Monday, November 20, 2017
PHILLIES CLAIM VIELMA, ADD FOUR PLAYERS TO 40-MAN ROSTER
The Phillies have claimed infielder Engelb Vielma from the San Francisco Giants, Vice President and General Manager Matt Klentak announced tonight.
Vielma, 23, combined to hit .229 in 121 games between double-A Chattanooga and triple-A Rochester last season. In 141 plate appearances for Chattanooga, he hit .286 with a .362 on-base percentage. A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, Vielma has made appearances at second base, shortstop and third base in his six-year minor league career. According to Baseball Prospectus, Vielma has posted +30.00 fielding runs above average since the beginning of the 2014 season. He was originally signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent on September 8, 2011, before being claimed off waivers by the Giants on September 14, 2017.
In addition, the Phillies selected the contracts of the following players to the 40-man roster:
Seranthony Domínguez, RHP – A Florida State League midseason All-Star, Domínguez averaged 10.91 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched in 17 games (15 starts) between the Gulf Coast League Phillies and single-A Clearwater. Signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent on October 6, 2011, Domínguez, 22, has posted a 3.11 ERA (107 ER, 310.0 IP) in 75 career minor league appearances (54 starts).
Franklyn Kilomé, RHP – Kilomé, 22, posted a 2.83 ERA (40 ER, 127.0 IP) in 24 combined starts between single-A Clearwater and double-A Reading in 2017. Recently tabbed as the 10th-best prospect in the Phillies minor league system by Baseball America, Kilomé was originally signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent on January 22, 2013.
Ranger Suárez, LHP – A 6-foot-1 left-hander, Suárez posted a 2.57 ERA (31 ER, 122.2 IP) with 128 strikeouts to just 35 walks in 22 combined starts last season between single-A Lakewood and single-A Clearwater. A midseason South Atlantic League All-Star, Suárez, 22, took home Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors for April and was also selected as Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week on four occasions. Born in Pie de Cuesta, Venezuela, Suárez was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent on April 1, 2012.
José Taveras, RHP – Honored as both a midseason and postseason Florida State League All-Star, Taveras made 25 combined starts for single-A Clearwater, double-A Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley in 2017. He posted a 2.22 ERA (38 ER, 154.1 IP) in those 25 starts and led the Phillies minor league system in innings and strikeouts (140). Taveras, 24, was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent on November 10, 2013.
The Phillies have also designated right-handers Mark Appel and Alberto Tirado for assignment and have outrighted left-hander Elniery García to triple-A Lehigh Valley. With the additions of Domínguez, Kilomé, Suárez, Taveras and Vielma, the Phillies now have 40 players on their 40-man roster.
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Press Releases provided courtesy of the Phillies, Media Relations. Thanks, guys!
