Baseball: Villanova's Jordan Ellis Trying to Make A Name On Phillies' Farm Team
READING, Pa. (CBS) - Righthander Jordan Ellis was a standout pitcher at Radnor High School, and later on at Villanova University. He turned enough heads that the Phillies selected him in the 28th round of the June 2008 MLB Draft.
Since then, Ellis has steadily moved up the ladder in the Phils' minor league system, and is now calling the bullpen in Double-A Reading home.
"I've been throwing pretty well," he tells KYW's Matt Leon. "I've been in command of my fastball, throwing all my pitches for strikes, limited my walks. My confidence has been up. Numbers may not be showing how I've been doing, but again there is more to it than just numbers."
You can hear Matt Leon's full interview with Jordan Ellis in this CBS Philly SportsPod…
Podcast
His numbers at Reading are a bit skewed thanks to a couple of rough outings against New Hampshire this past series. Overall in 2011, Ellis has pitched in 14 games for Reading and Single-A Clearwater, going 2-1 with a 4.26 ERA. In 19 innings he has walked just seven while striking out 26.
What has been his biggest lesson since becoming a pro?
"Learning pitch sequences, how to pitch to hitters -- not just falling into a routine," he says. "Probably my confidence, too. Try not to think too much and overthink and overanalyze, just go out there and stay confident and just pitch."
Ellis, 26, put together a wonderful career at Villanova as a starting pitcher, but he has been a reliever in the Phils' system since day one. And he says that's just fine with him:
"I like being in the pen. Just the mentality, that's the type of mentality I have, and I've enjoyed it. And that's where I feel comfortable."
Ellis and the Reading Phillies open a three-game series at Portland, Me. tomorrow night.
Reported by Matt Leon, KYW Newsradio 1060
