PCL Names Player and Pitcher of the Week
Published on July 7, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1) News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - Wilmer Flores of the Las Vegas 51s and Jose De Paula of the Fresno Grizzlies have been named Pacific Coast League Player and Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 30th - July 6th, the league office announced today.
Wilmer Flores has showcased his power in his last five games, connecting for six home runs to lead the PCL in round-trippers for the week. The 22-year old is the first Las Vegas player to hit six homers in a five-game span since Melvin Nieves accomplished the feat in 1994. Flores also held league-highs during the week with 13 hits, 12 runs scored, and 16 RBIs. The infielder hit safely in all eight games he played, and recorded five multi-hit performances for a .382 average. During the 51s' four-game series at Albuquerque he went 7-for-14 at the plate, while driving in 12 runs. On July 4th, Flores knocked out two home runs for his second multi-homer game of the season. In 41 games with Las Vegas this season, he has batted .327 with 11 home runs.
The New York Mets originally signed the Valencia, Venezuela, native on Aug. 6, 2007, as an international free agent. Baseball America lists him as the Mets' No. 6 prospect entering the 2014 season. Flores has played in 25 major league games this year, compiling 18 hits and seven RBIs for New York. The Player of the Week award is his first since his rookie campaign in 2008 with the Kingsport Mets of the Appalachian League.
Jose De Paula started two games this week for Fresno and went a combined nine innings without allowing an earned run. The left-hander's .097 opponents' average for the week ranked second in the league, while his 0.67 WHIP was the third-best. He tossed four no-hit innings, while scattering two walks in Fresno's extra-inning victory at Sacramento on June 30th. De Paula earned the win in his next start against Tacoma, pitching five innings on July 5th. The 26-year-old retired 15 of the 20 batters he faced in that outing, surrendering just three hits and one walk. In his first Triple-A season, he has a 2-3 record and 4.23 ERA in 13 games with the Grizzlies.
The 2014 season marks De Paula's first in the San Francisco Giants' organization, after he was claimed off waivers from San Diego on Nov. 27, 2013. De Paula originally signed with the Padres in 2006 as an international free agent from Villa Mella, Dominican Republic. He entered 2014 as the Giants' No. 26 prospect according to Baseball America, as well as their seventh best left-handed pitching prospect. The Pitcher of the Week accolade is the first he has received in his seven-year professional career.
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