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WWE names two wrestlers after Phillies prospects

    by Matt Breen
    Published 

Mitch Walding and Carlos Tocci - two Phillies prospects - made their WWE debut on Monday night. At least, two wrestlers named after Walding and Tocci did.

Walding and Tocci's namesakes lost to Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady in a tag-team match. The match ended with Tocci's character being pinned in less than a minute.

WWE broadcaster Michael Cole quickly announced Walding and Tocci's names before the match began. Cole did not say their names again. Did he really just say Mitch Walding and Carlos Tocci? Raw was in Tampa, Fla., across the bridge from where Tocci and Walding play for the Clearwater Threshers, the Phillies high-A affiliate. It was a subtle reference to the Phillies.

Tocci and Walding were two of eight Threshers players that were named to last week's Florida State League all-star game. Walding, 23, won the league's home-run derby. The third baseman entered Monday with nine homers this season and a .266 batting average in 233 at-bats. Tocci, a 20-year-old outfielder, is batting .287 with a .342 on-base percentage in 268 at-bats.