Written by Steve Potter
The Phillies have historically issued “Minor League Player of the Month” awards for position players and pitchers. Below are a few nominations for the June position player awards 🤔🤓. I will post my pitcher nominations later today 😎.
Position Players :
Johan Rojas ( CF ) - Jersey Shore/Reading - was 27 for 94 ( .287 ) with an OBP of .340 ( 104 PA’s ) - the mercurial 21 year old had 12 stolen bases, 2 home runs, 6 doubles and 9 RBIs. He continues to play stellar defensive center field, gets to baseballs that most cannot. For the season Johan now has 34 stolen bases in 35 attempts. His pre-season goal of 50 is well within reach. Johan was promoted to Reading on June 30th.
Vito Friscia ( C,1B,OF ) - Reading - was 23 for 81 ( .284 ) with a .396 OBP ( 96 PA’s ) - he had 6 doubles, 2 home runs and 7 RBIs. Vito ( 25 yrs old ) has been amongst the organization leaders in OBP, Slugging and OPS all season long. Drafted from Hofstra in the 40th round of the 2019 draft he’s posted 8 home runs and 27 RBIs with a .394 OBP for the season in 231 plate appearances.
Dalton Guthrie - Lehigh Valley - 22 for 77 ( .286 ) - 5 doubles, 4 home runs and 14 RBIs - .353 OBP ( 86 PA’s ). Dalton went 7 for 10 in two games on 6/25 & 6/26. The 26 year old has quietly had a very solid season hitting .279 in 172 AB’s and posting a .330 OBP in 187 PA’s. Defensively he’s played six positions ( all three OF, 2B,SS,3B ). Was the team’s 6th round draft selection in the 2017 draft from the University of Florida.
Will Toffey ( 3B/1B/OF ) - Lehigh Valley - was 23 for 68 ( .338 ) with a .459 OBP ( 88 PA’s ). Will hit 11 doubles, 2 home runs and drove in 13 runs, he drew 13 walks. The 27 year old was acquired from the San Francisco Giants in a March trade for Luke Williams. He was the 4th round draft selection of the Oakland Athletics in the 2017 draft. He has played very well defensively for the Iron Pigs primarily at third base but has also seen action at both first base and left field.
Rixon Wingrove ( 1B ) - Jersey Shore posted a . 386 OBP ( 83 PA’s ) and hit 2 HR had 10 RBIs and was 20 for 71 ( .282 ). The 22 year old from Australia was assigned to the Jersey Shore roster on May 24th and has posted a .300/.382/.478 slash line for the Blue Claws in 28 games with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs
Jorge Garcia ( OF ) DSL Phillies White was 19 for 55 ( .346 ) with a .464 OBP ( 69 PA’s ) - the 18 year old hit 3 doubles, his first professional home run and delivered 12 RBIs. Signed on February 2nd, 2021 from Penonome, Panama. He’s played all three outfield positions this year to date
Others :
Darick Hall ( 1B ) - Lehigh Valley - 7 HR, 19 RBIs - 26 for 98 ( .265 ) - .345 OBP ( 113 PA’s ), .531 slugging - called up to major leagues 6/29 - first two hits in the big leagues were home runs !
Dustin Peterson ( OF ) - Lehigh Valley - 26 for 97 ( .268 ) - 6 doubles, 5 HR, 14 RBIs - .336 OBP ( 107 PA’s )
Josh Ockimey ( 1B ) - Reading/Lehigh Valley - .383 OBP ( 94 PA’s ) - 20 for 78 ( .256 ) - 5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs and 9 RBIs - promoted to AAA on 6/29
Jerffson Pena ( OF ) - DSL Phillies Red - 15 for 53 ( .283 ) - .367 OBP ( 60 PA’s ) - 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 9 stolen bases
Manolfi Jimenez ( OF ) - DSL Phillies White - 20 for 63 ( .318 ) - .362 OBP ( 70 PA’s ) - 4 doubles, 1 HR, 10 RBIs
Logan O’Hoppe ( C ) - Reading - 6 HR, 15 RBIs - sidelined by the flu last seven days of the month
DJ Stewart ( 3B/1B ) - Jersey Shore - .320 OBP ( 97 PA’s ) - 4 doubles, 4 HR, 11 RBIs - 23 for 89 ( .258 )
Marcus Lee Sang ( OF ) - Clearwater - .344 OBP ( 90 PA’s ) - 4 HR, 13 RBIs
Leandro Pineda (OF ) - Clearwater - . 330 OBP ( 100 PA’s ) - 9 BB, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 9 RBIs
Erick Brito ( SS ) - Clearwater - .358 OBP ( 83 PA’s ) - 12 BB’s - first pro home run
Nikau Pouaka-Grego ( IF ) - FCL Phillies - 13 for 34 - .382 BA - .500 OBP before being injured by a base runner’s spike sliding into the third base bag on June 18th.
Jose Leanez ( OF ) - DSL Phillies Red - 12 for 42 ( .353 ) - .463 OBP ( 42 PA’s )
Prior Month Awards
April Player of the Month - Darick Hall - Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs
May Player of the Month - Hao Yu Lee - Clearwater Threshers
Top to Bottom ( L to R ) - Rixon Wingrove, Dalton Guthrie, Vito Friscia, Johan Rojas & Will Toffey - photos by Michael Dolcemascolo, Cheryl Pursell & George Youngs Jr