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NEW YORK -- Phil Coke, who impressed the Yankees out of their bullpen as a late-season callup, was named to the Topps Double-A All-Star team on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old Coke served in New York as a left-handed reliever after making his big league debut on Sept. 1. Coke started his season as a starter at Double-A Trenton of the Eastern League before being promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he adjusted to work out of the bullpen.
While with the Thunder, Coke finished second in the Eastern League with a 2.51 ERA, striking out 115 batters in 118 1/3 innings while walking 39.
"I don't really go out there expecting anything," Coke said in September. "The only thing I expect of myself is to go out there and throw strikes as often as possible. If you can go out there and do that, then good things happen."
A 26th-round selection in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft out of San Joaquin Delta Junior College in California, Coke was 1-0 with a 0.61 ERA in 12 relief appearances at the big league level. The Yankees have said they may consider developing him as a starter or reliever, depending on New York's offseason pursuit of free-agent pitching options.
The Yankees re-signed lefty Damaso Marte to a three-year contract earlier this month, but Coke could also provide another left-handed arm in relief.
"He's opened up a lot of eyes," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's shown that he is more than a one-dimensional pitcher. He started in the Minor Leagues, and he's also shown that he can be a reliever, too."
The best performances in all Minor League Baseball classifications are honored by the Topps Company of New York in conjunction with Minor League Baseball.
Additionally, Yankees Minor League infielder Kevin Russo has been selected as one of six finalists for the Arizona Fall League's Stenson Award. Named after former Reds prospect Dernell Stenson, the award is given annually to the player who best exemplifies unselfishness, hard work and leadership.
The 26-year-old Coke served in New York as a left-handed reliever after making his big league debut on Sept. 1. Coke started his season as a starter at Double-A Trenton of the Eastern League before being promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he adjusted to work out of the bullpen.
While with the Thunder, Coke finished second in the Eastern League with a 2.51 ERA, striking out 115 batters in 118 1/3 innings while walking 39.
"I don't really go out there expecting anything," Coke said in September. "The only thing I expect of myself is to go out there and throw strikes as often as possible. If you can go out there and do that, then good things happen."
A 26th-round selection in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft out of San Joaquin Delta Junior College in California, Coke was 1-0 with a 0.61 ERA in 12 relief appearances at the big league level. The Yankees have said they may consider developing him as a starter or reliever, depending on New York's offseason pursuit of free-agent pitching options.
The Yankees re-signed lefty Damaso Marte to a three-year contract earlier this month, but Coke could also provide another left-handed arm in relief.
"He's opened up a lot of eyes," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's shown that he is more than a one-dimensional pitcher. He started in the Minor Leagues, and he's also shown that he can be a reliever, too."
The best performances in all Minor League Baseball classifications are honored by the Topps Company of New York in conjunction with Minor League Baseball.
Additionally, Yankees Minor League infielder Kevin Russo has been selected as one of six finalists for the Arizona Fall League's Stenson Award. Named after former Reds prospect Dernell Stenson, the award is given annually to the player who best exemplifies unselfishness, hard work and leadership.
