Tonight marked the seventh annual Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game in the twenty year history of the AFL. Throughout the years, this event has featured a plethora of sluggers, Hall of Fame pitchers, and even a few current Phillies, Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay.
This year, the Phillies showcased two of their top prospects, third baseman Cody Asche and catcher Tommy Joseph. The Phillies selected Asche in the fourth round of the 2011 Amateur Draft, whereas Joseph was acquired in the Hunter Pence trade this past trade deadline in July. Asche was tonight's starting third baseman for the AFL West, and Joseph covered the plate.
Throughout the season in the AFL, Asche has one home run and seven RBI with a .271 average. Joseph has been struggling during his time in Arizona, collecting just one RBI in 33 at bats. His average is just .152.
Remember Jarred Cosart and Jonathan Singleton? The two were once highly regarded prospects in the Phillies' organization. Now they're highly regarded prospects in the Astros organization. Both were shipped away for Hunter Pence back in 2011 at the trade deadline.
Cosart pitched two innings tonight for the AFL East. He allowed two runs to score on one hit, while walking one and striking out two. Singleton reached base twice tonight, once with a single and later with a walk.
As for the current Phillies, Asche went hitless tonight, striking out once. Joseph went one for two leaving one on base. The AFL East team was lacking some power, as they were run over by the West team in a 9-4 loss. The power came from David Adams in the Yankees' organization, and Brian Goodwin of the Nationals. Each brought home two runs tonight for their team.
And that wraps up the ballgame. It's always great to see the top prospects from their respectful organizations under the National spotlight, unfortunately the Phillies' two prospects weren't on the winning side this evening in Arizona.
