Spidale Sets R-Phils Franchise Hit Record
Michael Spidale, who was the R-Phils Team MVP in 2010, homered in the third inning of
Sunday’s game at Jerry Uht Park in Erie, PA, to break the R-Phils all-time hit record
of 439 held by former R-Phils outfielder Aaron Royster. Spidale, 29, now has 442 career
hits in a Reading Phillies uniform after finishing Sunday’s game with a 3-5 showing
at the plate in the R-Phils 6-5 loss to the SeaWolves.
On Saturday evening, in the R-Phils 2-1 win over Erie, Spidale ripped two hits to tie
Royster’s mark of 439, which stood since 2001 -- Royster’s last season in
Baseballtown. Spidale now has five hits over his last two games and is now hitting .314
this season after going 3-5 with a home run and three RBIs on Sunday.
Last season, Spidale hit .303 with three home runs, 50 RBIs, and a team-high 31 stolen
bases. His .303 batting average ranked fourth in the Eastern League, while his 31 steals
ranked fifth last season. He spent the entire season in Reading for the first time, after
having spent parts of the past three seasons in Reading and Lehigh Valley (2008-2009), and
Reading and Clearwater (2007).
The Illinois native was signed by Philadelphia as a Minor League free agent on June 8,
2006. That season, Spidale was assigned to Lakewood (A), where he mauled Single-A pitching
to the tune of a league-best .345 batting average. The 29-year-old speedy outfielder made
his Reading debut in 2007 and hit an impressive .314 in 68 games that season.
Spidale, who is in his 12th Minor League season, entered 2011 as a career .284 career
hitter. He was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 12th round of the 2000
draft.
The R-Phils return home to FirstEnergy Stadium on Tuesday, May 31, for a tremendous
three-game series. First pitch of Tuesday’s game is set for 6:35 p.m. Single-game
tickets for all games on the upcoming series are available and fans can purchase tickets
by phone at 610-370-BALL, in-person at the brand-new R-Phils Ticket Office, or online at
www.readingphillies.com.