LAKEWOOD, NJ- Five Phillies prospects, including top performers Carlos Tocci and Rhys Hoskins will represent the Lakewood BlueClaws in the Class A South Atlantic League All-Star game in Asheville, NC on June 23rd.
Tocci, a 19-year-old center fielder, is batting .324 with a home run, 23 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 54 games with Lakewood.
According to a press release from the BlueClaws, Tocci received more votes than any other player in the SAL, marking the second straight year that the team has had the leading vote-getter, following shortstop J.P. Crawford in 2014.
Rhys Hoskins, image- Jay Floyd
Last year’s 5th round draft pick by the Phillies, Hoskins, has a league leading .335 batting average with seven home runs and 40 RBI.
The 22-year-old first baseman was recently honored as the Phillies’ minor league player of the month for May, after posting a .342 average with two homers and 23 RBI in 29 games. The righty batting slugger has been a bit reserved in regards to that honor, stating that he doesn’t want to let the organizational recognition consume his thoughts, but expressed enthusiasm on what it would mean to be able to head to the All-Star Game with his teammates.
“It’ll be awesome for the fans. It’ll be awesome for the team in general,” Hoskins stated. “Being recognized for the hard work that we’ve been putting in these last couple months is something that’s pretty special.
Lakewood’s hitting coach Nelson Prada feels the honor to be an All-Star is a very big deal.
“To be one of the best in the league, it’s always got to be an honor,” Prada said. “You’ve got to be proud, because you don’t have the chance to go every year. You know…a lot of times, you don’t have a good year every year in this game. I think they’re very proud about. And they talk about it and I think when they go, they’re going to have fun over there.”
Also joining the Tocci and Hoskins at the SAL All-Star Game will be shortstop Malquin Canelo as well as relief pitchers Alexis Rivero and Joey DeNato.
Canelo, 20, is batting .302 with two home runs, 11 RBI and eight stolen bases as the BlueClaws’ lead-off man.
Rivero, a 20-year-old righty, has a 2-0 record with six saves and a 2.35 ERA in 17 relief appearances.
DeNato, 23, was the Phils’ 19th round pick a year ago. In 17 games, the left-hander sports a 2-1 record with a 1.46 ERA.
Hoskins, Tocci, and Canelo are all slated to start for the Northern Division squad in less than two weeks and each could be in line for promotions following the annual exhibition.
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