Phillies Minor League review: May 16-22

Players of the Week

Player – 1B Rhys Hoskins, Reading… The 23-year-old Hoskins batted .450 (9-20) with two doubles, a home run, four RBI, four walks, seven runs scored and a .560 on-base percentage in six games. He drove in a run in each of his last four games of the week and recorded three multi-hit games. Hoskins, who ranks second on the Fightins in hits (41), RBI (26) and total bases (70), was selected by the Phillies in the fifth round of the June 2014 draft out of California State University, Sacramento.

Pitchers – RHP Zach Eflin, Lehigh Valley and RHP Nick Pivetta, Reading… Eflin, 22, and Pivetta, 23, were named Phillies Co-Minor League Pitchers of the Week. Eflin made one start, shutting out Syracuse for 7.0 innings on May 18 while allowing only two hits, a walk and striking out six batters. He has allowed one earned run or none in five of his seven starts. The 6-foot-6 right-hander is tied for first in the International League with a 0.81 WHIP (7 BB, 30 H, 45.2 IP), third in opponent’s batting average (.185) and ninth in ERA (2.36). Eflin, who also earned a Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week award in April, was acquired from Los Angeles along with left-hander Tom Windle on December 19, 2014 in the trade that sent Jimmy Rollins to the Dodgers. He was originally selected by the Padres between the first and second rounds (33rd overall) of the June 2012 draft.

Pivetta also made one start, allowing only two hits while walking one and striking out six batters in 7.0 shutout innings on May 17 against Bowie. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in six of his eight starts, and has struck out six or more in five of them. He is averaging 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings pitched (44 SO, 44.0 IP), which is the third-best ratio in the Eastern League, and his 44 strikeouts also rank third. Pivetta was acquired from Washington in exchange for Jonathan Papelbon on July 28, 2015, and was originally selected by the Nationals in the fourth round of the June 2013 draft.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs – International League North Division…24-19, 3rd place… The IronPigs won five of their seven games, including two by shutout, as they finished the week just a game back of the top spot in the division. Lehigh Valley has won nine of their last 11 games overall.

Top hitting performers – After missing nearly a month, 3B Carlos Alonso returned to action to bat .389 (7-18) with a pair of doubles, a home run, five RBI, a stolen base and a 1.088 OPS in five games… …

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