Skip to main content

Six R-Phils to Rep Baseballtown in EL All-Star Game

In a statement released in conjunction with the Eastern League, the Double-A Reading Phillies announced that six of the club's players have been named mid-season All-Stars.

Among the Eastern division's representatives will be righty pitchers Justin Friend and Julio Rodriguez, along with shortstop Troy Hanzawa, second baseman Cesar Hernandez, catcher Sebastian Valle and first baseman Darin Ruf.

Reading's skipper Dusty Wathan will join his six players as the Eastern All-Stars' manager.

The Baseballtown All-Star Classic is set to be played at Reading's FirstEnergy Stadium on Wednesday, July 11 at 7:05 PM.

Friend, a reliever that was acquired by the Phillies from the Oakland organization in the 2010 Rule 5 draft, has been tremendous this season. The 26-year-old sports a 2-0 record with a 0.33 ERA and 14 saves as Reading's closer.

Rodriguez, an 8th round draft selection in 2008 by the Phils, has continued to develop this year. Following a season in which he led the Class A Advanced Florida State League in wins (16) and finished second in strike outs (168) and ERA (2.76), the 21-year-old Rodriguez has tallied a 5-1 record and a 3.23 ERA with 85 strike outs in 83 2/3 innings pitched.

Hanzawa, a 16th round draft pick in 2008 out of San Diego St., has seen a surge in his offensive production a year after he posted a lowly .567 OPS in 120 combined games between Clearwater and Reading last year. This season, in 69 games, the 5-foot-9-inch 155-pounder has posted a .279 batting average with 12 doubles, 5 triples and 29 RBI. Additionally, the 26-year-old's OPS sits at .712 for the R-Phils.

Hernandez, a switch-hitting 22-year-old Venezuela native, has a .315 batting average with 19 doubles, 8 triples, 1 homer and 34 RBI through 73 games this season.

Valle, a 21-year-old Mexico native, has a .251 average with 8 home runs and 31 RBI through 58 games this season. Valle was ranked as the Phillies' top positional prospect this year by PhilliesNation.com.

Ruf, a 20th draft pick by the Phillies in 2009 out of Creighton University, has a .319 batting average with 12 homers and 49 RBI and is among the league leaders in OPS with a .939 mark. Ruf is roughly a month shy of his 26th birthday.

Friend and Ruf were selected to the team via Eastern League Fan Balloting.

Tickets for the Baseballtown All-Star Classic and its events can be purchased online at RPhils.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, and in person at the R-Phils' ticket office at FirstEnergy Stadium.
_________________________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

Also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Prospect Nation 2012: #1 RHP Trevor May

With a massively impressive campaign in 2011 for the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers, right-handed starting pitcher Trevor May locked down his spot as Philadelphia's top prospect and is on the fast track toward the big leagues. He is the reigning Paul Owens Award winner, given to the top pitcher and player in the Phillies' developmental system each year. In 27 starts with the Threshers in 2011, May posted a 10-8 record with a 3.63 ERA, while striking out a Florida State League leading 208 batters in 151 1/3 innings. He also held opposing hitters to a .221 average. The Phillies' 4th round draft pick from 2008, May earned the win in the 50th annual Florida State League All-Star Game at Bright House Field last year. He also was twice named FSL Pitcher of the Week and earned Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors for June. After signing with Philadelphia, May helped lead the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies to a championship in 2008. In 5 regular ...

PhoulBallz Interview: First round pick Bryson Stott

Bryson Stott, image- Jay Floyd Shortstop Bryson Stott , the Phillies' first round draft selection this year, has enjoyed a successful initial pro campaign.  En route to being recognized as an All-Star for the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters the 21-year-old UNLV product has tallied a .295 average with six home runs and 25 RBI in 45 minor league contests. Last week I spoke with the lefty hitting Stott to discuss his transition to professional baseball, joining the Phillies organization and plenty more.  Read ahead for that interview.  -Obviously, your performance and the production on the field is going well, but how do you feel you have adapted to the pro life? It feels good.  You hear about the everyday grind, but you don't really believe it till you feel it. I would say that's the difference between college and the pros, is you're not practicing, you're playing games every day.  I would say that's the biggest difference.  But I...

Rappers in Phillies Caps

Weekend greetings to you phine pholks out there. Today's post features pictures of rappers wearing Phillies caps. Why rappers in Phillies caps, you ask? Because... Any other questions? We will start things off properly by going with a highly recognizable hip hop star. 50 Cent stays constantly relavant by consistantly creating radio friendly material to help sell (G) units, while he "keeps it real" by still rapping about the thug life he lived before becoming the 2nd highest earning black entertainer in America. 50 is seen here in a recent interview rocking a throw-back Phillies cap. Next up we'll use a throw-back screen cap from what may be the very first major appearance by a rapper wearing Phillies gear. Chuck D, of legendary rap group Public Enemy, wore a Phillies cap in the music video for rap anthem Fight The Power in 1989. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack for Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing . Next up we'll go with some home grown tal...