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 (33^rd 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, 3^rd 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… INF Taylor Featherston recorded five extra-base hits (2B, 2 3B, 2 HR) as he slugged .667 with 21 total bases for Lehigh Valley. He has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games… OF Cedric Hunter went 9-for-25 (.360) with three doubles, a home run, three RBI and a stolen base… C Andrew Knapp played in five games, batting .313 (5-16) with two doubles, a home run, three RBI and two walks.
Top pitching performers - RHP Zach Eflin was named Phillies Co-Minor League Pitcher of the Week after holding Syracuse to just two hits in 7.0 shutout innings on May 18. He struck out six and walked one batter… RHP Jake Thompson tied a career high with 8.0 innings pitched on May 20 against Toledo. He allowed three runs on five hits and struck out a season-high eight batters. Thompson has a 1.33 ERA (4 ER, 27.0 IP) in his last four starts… RHP David Buchanan allowed one run and scattered eight hits in his 7.0-inning start last week… RHP Luis Garcia appeared in three games out of the bullpen, picking up two wins while striking out five and surrendering just one hit in 4.0 scoreless frames… RHP Edubray Ramos did not allow a run and struck out four in his 3.0 innings of relief over three appearances.
Reading Fightin Phils - Eastern League Eastern Division …29-14, 1^st place… Reading won two of three from Bowie before sweeping a three-game series with the Trenton Thunder. The Fightins have won or tied each of their last six series, five of which were against division opponents. Reading's .667 winning percentage (18-9) against division foes is second-best in the Eastern League.
Top hitting performers - 1B Rhys Hoskins batted .450 (9-20) with a .560 on-base percentage in six games. He doubled twice, homered, drove in four, walked four times and scored seven runs. He was named Phillies Minor League Player of the Week for his efforts… INF/OF KC Serna collected eight hits in 19 at-bats (.419), including three doubles. He also scored three runs and stole two bases… OF Dylan Cozens doubled twice, homered and drove in a team-high seven runs. He has 23 extra-base hits this season, which is tied for most in the Eastern League.
Top pitching performers - RHP Nick Pivetta allowed two hits, struck out six batters and walked just one in 7.0 innings of work on May 17. His performance earned him Phillies Co-Minor League Pitcher of the Week honors… RHP Mark Leiter tossed a scoreless 0.2 innings in relief on May 19, and then threw 4.0 shutout innings with five strikeouts and two hits allowed in a start on May 22.
Clearwater Threshers - Florida State League North Division…26-17, 2^nd place… The Threshers won two games of a three-game set with St. Lucie, but then dropped three straight to Palm Beach as they finished the week 2-4. Clearwater scored just eight total runs in their four losses (2.0 runs per game).
Top hitting performers -  CF Carlos Tocci went 7-for-22 (.318), hit his first home run of the season and drove in four runs… INF Zach Green batted .353 (6-17) with a pair of doubles and a home run. He slugged .647 with a 1.068 OPS.
Top pitching performers - RHP Tom Eshelman struck out 13 batters in 9.2 innings over two starts, including eight in 5.2 innings on May 22… RHP Ranfi Casimiro made one start, holding St. Lucie to a run on three hits while tying a season high with seven strikeouts.
Lakewood BlueClaws - South Atlantic League Northern Division…16-26, 7^th place… Lakewood dropped six of their seven games, with their lone win coming on May 20 against Delmarva. The BlueClaws scored one run or none in five of those seven contests.
Top hitting performers - CF Carlos Duran recorded three multi-hit games, batting .308 (8-26) with three doubles, a walk and a stolen base… OF Jiandido Tromp doubled three times, scored a team-high five runs and drove in three more… 1B Brendon Hayden posted a .400 on-base percentage after walking three times and collecting five hits in 17 at-bats (.294).
Top pitching performers - RHP Harold Arauz made one start, surrendering one unearned run over 6.0 innings pitched. He struck out seven batters and allowed only three hits… LHP Tyler Gilbert struck out a season-high eight batters and allowed two runs in his 7.0-inning start last week. Gilbert has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his seven starts… RHP Drew Anderson appeared in his first game after missing all of 2015 due to injury, and he tossed 5.0 innings of one-run ball, striking out five while allowing two hits… RHP Franklyn Kilome allowed one run on five hits in his 6.0 innings of work on May 21. He has a 1.71 ERA (4 ER, 21.0 IP) in his last four starts.