Five Fightins honored as Eastern League All-Stars

The Reading Fightins will be well represented at the 2015 Eastern League All-Star Game later this month in Portland, Maine when five members of the team head to the annual exhibition.  Shortstop J.P. Crawford, outfielders Cam Perkins and Roman Quinn along with starting pitcher Zach Eflin as well as first baseman Brock Stassi have been named to the Eastern Division roster for the game set to be played on July 15th.

Crawford, the Phillies’ top prospect, joined Reading just over a month ago and has posted a .267/.377/.405 slash line in 31 games with the Fightins.  The lefty batting 20-year-0ld was the 16th overall draft pick in 2013.

Perkins, who is currently on the disabled list with a back issue, has a .252 average with eight home runs and 33 RBI in 61 games.  The 24-year-old was the Phillies’ 6th round draft choice in 2012.

Quinn, also on the disabled list, sported a .306 average with four homers and 15 RBI along with a league-leading 29 stolen bases when he tore his hip flexor in mid-June.  The switch-hitting 22-year-old was the Phils’ second round pick in 2011.

Eflin, the prized prospect acquired in the Jimmy Rollins to Los Angeles trade, has a 5-4 record with 2.88 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP in 14 games started.  The 21-year-old righty sports a 1.80 ERA over his last five outings.

Stassi, the league leader in RBI with 52, is also among the top ranking players in average (.317), OPS (.856), and hits (82).  The 25-year-old has been the offensive catalyst all season long for the Fightins.  Stassi was a 33rd round draft selection by the Phillies in 2011.

Speaking recently with Phillies Nation on the possibility of being honored as an All-Star, Stassi was reserved on the topic.

“It’d be an honor,” Stassi said.  “I haven’t made an All-Star team in my career yet and, you know, I don’t even know how to put it.  I’m not trying to look that far ahead.  I really take pride in taking it one pitch at a time, one game at a time, one day at a time.  I mean that would be a huge honor, definitely the biggest one in my career thus far, besides being drafted.”

Reading’s five All-Stars are tied with Portland, Trenton, Akron, and Altoona for most players from one team slated to play in this year’s contest.