Three minor-leaguers who Phillies fans might not be as familiar with as their top prospects earned organizational honors for the month of June.
Reading third baseman Mitch Walding was named Phillies Minor League Hitter of the Month, Clearwater left-hander JoJo Romero earned Pitcher of the Month, and Reading outfielder Carlos Tocci was Defender of the Month.
Walding hit .337 in June with four doubles, two triples, 13 homers and 27 RBIs. He had the most home runs in June of any minor-leaguer at any level.
The 24-year-old left-handed hitter was the Phils' fifth-round pick in 2011, the draft which also produced Ken Giles, Roman Quinn, Adam Morgan, Brock Stassi and Cody Asche. (The Phils' first pick that year was Larry Greene.)
Third base is not a position of organizational strength so the Phillies are glad to see Walding taking advantage of his opportunity. He's hitting .247 with a .914 OPS on the season, with 14 of his 20 homers coming at Reading's homer-friendly park.
Romero, 20, was the Phillies' fourth-round pick last summer out of Yavapai College in Arizona, where Giles also went.
Romero, who went 5-1 with a 2.11 ERA in 13 starts at Class A Lakewood, earned a promotion to High A Clearwater at the beginning of July. In four June starts, Romero went 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA, 26 strikeouts and one walk in 26⅓ innings.
MLB
Tocci, 21, played all over the outfield for Reading in June and made his only error of the season in 169 chances.