Minor Moves: Canelo & Hoskins promoted, Kingery & Martin to debut
Malquin Canelo, image- Jay Floyd
In news released by the Class A BlueClaws, a pair of Sally League All-Stars has been promoted from Lakewood to Class A Advanced Clearwater. Shortstop Malquin Canelo, who was honored with the South Atlantic League All-Star Game Top Star Award this week, and slugging first baseman Rhys Hoskins will join the Threshers on Thursday. Replacing the pair will be Phillies 2nd round draft selection Scott Kingery and 4th round draft pick Kyle Martin.
Canelo went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk in the SAL All-Star Game this week after sporting a .311 average with five homers and 23 RBI in the first half of the season. Canelo was previously profiled on PhilliesNation.com. Readers can find that article by clicking here.
Hoskins, last year’s 5th round pick, posted a league-best .322 average with nine home runs and 51 RBI in the first half for the ‘Claws. The 22-year-old was featured on this week’s edition of Phillies Nation TV. Check out that video profile by clicking here.
Kingery, a University of Arizona product, won the Pac-12 batting title in each of the past two seasons. The 21-year-old was honored as conference player of the year this year in his junior season.
Martin batted .350 with 14 home runs this year in his senior season at the University of South Carolina. The lefty batter, who stands six-foot-one and weighs 240 pounds, was a 2nd team All-American this year.
Additionally, infielder Drew Stankiewicz will join the BlueClaws from Clearwater. “Stanky” made a splash online this week with his dance video featuring Threshers teammates and the team’s mascot Phinley in an effort to raise awareness for pediatric brain cancer. The 22-year-old was the Phils’ 11th round pick last year and posted a .275 average with 11 doubles and 20 RBI in 47 games this season for Clearwater.
Update: Catcher Andrew Knapp was also promoted on Thursday, as he was added to the Double-A Reading roster from Clearwater. Knapp was also an All-Star this month, representing the Threshers in the Florida State League’s annual exhibition. The Phils’ 2nd round draft selection in 2013 batted .262 with two home runs and 28 RBI in 63 games for the Threshers this season. Knapp spoke with me recently about his success this season. Click here for that feature.
