The Toronto Observer

SARASOTA, FL – Ryan Flaherty knew he made it after hitting his first home run on April 14, 2012. Flaherty, who is entering his second year with the Baltimore Orioles after making the opening day roster last season, remember that feeling well and is using it to inspire more of the same in 2013. “That [...]

CLEARWATER, FL — Colby Shreve is a winner on and off the field. The native of Henderson, Nevada was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth round in June of 2008, despite having Tommy John surgery a month earlier. It’s taken almost three years, but the big right-hander now feels himself again. “Last year [...]

Tampa, FL — There are a plethora of pitchers vying for the Orioles’ open fifth-starter spot, but right-hander Steve Johnson isn’t fazed by the competition. The Baltimore native is looking to build upon an impressive 2012 rookie campaign where he split time as both a starter and reliever, helping Baltimore reach the post-season for the first time [...]

CLEARWATER, FL. — William Carmona knows what it’s like to fight. The native of the Dominican Republic, and now a Philadelphia Phillies’ prospect, came to the United States when he was only a year old and has already beaten the odds in a place many are unaware has its challenges. “When people think of Long [...]

For Jorge Flores, work ethic isn’t as much a trait for baseball as it’s a way of life.

CLEARWATER, FL- Despite having numerous reasons to walk away from the game, Mike Nesseth refuses to quit. The Philadelphia Phillies right-hander has been drafted twice, undergone Tommy John surgery, and was forced to drastically alter his mechanics, all before the age of 25. “You can only control what you can and you just need to [...]

CLEARWATER, FL—Johnathan Knight is still living the dream, nearly two years later. Back in June, 2011, the Sebring High School star turned 18, graduated, and was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies. An eventful week and one he still reflects on as he tries to keep the dream alive in his second year with the organization. [...]

CLEARWATER, FL — The rest of Major League Baseball teams may have been overly judgmental, but the Philadelphia Phillies refused to follow suit. In the 2012 MLB draft, Philadelphia selected right-fielder Dylan Cozens with the 77th overall pick (third round), surprising many. The 18-year-old standout has a somewhat checkered past — depending on who you [...]

CLEARWATER, FL — Life for Shane Watson moves a little quicker as he sets the alarm clock a little earlier. But those are the incidentals that come with living a childhood dream. The 19-year-old pitching prospect of the Philadelphia Phillies has arrived in Clearwater, FL., and the Bellflower, Calif., native is just getting settled into [...]