The Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday sent Minor League outfielder Joey Curletta to the Philadelphia Phillies as the player to be named later to complete the Aug. 25 trade that swapped veteran backup catchers A.J. Ellis and Carlos Ruiz.
Curletta, 22, was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2012 Draft out of Mountain Pointe High School (Phoenix). He began his professional career with Rookie-level Arizona League Dodgers, going 11-for-74 with two doubles and six RBI in 25 games.
Curletta then hit .326/.402/.461 with 16 doubles, five home runs and 42 RBI over 62 games with Rookie-level Ogden in 2013.
He began this season with High-A Rancho Cucamonga and concluded it with Double-A Tulsa after earning a promotion in late-June.
Curletta appeared in 77 games with the Quakes, hitting .267/.338/.496 with 13 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs and 54 RBI in 77 games. He was named California League Player of the Week for games played July 18-24.
In a relatively small sample size with the Drillers — 29 games — Curletta batted .206/.280/.371 with four doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI. Just like his time with the Quakes, Curletta played both corner outfield positions for the Drillers.
As for the primary players in last month’s trade, Ruiz is 2-for-13 with two walks in six games (four starts) with the Dodgers. Ellis is 4-for-22 with two doubles, one home run and five RBI in seven games (six starts) with the Phillies.
