Fightins announce team MVP, end-of-season awards

Wendell Rijo was named Fightins MVP. (Cheryl Pursell)

With one series left in the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils’ season, the club announced its end-of-season team awards on Monday to recognize top team contributors.

Infielder Wendell Rijo was named Fightins MVP for the 2022 season, while reliever Billy Sullivan was selected as the R-Phils Pitcher of the Year.

Rijo, 27, bounced around between a few organizations before signing with the Phillies before this season. Despite missing just over a month of the year due to injury, he appeared in 89 games in Reading and slashed .265/.349/.446 with 12 home runs and 23 stolen bases.

Sullivan, a 23-year-old right-hander out of the University of Delaware, posted a 4.20 ERA in 49 1/3 innings. He recorded only two saves, but proved to be a reliable option for the Fightins in the middle to late innings throughout the entire season.

First baseman Aldrem Corredor was named the R-Phils Clutch Hitter with a team-high 67 RBIs and two game-winning homers. Former 40th-round draft pick Vito Friscia, recently promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, was named the “Broadway” Charlie Wagner Unsung Hero as he hit 10 home runs for the Fightins while appearing in games at designated hitter, catcher, first base, left field and right field.

Jhailyn Ortiz is the team’s home run leader with 17; Johan Rojas leads the club with 28 stolen bases in Double-A and 61 for the entire minor-league season; Noah Skirrow is the strikeout leader with 115.

Reading now has just six games to play in the 2022 season, starting its final series at Altoona on Tuesday night.