Reading third baseman Mitch Walding, Clearwater left-hander JoJo Romero and Reading outfielder Carlos Tocci have been selected as the Phillies Minor League Hitter, Pitcher and Defender of the Month, respectively, for June.
Walding, 24, batted .337 (31-92) with four doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 27 RBI, 21 runs scored and a 1.246 OPS in 25 games. He had four multi-home run games, including each of his first two contests of the month. Walding had the most home runs among all minor league players in June, and was tied with the Dodgers' Cody Bellinger for the most in affiliated baseball. The Lodi, Calif., native is one of just six minor leaguers with 20 home runs and is leading the Eastern League in round-trippers while ranking third in slugging percentage (.573). He was selected by the Phillies in the fifth round of the June 2011 draft.
The 20-year-old Romero went 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA and 0.80 WHIP, allowing just five earned runs in 26.1 innings pitched with 26 strikeouts and only one walk in four starts with single-A Lakewood before being promoted to advanced-A Clearwater at month's end. On June 16, he set a career high with 10 strikeouts and matched a career high with 8.0 innings pitched, surrendering only four hits and no walks in the scoreless performance. Romero, who has since made one start with Clearwater, still ranks fourth in the South Atlantic League with a 2.11 ERA. He was selected by the Phillies in the fourth round of the June 2016 draft.
Tocci, 21, committed just one error during the month of June, making appearances at all three outfield positions in 24 games played. He has posted a .994 fielding percentage this season (1 E, 169 TC), ranks third among Eastern League outfielders with 165 putouts, and has recorded three outfield assists. Tocci, a Venezuela native, was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent on Aug. 23, 2011.