EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

R-Phils Directly Affected by MLB Trade Deadline

Published on August 1, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Reading, Pa.)---On Tuesday, July 31, the Philadelphia Phillies dealt outfielder Shane Victorino to the Los Angeles Dodgers and outfielder Hunter Pence to the San Francisco Giants as the Major League Baseball trade deadline passed.

As a result of those moves, the Reading Phillies, Double-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, were directly affected as the team acquired catcher Tommy Joseph and pitcher Ethan Martin. Also joining the team on Wednesday was relief pitcher Justin Friend, who was assigned from Lehigh Valley (AAA).

Joseph, 21, was the Giants' number two prospect according to Baseball America and was the team's second round pick in the June 2009 draft. This season, the catcher was hitting .260 with eight home runs and 38 RBI in 80 games with the Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA). The Horizon High School (AZ) product also scored 32 runs and hit 16 doubles. He threw out 47.5% of base runners in Richmond and was also the starting catcher for Team USA in the MLB All-Star Futures Game,.

Joseph previously played in Baseballtown this season when the R-Phils welcomed the Flying Squirrels from April 24-26 and June 26-29. He was also a member of the Western Division All-Star team during the Baseballtown All-Star Classic on Tuesday, July 10 and Wednesday, July 11.

Martin, 23, was taken in the first round of the June 2008 draft by the Dodgers and was ranked as the team's 17th-best prospect by Baseball America heading into this season. With the Chattanooga Lookouts (AA) in 2012, he was 8-6 with a 3.58 ERA through 20 starts. The right-handed pitcher also struck out 112 hitters with 61 walks over 118.0 innings pitched. He led the Southern League in opponent batting average with a .214 mark and was second in strikeouts with 112. He was also a Southern League All-Star this year.

Friend, 26, played in 25 games with the Reading Phillies this season where he was 2-0 with a 0.33 ERA in 25 appearances. He was a perfect 14-for-14 in save opportunities with the R-Phils and is just 10 saves shy of the single-season record of 24 set by Wayne Gomes and Toby Borland.

To make space for the trio, catcher Sebastian Valle and second baseman Cesar Hernandez were promoted to Lehigh Valley (AAA). Also, left-handed pitcher Frank Gailey was released.

Valle, 22, was the third-ranked prospect in the Philadelphia organization by Baseball America and was signed as an amateur free agent out of Mexico in 2009. The catcher hit .261 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI through 83 games with the R-Phils. He was named the Phillies Minor League Player of the Week (7/23-7/29) after putting together a career-high 10-game hitting streak where he hit .390 (16-for-41) with six runs scored, three home runs, and eight RBI. Valle was also selected to the Eastern Division roster during the Baseballtown All-Star Classic.

Hernandez, 23, entered 2012 as the no. 14 prospect in the Phillies farm system according to Baseball America. The Venezuelan native was signed by Philadelphia as an amateur free agent in 2006 and is a member of the 40-man roster. This season, Hernandez hit .304 with 26 doubles, 51 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. His batting average mark ranked as the seventh-best in the Eastern League prior to his promotion. He also set a career-high with 125 hits and 49 runs while in Reading, besting his total of 113 hits and 47 runs with Clearwater (A+) last season.

Gailey, 26, went 2-3 with a 4.40 ERA and one save in 26 games with Reading this year. He was acquired by Philadelphia prior to the 2012 season in exchange for outfielder Ben Francisco.

Tickets for all regular season home games, including the Crazy Hot Dog Vendor Door Mat on Sunday, August 5th, can be purchased online at www.RPhils.com, by phone at 610-370-BALL, and in person at the R-Phils Ticket Office at FirstEnergy Stadium. The 2012 season featuring the Baseballtown All-Star Classic at America's Classic Ballpark is presented by Pepsi.

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