Former BlueClaws Heading to Arizona Fall League

LAKEWOOD, NJ - Five former BlueClaws players will head to the presitgious Arizona Fall League this year to compete against some of the best prospects in baseball. The 2014 AFL season begins on Tuesday, October 7th. 

Four former BlueClaws are among the six-man Phillies contingent: OF Roman Quinn, C Logan Moore, RHP Colton Murray, and LHP Ethan Stewart will represent the Phillies along with RHP Nefi Ogando and RHP Ryan O'Sullivan. RHP Lisalverto Bonilla will represent the Rangers as the lone BlueClaws alumni playing in the AFL with a different organization. 

"We welcome the Class of 2014 and the arrival of the Arizona Fall League's 23rd season," AFL director Steve Cobb said (MLB.com article). "It's an exciting array of top Draft choices and Minor League All-Stars who have excelled in the early stages of their professional careers. We continue to take great pride in the role the Fall League serves in Major League Baseball's player development process.

"Approximately 60 percent of our players will reach the Major Leagues. We want fans to know top young professional talent still will be playing baseball in October and November in Arizona."

OF Roman Quinn, a 2nd round pick in 2011, played with the BlueClaws in 2013, hitting .238 with 5 HRs and 32 SBs in 67 games. This year, he has 30 SBs and 6 HRs in 84 games with Hi-A Clearwater, hitting .238. Quinn was the Phillies 10th ranked prospect in the system per Baseball America entering the season. 

C Logan Moore, a 9th round pick in 2011, played 30 games with Lakewood in 2012. He spent last year and part of this year with Clearwater before going to Reading in May. 

RHP Colton Murray, a 13th round pick in 2011, made 25 appearances with the BlueClaws in 2012 before a late-season promotion to Clearwater. He pitched for the Threshers in 2013 and the early part of 2014 before a promotion to Reading, where he has a 2.43 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 54 innings over 34 appearances. 

LHP Ethan Stewart, a 47th round pick in 2010, had a 3.84 ERA over 25 games with Lakewood in 2012 and has pitched for Clearwater each of the last two seasons. 

The Phillies prospects will all play for Scottsdale. 

RHP Lisalverto Bonilla spent 2011 with Lakewood, going 4-5 with a 2.80 ERA. He is the last BlueClaws pitcher to throw nine innings in a game, having done so on July 6th of that year. After the 2012 season, split between Clearwater and Reading, he was traded to the Rangers and has spent this year with Triple-A Round Rock. 

Bonilla will play for Surprise. 

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