By Scott Barancik, Editor
Here are your minor-league highlights for the week of July 15-21, 2019:
Hitter of the Week: Ryan Lavarnway (Reds)
C Ryan Lavarnway signed a one-year Major League contract with Cincinnati on July 18 and wasted no time contributing. In his Reds debut the following day — his first Major League start since July 29, 2017 — he went 3-for-4 with 2 HRs, a double, a walk, and 6 RBIs. According to MLB.com researcher Andrew Simon, Lavarnway is the first Reds catcher to have a 3-hit, 2-HR, 6-RBI game since the legendary Johnny Bench did it 46 years ago, on May 9, 1973.
Pitcher of the Week: Justin Friedman (White Sox)
Justin Friedman (White Sox/Rookie/AZL White Sox), a 26th-round pick in the 2019 draft, was dominant in a scoreless relief appearance on July 16, yielding 2 hits and no walks over 5.1 innings while striking out 6 and earning his second win. In 20 innings this season, Friedman has 24 strikeouts against just 4 walks.
Mazel tov
- P Josh Wolf (Mets/Rookie/GCL Mets), a 2nd-round pick in the 2019 draft, made his pro debut on July 20, pitching an inning of scoreless relief. He yielded a hit and no walks while striking out 2.
- P Zack Weiss, who was released by the Twins last week, has signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.
- P Kenny Rosenberg (Rays/AA/Montgomery Biscuits) was named Southern League Pitcher of the Week last week.
- Former pitching prospect (and new Israeli citizen) Corey Baker discussed his career in an interview last week.
Other highlights
- 2B Zane Gurwitz (Angels/AA/Mobile BayBears) hit .286 (6-for-21) with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, a stolen base, and a .318 OBP.
- LF Tyler Benson (Padres/A/Fort Wayne TinCaps) hit .364 (4-for-11) with a double, triple, stolen base, and a .462 OBP.
- LF Albee Weiss (Twins/A/Cedar Rapids Kernels) earned last week’s promotion to Single-A. In 96 at-bats with the Elizabethton Twins (Rookie) this season, Weiss hit .260 with 9 HRs, 25 RBIs, and a .604 slugging percentage.
- SS Zack Kone (Pirates/A/Greensboro Grasshoppers) hit .286 (6-for-21) with a double, triple, and a .318 OBP.
- OF Hunter Bishop (Giants/A-short-season/Salem-Keizer Volcanoes) had a noteworthy week. On July 15, his last game with the AZL Giants (Rookie), he drew 5 walks. And on July 17, his first game with the Volcanoes, Bishop went 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk.
- P Rob Kaminsky (Indians/AAA/Columbus Clippers) went 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA across 2 games, yielding 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. In his last 10 appearances, Kaminsky is 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA.
- P Dean Kremer (Orioles/AA/Bowie Baysox) wowed fans with 7 shutout innings on July 18, yielding 6 hits and a walk while striking out 8 en route to his 6th win against 3 losses.
- P Sam Delaplane (Mariners/AA/Arkansas Travlers) went 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA across 2 games, yielding one hit and no walks over 2.1 innings while striking out 2. In his last 10 appearances, Delaplane is 1-1 with a 0.73 ERA.
- P Jake Fishman (Blue Jays/AA/New Hampshire Fisher Cats) went 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA across 2 games, yielding a hit and a walk over 1.2 innings while striking out 2. Over his last 10 games, Fishman is 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts against just 2 walks.
- P Mitchell Osnowitz (Cardinals/AA/Springfield Cardinals) went 0-0 with a save and a 0.00 ERA across 2 games, yielding 2 hits and 2 walks over 2.1 innings while striking out one.
- P Brandon Gold (Rockies/AA/Hartford Yard Goats pitched 4 scoreless innings in a July 20 start, yielding 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out one.
- P Max Lazar (Brewers/A/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) earned his first career save on July 17, yielding a hit and 2 walks over 3 scoreless innings while striking out 4.
- P Jake Miednik (Indians/A/Lake County Captains) went 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA across 2 games, yielding 2 hits and no walks over 2.1 innings while striking out one.
- P Jeremy Bleich (Red Sox/A-short-season/Lowell Spinners) went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA across 2 games, yielding a hit and a walk over 2.2 innings while striking out 5.
- P Ben Gross (Twins/Rookie/Elizabethton Twins) earned his 3rd win in a scoreless start July 17, yielding 5 hits and a walk over 6 innings while striking out 3.
- P Greg Leban (Braves/Rookie/Danville Braves) went 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA over 2 appearances, yielding no hits and one walk over 1.1 innings while striking out 3. After a rough outing in his June 24 pro debut, Leban has held opponents scoreless in 5 straight games.
Transactions
- RF Rhett Wiseman (Nationals) was reassigned from the Harrisburg Senators (AA) to the Auburn Doubledays (A-short-season) on July 21.
- P Brandon Gold (Rockies/AA/Hartford Yard Goats) came off the injured list on July 20. He had entered the injured list on July 16.
- P Jake Miednik (Indians/A/Lake County Captains) came off the injured list on July 19.
- C Ryan Lavarnway was released by the Yankees on July 18 — and signed by the Reds to a Major League contract the same day.
- LF Tyler Benson (Padres) was reassigned from the Lake Elsinore Storm (High-A) to the Fort Wayne TinCaps (A) on July 18.
- OF Hunter Bishop (Giants) was promoted from the AZL Giants (Rookie) to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (A-short-season) on July 17.
- LF Albee Weiss (Twins) was promoted from the Elizabethton Twins (Rookie) to the Cedar Rapids Kernels (A) on July 16.
- 1B Rowdy Tellez (Blue Jays) was sent down from Toronto to the Buffalo Bisons (Triple-A) on July 15.
- P Zack Weiss was released by the Twins on July 15.
Free agents
- Players believed to be seeking employment include Danny Valencia, RC Orlan and Brad Goldberg.
Injured list
- OF Blake Gailen (Dodgers/AAA/Oklahoma City Dodgers), since July 12.
- 2B Michael Wielansky (Astros/A/Quad Cities River Bandits), since July 5.
- P Evan Kravetz (Reds/Rookie/Greenville Reds), since July 1.
- P Scott Effross (Cubs/AA/Tennessee Smokies), since June 14.
- P Ryan Sherriff (Rays/AAA/Durham Bulls).
Note to readers: Minor-League Monday does not include stats for all current Jewish minor-leaguers. Click here for a complete list of players, and then click on a player’s name to be taken to his stat page.
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