Reading’s 9 All-Stars Propel East to EL Win
Posted by Ian Riccaboni, Wed, July 11, 2012 10:38 PM | Comments: 4
Fightins, Minor Leagues, Posts
Sebastian Valle went 0-1 as the starting catcher for the EL East. He was one of 4 R-Phils to be named starters. Photo by: Ian Riccaboni
Cesar Hernandez completes a put out to teammate Darin Ruf in the first inning. Photo by: Ian Riccaboni
It was all smiles in Baseballtown as Reading Phillies shortstop Troy Hanzawa scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th to give the Eastern Division a 5-4 win in the 2012 Eastern League All-Star game. 4 R-Phils started the game and Hanzawa was one of 9 R-Phils representing the home club.
The four R-Phils starters went a combined 3-8 with a walk and two runs scored. Slugging R-Phils first baseman Darin Ruff (25, .315/.412/.540, 15 HR, 52 Runs, 55 RBI) was the R-Phils offensive stand-out going 1-1 with a double, walk, and a run scored. Under-the-radar left fielder Leandro Castro (23, .313/.340/.469, 6 HR, 9 SB) played the entire game in left, going 1-4, while fellow starters second baseman Cesar Hernandez (22, .305/.343/.438, 14
SB) and Sebastian Valle (21, .246/.267/.402, 9 HR) went 1-2, 1 Run and 0-1 respectively. R-Phils reliever Jordan Whatcott pitched a scoreless .2 IP in relief.
Three other R-Phils pitchers were were named to the team but did not appear. They included Lisalverto Bonilla (named to the Futures team), Julio Rodriguez (named to Futures team), and Justin Friend (promoted to Triple-A).
Posts: 0 David
The Phillies have been too slow to bring up players. Maybe they can convert Ruff to a first-baseman-leftfielder as they did with Luzinski and Burrell. Although I haven’t seen him play, it’s probable he could match the defensive “capabilities” of those players and provide a good bat.
Posted: 05:46 AM on July 12, 2012
Posts: 0 George
I’m not sure I agree that the Phils are too slow to bring up players. Some players just develop slowly. A guy like Ruff, who is 25, is still only in AA. He’d most likely be higher up the ladder had he been this good early. He may have only recently acquired what he needed to advance.
Players are all different. Just because a Bryce Harper can coast through to the majors doesn’t mean that everybody can. Some prospects lack confidence, some lack one particular skill, some adjust more slowly than others, some just catch on suddenly.
Posted: 09:03 AM on July 12, 2012
Posts: 316 Ian Riccaboni
@David – Ruf made an athletic stop last night in the first inning and runs the bases OK. I haven’t seen him take fly balls but his bat and more so his eye are pretty good. Jay Floyd can speak about him better but in the few times I’ve seen Ruf, he’s a big patient hitter who will hit the gaps.
Posted: 07:53 AM on July 12, 2012
Posts: 0 Shloimy
i dont think the phillies are slow bringing up guys. Ruf has excelled in every level i think the Phillies think he is gonna need to take a lot of time.
Posted: 12:01 PM on July 12, 2012