Bianucci And Smith Finish Season Strong
September 3, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1) News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Mike Bianucci of the Round Rock Express and Burch Smith of the Tucson Padres put together excellent performances in the last week of the Pacific Coast League's regular season, and today the league named them the Player and Pitcher of the week respectively for the period of August 26th through September 2nd .
Bianucci had a strong week at the plate, pacing the league with a 1.598 OPS to go along with three home runs, two doubles, and eight RBI. He also led the league with a 1.053 slugging percentage and was third with a .474 batting average. The highlight of the week for the Express first baseman came on the road at Omaha when he went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI.
Born in Fairfax, Virginia, Bianucci was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 8th round of the 2008 draft out of Auburn University. In six minor league seasons, he holds a .269 average with 109 homers and 373 RBI. Bianucci has previously been named a Player of the Week in both the South Atlantic League and the California League. In 56 games with Round Rock this season, he batted .281 with 12 home runs and 46 RBI.
In his lone start of the week, Smith was handed a no-decision despite a dominating performance.
On Thursday at home against Reno, the right-hander tossed seven innings and did not allow a run, giving up just three hits and no walks while striking out 10. Smith led the league with a 0.43 WHIP and held his opponents to a .136 average.
Smith, born in San Antonio, Texas, was drafted in the 14th round of the 2011 draft by the San Diego Padres out of the University of Oklahoma. After two solid seasons at Single-A and a brief stint in Double-A this season, he has quickly ascended to the Triple-A level with continued success. Smith finished the season 5-1 with a 3.39 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 61 innings for Tucson.
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Pacific Coast League Stories from September 3, 2013
- Dodgers Recall Withrow - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Eight Express Join Rangers over Weekend - Round Rock Express
- INF/DH Mike Bianucci Named PCL Player of the Week - Round Rock Express
- 2013 PCL Playoff Tickets on Sale Now - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Bianucci And Smith Finish Season Strong - PCL1
- Storm Chasers Playoff Tickets on Sale Now - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Anna Crowned 2013 PCL Batting Champion - PCL1
- Grizzlies End Season on High Note - Fresno Grizzlies
- Tucson Padres End of Season Notes - Tucson Padres
- Bees Fall to Aces 17-7 - Salt Lake Bees
- Aces Down Bees 10-7 - Salt Lake Bees
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