Newly-Acquired Pivetta to Join Fightins

The 2015 Major League Baseball trade deadline has not yet passed, but it's already having effects on the Reading Fightin Phils roster and their quest for an Eastern League Championship as right-handed pitcher Nick Pivetta will join the Fightins in New Hampshire on Thursday when they begin a four-game series against the Fisher Cats.

Acquired by the Phillies from the Washington Nationals for closer Jonathan Papelbon, Pivetta is 7-6 with a 3.02 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) between Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg. Over 101.1 innings this season, he has struck out 78 batters and walked 38 while holding opponents to a .239 batting average.

A native of Victoria, British Colombia, Canada, Pivetta was drafted by Washington in the fourth round of the 2013 draft out of New Mexico Junior College. The 22-year old was ranked as the no. 10 prospect in the Nationals farm system according to Baseball America and the no. 12 prospect according to MLB.com. 

Pivetta joins a Reading roster that boasts five (J.P. Crawford, Zach Eflin, Ben Lively, Roman Quinn, and Tom Windle) of the organization's Top 10 Prospects according to Baseball America. Tickets to see Pivetta and the Fightin Phils are available by visiting Fightins.com, calling 610-370-BALL, or by visiting the Fightins Ticket Office located at FirstEnergy Stadium.