer seems to have earned a shot to pitch in the majors.

"It's been a good developmental year so far for Michael at Lehigh Valley," LaMar said. "He's been very consistent. Sometimes he's pitched the seventh inning, sometimes the eighth inning, sometimes the ninth, sometimes multiple innings. He was on the radar screen before spring training and he hasn't done anything to show us that he's not progressing. Hopefully he'll get an opportunity now or in the future to pitch in the major leagues."

-- Darrin Ruf, 1B, Clearwater (.309, seven home runs, 52 RBI): First, a little bio. He's a thick 6-3, 220, and the Phillies got him in the 20th round out of Creighton in 2009. He turns 25 this month and should be playing at least a classification higher than advanced Class A, but he's caught up in the Phillies' glut of first basemen.

"There's no question in our mind that he's capable of moving up this year or next to the Double A level," LaMar said. "He's done everything we've asked of him in the Florida State League, but again, it's a matter of timing. He's going to get that opportunity, either this year or next; he's going to get a chance to swing the bat at Double A and we'll see how he does."

-- Lisalberto Bonilla, RHP, Lakewood (2-2, 1.96, 66 Ks, 15 walks in 64 1/3 innings). Bonilla started the season at extended spring training and arrived in Lakewood in early May. He worked out of the bullpen well enough to be named a South Atlantic League All-Star. He went to the starting rotation on June 11 and has been equally effective in that role. The lanky 6-1, 164-pounder just turned 21.

"We thought of him a starter all along, but sometimes you have to build guys up," LaMar said. "We got him stretched out as a starter at extended spring, then he came to Lakewood and we didn't have an opening for him as a starter. So we put him in the bullpen and he threw well under the lights for the first time at Lakewood. When he got that opening as a starter, he seized the opportunity. He's been outstanding."

-- Eric Pettis, RHP, Clearwater (1-2, 3.21, three saves). Roughed up a couple times recently, but overall very solid after a May call-up from Lakewood. He's 23 and the Phillies got the 6-2, 200-pounder in the 35th round last year out of Cal-Irvine. A funky sidearm delivery adds deception to a 90 mph heater, LaMar noted, and he has outstanding command. He works out of the bullpen, but the Phils think he could be an effective starter, too.

"He's a guy to keep an eye on," LaMar said.

ON THE FARM

Lehigh Valley (AAA - 56-39)

IronPigsBaseball.com/610-841-7447

Tonight: at Pawtucket, 7:05

Tomorrow: at Pawtucket, 12:05

Thursday: at Pawtucket, 7:05

Friday: vs. Columbus, 7:05

Saturday: vs. Columbus, 6:35

Sunday: vs. Columbus, 5:35

Monday: vs. Columbus, 7:05

Reading (AA - 49-45)

ReadingPhillies.com/610-375-8469

Tonight: at New Hampshire, 7:05

Tomorrow: at New Hampshire, 7:05

Thursday: vs. Binghamton, 7:05

Friday: vs. Binghamton, 7:05

Saturday: vs. Binghamton, 6:35

Sunday: vs. Binghamton, 6:05

Monday: vs. Altoona, 7:05

Clearwater (A - 10-13)

ThreshersBaseball.com/727-467-4457

Tonight: at St. Lucie, 6:30

Tomorrow: at St. Lucie, 6:30

Thursday: vs. Ft. Myers, 7

Friday: vs. Ft. Myers, 6:30

Saturday: vs. Ft. Myers, 6:30

Sunday: vs. Ft. Myers, 1

Monday: vs. Bradenton, 7

Lakewood (A - 13-11)

BlueClaws.com/732-901-7000

Today: Off

Tomorrow: vs. Greenville, 11 a.m.

Thursday: vs. Greenville, 7:05

Friday: vs. Greenville, 7:05

Saturday: vs. Augusta, 7:05

Sunday: vs. Augusta, 5:05

Monday: vs. Augusta, 7:05

Williamsport (A - 16-14)

CrossCutters.com/570-326-3389

Tonight: vs. Auburn, 7:05

Tomorrow: vs. Auburn, 7:05

Thursday: at Auburn, 7:05

Friday: at Auburn, 7:05

Saturday: at Connecticut, 7:05

Sunday: at Connecticut, 1:05

Monday: at Connecticut, 12:05