Reyes, Meyer Honored with Weekly Awards

May 7, 2018 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1) News Release

ROUND ROCK, Texas - El Paso Chihuahuas outfielder Franmil Reyes had a historic week at the plate and New Orleans Baby Cakes right-hander Ben Meyer tossed a pair of quality starts; today the duo was named the Pacific Coast League's Player and Pitcher of the Week for the period of April 30-May 6, 2018, the League office announced on Monday.

Reyes' offensive onslaught featured 17 hits, 11 extra-base hits, eight home runs, 44 total bases and 13 runs, all totals that led Minor League Baseball. He has homered in five consecutive games, including a stretch that saw him post three straight multi-homer games. Reyes is the first PCL player to hit eight or more home runs in a single week since May 21-27, 2007, when Omaha's Craig Brazell also hit eight. In total, Reyes hit .607 (17-for-28) with 14 RBI, slugging 1.571 for an OPS of 2.217, the latter two of which also paced MiLB.

The 22-year-old, who collected a hit and run scored in all seven contests, has posted six consecutive multi-hit games, the last four of which have been three-hit efforts. He got on base three times, drove in a run and scored a run in a May 1 win against Reno. Reyes followed by hitting six home runs over the next three games, from May 2-4, a span that saw him reach base in 10-of-13 plate appearances, collect nine RBI and score eight runs. Reyes finished the week with his fourth and fifth straight games with a home run, highlighted by his three-hit, three-RBI performance May 6 at Albuquerque.

Reyes, in his seventh season in the Padres organization, is Minor League Baseball's early season leader with 13 home runs. He has totaled the most bases in the PCL this season (84), while ranking among the league leaders in RBI (34, t-1st), extra-base hits (19, t-1st) and runs scored (29, t-1st). The Dominican Republic native is a year removed from pacing the Double-A Texas League in home runs (25), extra-base hits (53) and total bases (235). In his 685-game career, he has hit .266 (686-for-2576) with 82 home runs and 417 RBI. This is his third career Player of the Week award; the Chihuhuas are the first PCL team to have three consecutive Player of the Week recipients since the 2009 Las Vegas 51s (Kevin Howard, June 22-28; Joe Inglett, June 29-July 5; Jason Lane, July 6-12).

Meyer made two starts for the Baby Cakes, totaling 14.0 innings, allowing only three earned runs and striking out nine. On April 30 against Round Rock, the righty went seven innings, giving up only three hits, two runs while punching out four. He did not factor into the decision of the eventual 3-2 New Orleans win. Meyer recorded a victory five days later at Omaha. He faced only two over the minimum in his seven innings of work, with the only two hits he allowed coming in a three-batter sequence. Meyer struck out five and threw 60-of-85 pitches for strikes.

In his first year at the highest level of the Minors, Meyer has posted the fourth-best ERA in the PCL to date (2.10; 34.1 IP, 8 ER). He has also held opponents to a .172 average (21-for-122) and sports a 0.84 WHIP, totals that both lead the league. The 25-year-old Minneapolis native was selected by the Marlins in the 29th round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Minnesota. Meyer has appeared in 98 games in his professional career (28 starts), going 13-21 with a 2.73 ERA (293.0 IP, 89 ER). This is his first career Pitcher of the Week award.

El Paso Chihuahuas outfielder Franmil Reyes exchanges high fives (Ivan Pierre Aguirre)

New Orleans Baby Cakes right-hander Ben Meyer (Parker Waters)

Pacific Coast League Stories from May 7, 2018

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• Peralta Shines as Sky Sox Hand Dodgers First Home Loss - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
• Meyer Named PCL Pitcher of the Week - New Orleans Baby Cakes
• Reyes, Meyer Honored with Weekly Awards - PCL1
• Reno Aces Game Notes - Reno Aces
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