International League Players of the Week Named
Published on July 1, 2019 under International League (IL1) News Release
The International League announced today that Scranton/Wilkes-Barre first baseman Mike Ford and Buffalo left-handed started Thomas Pannone have been named the League's Batter and Pitcher of the Week for the period covering June 24-30. Ford is the second member of the RailRiders to claim an IL weekly award this season, following Breyvic Valera (May 20-26), while Pannone is the first Bisons player to be so honored in 2019.
MIKE FORD, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders IL BATTER OF THE WEEK Mike Ford was elected to be the starting first baseman for the International League at next week's Triple-A All-Star Game in El Paso, Texas, and over the past week it was easy to see why. During the final week of June, Ford hit .417 with three homers and 10 RBI with a League-best five doubles and 26 total bases for the division-leading RailRiders. Over a particularly hot two-day stretch Tuesday and Wednesday, Ford banged out seven hits, four of which went for extra bases including a pair of long balls. For the season, Mike Ford leads the IL in on-base percentage (.426) and is in the top ten in the circuit in batting average, homers, RBI, and slugging.
Mike Ford, who turns 27 on Thursday, is in his seventh season playing professionally since signing with the Yankees in 2012 as a non-drafted free agent. He made his Major League debut in April, collecting five hits including a homer in ten games. Ford is a native of Belle Mead, NJ.
THOMAS PANNONE, Buffalo Bisons IL PITCHER OF THE WEEK The only starting pitcher in the International League to win twice over the past week was Thomas Pannone, who delivered solid performances for Buffalo in back-to-back outings while racking up a League-high fourteen strikeouts in 11.0 total innings of work. The Bisons coasted to a 10-6 victory last Monday at Pawtucket behind 5.0 innings of one-run baseball from Pannone. He was on the hill again Saturday as Buffalo faced another division rival, Syracuse. Pannone punched out nine Mets over 6.0 frames as the Herd rolled to a 9-3 triumph. While he's spent the majority of his season in the big leagues, Pannone is now 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA in four appearances with Buffalo in 2019.
25-year-old Thomas Pannone is in his seventh season pitching professionally. He first played above the Double-A level last season. Since the beginning of 2018, he has made 35 appearances for the Blue Jays (eight starts), posting a record of 6-4 with a 4.96 ERA. Pannone is a native of Cranston, Rhode Island.
International League Stories from July 1, 2019
- Wings Rally to Beat Mets in Series Opener - Rochester Red Wings
- Gwinnett Homers Four Times, Defeats Norfolk 8-1 - Gwinnett Stripers
- Mets Lead Evaporates to Red Wings in 9-7 Loss - Syracuse Mets
- Toledo Bested by Columbus on Monday - Toledo Mud Hens
- Knights Hold On, Edge Bulls 4-3 - Charlotte Knights
- Indians Use Clutch Home Runs to Halt Five-Game Skid - Indianapolis Indians
- Homering 'Pigs Top Bisons, 6-4 - Buffalo Bisons
- Pigs extend win-streak to four games - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Romano and O'Grady Star in Bats Loss to Indians, 7-6 - Louisville Bats
- Toledo Bested by Columbus on Monday - Toledo Mud Hens
- Bulls Comeback Bid Falls Short - Durham Bulls
- Four Gwinnett Bombs Topple Tides - Norfolk Tides
- Daniel Camarena dominates over seven innings as SWB snaps skid - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Camarena, RailRiders Take Series Opener from PawSox - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Game Notes: Indianapolis Indians (41-39) at Louisville Bats (30-52) - Louisville Bats
- Triple-A Home Run Derby Participants Announced - IL1
- Ford Honored by International League & Tabbed as All-Star Home Run Derby Participant - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Bisons Game Notes - Buffalo vs. Lehigh Valley (7:05 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
- Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (41-39) at Louisville Bats (30-52) - Indianapolis Indians
- Bisons' LHP Thomas Pannone Named International League Pitcher of the Week - Buffalo Bisons
- International League Players of the Week Named - IL1
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