On Tuesday, the Reading Fightin Phils opened their 60th season in Reading, PA. The longest-affiliated team in Minor League Baseball has been paired with the Philadelphia Phillies since 1967.
Back then, the Reading Phillies had notable players such as Larry Bowa, Dallas Green, and (on a comeback quest) Robin Roberts. The 2026 squad includes top prospects like Aroon Escobar, Dante Nori and Carson DeMartini.
The Fights started their season out in Akron, OH, where they failed to win a single game in three tries. The franchise is looking for its first winning season since 2019, when they went 80-59.
To potentially earn their first win, the Fightins would have to face off against one of their recent stars, Eiberson Castellano. Castellano was named the Phillies' minor league pitcher of the year in 2024. In eight starts in Baseballtown, Castellano allowed a 3.79 ERA with 50 strikeouts over 40.1 IP. In the offseason, he signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies.
The Hartford Yard Goats took the first and only lead of the game in the third inning. Back-to-back singles led to a huge Austin Murr running grab, turning a two-RBI double into a sac fly. On a stolen base, Kehden Hettiger committed a throwing error that led Escobar into the base runner, the ball leaking away in the process. That gave the Yard Goats a two-run lead.
Castellano was excellent in his return to Reading as a member of the Hartford Yard Goats. In his first four innings, he scattered three singles while striking out four. He ran into some trouble in the fifth inning. Reading's first baseman, Alex Binelas, blasted a pitch into the deck of the Redner's Event Center in centerfield. Bryson Ware and Dante Nori followed up with singles, but a DeMartini-led double play ended the comeback.
The double play was the story of the night. Castellano induced three double plays through the first six innings. Hartford's pitchers stymied Reading's offense.
Reading's pitchers were solid in defeat. Starter Braydon Tucker gave up two runs (one earned) over four innings pitched. Levi Stout, Colin Peluse and Alex McFarlane gave up one hit each in their appearances, with Stout throwing two innings. Saul Teran also allowed one hit, but it was a home run to Bryant Betancourt.
The 3-0 loss pushed Reading's season-opening losing streak to four games.
