Pair of IronPigs honored as AAA All-Stars, GCL No-no and more notes

Deivi Grullon, image- Jay Floyd

It was announced on Thursday that catcher Deivy Grullon and LHP Austin Davis will represent the Lehigh Valley IronPigs as International League All-Stars next month.

Grullon, one of four catchers on the IL team, has had a strong season for the 'Pigs. The 23-year-old righty batter sports a .307 average with 14 doubles, 10 home runs and 44 RBI in 64 games. Grullon was signed by the Phillies as an international free agent in 2012.

Davis, who has spent time with the big league Phillies this season and last season, sports a 2-0 record with two saves, a 2.64 ERA, an 11.2 K/9 mark in 20 relief appearances for the IronPigs. Davis was a 12th round draft selection in 2014. In 38 career big league appearances to date, the 26-year-old has notched a 1-2 record with a 4.33 ERA.

The annual Triple-A All-Star Game is set to take place on July 10th in El Paso, TX, home of the Chihuahuas, the Padres' affiliate.

The winning team earns the right for its league's representative to play as the home team in September's Triple-A National Championship Game.

In somewhat of a silly situation, the Gulf Coast League Phillies had a tremendous day and were on the receiving end of that same stifling effort. With two teams competing in the Rookie level GCL, there are times when those two clubs face one another. Imagine what it might be like to completely shut down your fellow organization mates. Well, that happened on Wednesday, as the GCL Phillies West team sent four pitchers to the mound to combine for a no-hitter against the GCL Phillies East team.

Right-hander Brandon Ramey, 18, tossed four innings. He was relieved by Taiwanese righty Hsin-Chieh Lin, a 20-year-old that tossed 3 2/3 innings. Philadelphia native Brian Marconi, 22, recorded one out to wrap up the 8th innings and 21-year-old righty Tyler Burch closed things out for the final frame.

Left fielder Keaton Greenwalt, the Phillies' 20th round pick in this year's draft, paced the offense in that one, recording two hits, including a homer, two RBI and a walk to help the West team lock down a 5-0 victory.

Last year's Phillies first round pick Alec Bohm is set to make his Double-A home debut on Thursday, as he was promoted during Reading's recent road trip last week. The 22-year-old righty hitter is 3-for-20 (.150 avg) in five games since joining the Fightins.

Bohm, a third baseman, opened the 2019 campaign with Class A Lakewood, was promoted to Class A Advanced Clearwater and has torched the competition, posting a noteworthy .342 batting average through those first two levels.

Outfielder Adam Haseley will see his rehab stint with Reading continue on Thursday. The Phils' first round pick from 2017 went 2-for-8 with a triple and a home run in two games with the Fightins this week. Haseley, 23, had been promoted to the big leagues for the first time this month and played in two games before he succumbed to a groin injury.

PhoulBallz Q&A with Mike Stutes

Mike Stutes completes "The Reading Phils Mike Tri-fecta" over three days, here on PhoulBallz.com. Stutes, a 22 year old, was an 11th round selection by the Phillies in the 2008 amateur draft. Stutes, a right handed starting pitcher, helped lead Oregon State to the College World Series championship in both 2006 and 2007. Stutes and teammate Vance Worley are the first players to begin a season at Reading the year after being drafted since Pat Burrell did it in 1999. Stutes was the Phils' minor league pitcher of the month in August '08, when he went 4-1 with a 1.72 ERA in 6 starts. Check out my Q&A with the third Mike below. Can I get you to talk about the coaching staff and how they help you deal with ups and downs? They've been real positive with me. I started out good and then I hit a rough patch. They've stuck with me through it all. I haven't heard any negative words from them. Every day they try to come out, work with me, try to get me turned around...

Jason Knapp Q&A

PhoulBallz .com was fortunate enough to meet with Phillies prospect Jason Knapp just one day after he caught the attention of the baseball world with his 7 shut out innings, 14 strike out performance against the Indians' Lake County team. - I asked Jason, the Lakewood BlueClaw , for some thoughts about his big game... I had pretty good command of three pitches (fastball, curve, change up). I was on the same page with my catcher, D'Arnaud , and I ended up, ya know, I felt pretty good. - In a great performance like that, how much credit goes to Travis D'Arnaud , the catcher? More than you might expect, definitely. I didn't shake him off once. He told me what to throw and I do what I'm told. And if it works out, a lot of the credit goes to the catcher. - Does the lack of run support (Lakewood has scored 3 total runs in his 3 starts), in your few starts, increase your stress level, or enhance your focus? No, I just try to go out and do my job every outing. Ya know, we...

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

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