For the second week in a row Antonio Bastardo tops the On the Farm segment. Aside from being Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April, the twenty-two year old lefthander was promoted to Reading. He continued to show dominance in his Double-A debut. On Saturday, Bastardo went 5 2/3 innings, allowing 5 hits and 1 run as the Phillies beat the Harrisburg Senators. Bastardo did struggle a little with control, walking three batters, but he’s obviously ready to handle Double-A hitting. If Bastardo keeps his dominance up (13-0, 2.29 in his minor league career), he’ll continue on the fast track to Philadelphia.

The Phillies Minor League hitter of the Month was Lakewood’s Michael Taylor. Taylor, the Phillies fifth round pick of the 2007 draft, hit .357 in April, leading all Phillies minor leaguers. May hasn’t been as kind to Taylor. He’s 1 for 11 with a double and 2 RBI’s.

Adrian Cardenas is off to a strong start at Clearwater. The second baseman is batting .347 in 13 games with the Threshers. Cardenas is a player who will probably have a position in the near future. With Chase Utley locked up at second base for many years to come, there might not be a position for the hard-hitting second baseman.

Lakewood pitcher Drew Naylor has come on strong as of late. Naylor (2-2, 2.25), was an undrafted free agent from Australia in 2004, but didn’t make his stateside debut until 2005. In his last outing, Sunday against Lexington, Naylor struck out 11 in eight innings. Naylor’s 50 strikeouts leads the Sally League. Like Bastardo, Naylor might be getting a call up of his own, to High-A Clearwater.

It’s no secret the Phillies are looking for another lefty in the bullpen to support JC Romero. In a telling move, Josh Outman and Fabio Castro have both been moved to Reading’s bullpen. Moving Castro isn’t too surprising, as he’s been a reliever in the past, but Outman, a top prospect always projected as a starter. Outman’s debut in the ‘pen wasn’t a very impressive one. He allowed four hits and two runs in three and a third innings.

Well-traveled veteran Steve Kline is another left-handed option in the bullpen, but he can’t get out Triple-A players. In nine appearances Kline has an ERA of 8.00. In all fairness, this stat is slanted after Sunday’s outing where he allowed five runs without recording an out. The chances of Kline seeing time in Philadelphia appear slim.

Matt Childers has looked strong in the bullpen for Lehigh-Valley this spring. Childers, who has 338 minor league appearances, is posting a stingy 0.73 in eleven outings (12.1 IP). Childers by no means is a prospect, but could be a bullpen arm who contributes as the summer progresses.