October 3, 2022 – Eastern League (EL) – Reading Fightin Phils News Release
The Philadelphia Phillies have sent six players to the prestigious Arizona Fall League which begins on October
3rd. The players, all of whom spent time on the Reading Fightin Phils roster, will represent the Surprise
Saguaros during the month-long season. The Arizona Fall League features top prospects from every affiliation.
It is a well-known springboard for top young players to make big impacts for their Major League teams in the
near future.
The Saguaros roster will also feature players affiliated with the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Houston
Astros, and Pittsburgh Pirates. The fall season runs from Monday, October 3 to the Championship game on
Saturday, November 12. There will be a Home Run Derby on Nov 5 and a Fall Stars Game on Nov 6.
The Phillies are sending three position players out to Arizona. Carlos De La Cruz, along with #5 prospect Johan
Rojas and #17 Jhailyn Ortiz will make the cross-country trek. The team will also showcase three pitchers, all
relievers: #11 RHP Francisco Morales, RHP Brett Schulze and lefty Taylor Lehman.
Carlos De La Cruz had a breakout season after a late-summer call up to Double-A. With Reading he batted
.278 with 42 hits, including 12 doubles and seven homers, in just 38 games. In totality, De La Cruz recorded a
.271 average with 22 doubles and 17 homers (10 more than any prior season of his). He split time between all
three outfield positions and even tried his hand at first base boasting an impressive .992 fielding percentage.
The 22-year-old was signed as a free agent in 2017 out of Yonkers, New York.
Johan Rojas also shined upon his promotion to Reading in July. There he held a .260 average with 61 hits in 62
games. Rojas smacked a season-total of 20 doubles, seven triples, and seven homers. He played 130 games
between two levels, the most of any player in the Phillies farm system. Rojas stole 62 bases in 67 attempts this
season. This is almost double the amount of any other year in his career and double any other player in the
organization.
He’s the first Phillies minor leaguer since 2009 (Anthony Gose, 76) to steal more than 50 bases in
a season. Rojas can play all three outfield positions exceptionally well, covering more ground and getting to
more balls than most of his competition. The 22-year-old was signed as an international free agent in 2016 out
of the Dominican Republic.
Jhailyn Ortiz launched a team-leading 17 home runs…
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