Every Monday at Hot Stove Philly, we’re going to go around the minors and highlight some future Phillies and their progress as they look they look to make an impact one day in Philadelphia.

Antonio Bastardo continues to own the Florida State League. Bastardo shut down the Tampa yesterday as the Threshers beat the Yankees 5-0. Bastardo went eight innings allowed two hits and one walk, while striking out thirteen. In five starts this season, Bastardo is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA, and a minor league leading 47 strikeouts (in 30.2 innings). A couple more starts like he had yesterday and Bastardo will be making a trip up north to Reading.

Greg Golson is already in Reading, and is have a strong first month in the Eastern League. The Phillies have been real patient with their first pick in the 2004 draft, moving him through the minors slowly, and it appears it’s beginning to pay dividends. Golson is hitting .312 with 15 RBI’s and 8 stolen bases through 28 games. The biggest concern with Golson is how he would be able to handling hitting as he got closer to the majors, but so far he’s doing fine. The biggest concern? Strikeouts. He currently averages a strikeout every 3.45 plate appearances. His 29 K’s lead the Eastern League.

Fabio Castro has started the Eastern League season strong posting a 3-0 record. He leads the Phillies starters in wins (3), ERA (2.24), and WHIP (1.08). Castro has seen limited action for the Phillies the past two seasons, but he’s only twenty-two, so spending some more time at Double-A isn’t unheard of. Expect Castro to see some time in Philadelphia as the season progresses.

While some prospects are flourishing, others seem to be floundering. One player that sticks out in my mind is pitcher Travis Blackley. When the Phillies selected Blackley in the Rule 5 draft, I saw him as a player who might be a dark horse for the fifth starter competition. Phillies management thought the same thing, and gave Blackley a start to see what he can do. Unfortunately he showed he had good breaking pitches, but no control. At the end of spring training he was offered back to the Giants, who did not take him, meaning he was sent to Lehigh-Valley.

Blackley has struggled at Triple-A. In five starts, Blackley is 0-3 with a 6.64 ERA. He’s still struggling with command, as he’s walked 14 in 20 innings. He had a strong outing yesterday, where he went five innings, only allowing one hit and one run. Unfortunately he left after the fifth inning with an apparent groin injury. Well keep track of Blackley’s progress as the season continues.