Five Threshers named to FSL All-Star Rosters

Vierling w/ Lakewood in 2018, image- Jay Floyd

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Selections for the annual Class A Advanced Florida State League were announced on Friday.  Relief pitcher Jonathan Hennigan, lefty starter Damon Jones, outfielders Simon Muzziotti and Matt Vierling along with infielder Nick Maton will represent the Clearwater Threshers in the event.

Hennigan, who was promoted to Double-A Reading this week after shining against FSL competition with a 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA and seven saves while striking out 27 in 20 innings of work for the Threshers.  The 24-year-old was a 21st round pick of the Phils back in 2016.

Jones has a 1-3 record with a 1.80 ERA, a .179 batting average against and a 13.3 K/9 mark though eight starts this season.  His 59 strike outs are tops in the league. The 24-year-old was the Phillies' 18th round draft selection in 2017.

Muzziotti, a 20-year-old lefty hitting native of Venezuela, is batting .306 with a pair of home runs and 15 RBI through 37 games this season.

Maton, a third baseman and shortstop, sports a .298 average with three homers and 24 RBI in 38 games this season.  The 22-year-old lefty batter was the Phillies' 7th round pick in 2017.

The righty batting Vierling has notched a .291 batting average with four homers, 21 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 44 games.

Vierling, the Phillies' 5th round pick last year out of Notre Dame, has played all three outfield spots for the Threshers this year.  He offered some thoughts on his first professional All-Star nod.

"I'm grateful to be put on the All-Star roster.  It'll be a great experience and I'm excited for it.  I'm also glad to be there and experience it with my teammates that'll be going as well," said Vierling.

The 22-year-old feels he's matured as a player since moving up to High A and feels the challenges of the opposition is where he has picked up the most. 

"I've enjoyed my experience here in the FSL," Vierling stated. "There have been plenty of ups and downs so far, but for me as a player learning from the struggles has been key for me, along with learning how to handle the positives. For hitting, being able to handle off speed pitches in any count, especially hitters counts, has been a huge thing that I can keep developing. And that's just one adjustment that I've noticed I've had to make down here that pitchers at this level have been doing."

The FSL All-Star Game will take place in Jupiter, home of the Marlins affiliate Hammerheads and the Palm Beach Cardinals, on June 15th.