Scott Kingery and Thomas Eshelman had dominant 2017 seasons. (Steven Kiebach/SportsTalkPhilly)
By Tim Kelly, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Second baseman Scott Kingery and RHP Thomas Eshelman have been named the 2017 Paul Owens Award winners, the Philadelphia Phillies announced Thursday:
Congratulations to 2B @ScottyJetpax25 and RHP @ThomasEshelman — Our 2017 Paul Owens Award winners!
MORE: https://t.co/YURpPTiKu4 pic.twitter.com/p7v83GB2OV
— Phillies (@Phillies) September 7, 2017
The Paul Owens Award is an annual honor handed out by the Phillies to the top pitcher and position player in their minor league system. A year ago, the team actually had three recipients, as Rhys Hoskins and Dylan Cozens were both given the award from a position player perspective and Ben Lively joined them as the organization's top minor league pitcher.
Kingery, who is likely to spend the bulk of the 2018 season with the Phillies, had an excellent Spring Training stint with the team that he carried back to Double-A Reading. In 69 games for Reading, Kingery had a power explosion, hitting 18 home runs and driving in 44 RBIs, while also stealing 19 bags and batting .313. Kingery was promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley late in June, and didn't skip a beat. In 286 plate-appearances for the IronPigs, the former second round selection slashed .294/.337/.449, with eight home runs and 10 stolen bases.
Eshelman, who was acquired in the December 2016 Ken Giles trade, also began the season at Double-A. He quickly earned a promotion to Triple-A, after starting 3-0 for the Fightin' Phils. At Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he went 10-3 in 18 starts, while posting a 2.23 ERA. Despite not beginning the season at Triple-A, he was selected to start the International League All-Star Game.
With the Phillies in need of rotation depth, there's a pretty good chance that Eshelman, 23, will factor into their major league rotation at some point in 2018. He'll probably do so with his fellow 2017 Paul Owens Award recipient playing second base behind him.
Future Phillies stars to previously win this award, which was first handed out in 1986, include Scott Rolen, Pat Burrell, Ryan Madson, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.
