Brad Eldred & Charles Shirek Honored As International League Players Of The Week
April 23, 2012 - International League (IL1) News Release
The International League announced today that Toledo designated hitter and first baseman Brad Eldred and Charlotte pitcher Charles Shirek have been named the League's Batter and Pitcher of the Week for the period from April 16-22. Each is the first from his respective club to win IL weekly honors in 2012. It is the third career IL Batter of the Week Award for Eldred, who also won it once in 2005 with Indianapolis and in 2008 with Charlotte.
BRAD ELDRED, Toledo Mud Hens IL BATTER OF THE WEEK
Brad Eldred of Toledo drove in at least one run in all seven games last week, pushing his current streak of games with a RBI to eight. For the week he led the International League with 15 RBI as well as four home runs and ten runs scored. His red hot Mud Hens won six of seven during Eldred's hot week to surge to the top of the IL West Division. Eldred homered Monday, hit two more Wednesday and added his League-leading eighth long ball of the season on Thursday. Home runs are just one category in which Eldred is currently leading the League. He is also pacing the circuit with 25 hits, 17 runs scored, 17 extra-base hits, and a .868 slugging percentage.
31-year-old Brad Eldred is in his 11th season as a professional player. He is a veteran of 85 games in the big leagues with the Pirates and Rockies. Eldred is a native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
CHARLES SHIREK, Charlotte Knights IL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Right-handed pitcher Charles Shirek won a pair of starts last week against IL South opponents for the 2nd-place Charlotte Knights. At home on Monday, Shirek faced a Bulls team that had beaten him five days earlier in Durham. This time would be different, as Shirek blanked the Bulls for 6.0 innings by scattering six hits with no walks and five strikeouts as Charlotte cruised to a 14-2 triumph. Then on Saturday night against the division-leading Gwinnett Braves, Shirek tossed 7.0 strong innings to pick up another important win. He limited Gwinnett to just three hits and one run which was pushed across on a ground out in the 5th inning. The Knights won, 3-1. For the season, Shirek is now 3rd in the League with 24.0 innings pitched.
26-year-old Charles Shirek is playing in his first full season above the Double-A level. He made one previous career start at Triple-A in 2010, giving up seven runs in 5.2 innings in a start for Charlotte. Shirek is a native of Minot, North Dakota.
International League Stories from April 23, 2012
- PawSox Sweep Twin Bill for 8th Straight Win - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Bats Beat Tribe 4-2 in Louisville - Indianapolis Indians
- Shirek Named IL Pitcher of the Week - Charlotte Knights
- IronPigs Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Edgin, Blaquiere Join Bisons as Mets Recall Hefner, Place Valespin on Taxi Squad - Buffalo Bisons
- Gwinnett Braves Homestand Highlights for April 24-26 - Gwinnett Stripers
- Tim Hudson Makes Second Start in Gwinnett - Gwinnett Stripers
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo at Lehigh Valley - Buffalo Bisons
- Brad Eldred & Charles Shirek Honored As International League Players Of The Week - IL1
- SWB Yankees and Norfolk Snowed Out - Norfolk Tides
- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Norfolk Snowed out April 23rd - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
