Phillies farmhands Nola, Crawford will play in Futures Game

READING - Aaron Nola and J.P. Crawford - the two brightest stars in the Phillies' minor-league system - will get a chance to shine on the national stage after being selected Thursday to play in the Futures Game next month.

The two prospects will represent the Phillies on July 12 at the minor-league all-star showcase in Cincinnati, three days before the major-league All-Star Game there.

Crawford, ranked by ESPN as the second-best prospect in baseball, is returning to the Futures Game for the second straight year. The shortstop joins Brett Myers, Gavin Floyd, Carlos Carrasco, Jarred Cosart, and Maikel Franco as Phillies prospects to be named to two straight Futures Game rosters.

"I was surprised," Crawford said. "Not too many people go two years in a row. It's a real honor. It feels great. I didn't know if I was going to be able to go this year again, but thankfully again."

Crawford entered Thursday batting .339 in 183 at-bats between high-A Clearwater and double-A Reading. The 20-year-old has reached base in 39 straight games, including all 24 at Reading. He is batting .327 with a .420 on-base percentage in that stretch.

Nola, a righthanded pitcher, is 9-3 with a 1.91 ERA in 14 starts this season between double-A Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 22-year-old was promoted last week to the IronPigs and has allowed three earned runs, struck out 14, and walked two in 12 innings.

First-round pick Cornelius Randolph went 3 for 3 in his first pro game with the Gulf Coast Phillies in Clearwater, Fla. The outfielder hit a triple, two singles, and walked once.