Rodriguez Named International League Pitcher of the Week
Published on May 31, 2022 under International League (IL)
Norfolk Tides News Release
Minor League Baseball today announced the International League's Player and Pitcher of the Week Awards. Norfolk Tides' starter Grayson Rodriguez was named Pitcher of the Week, while Omaha infielder Vinnie Pasquantino was named Player of the Week. Rodriguez is currently listed as the probable starter for the Tides tomorrow night, Wednesday, June 1. It's the second time he's won a Pitcher of the Week award, winning it with Single-A Delmarva of the South Atlantic League in 2019.
Rodriguez was dominant in his start Friday, May 27 vs. Gwinnett. He earned his fifth win of the season by tossing 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out 10 batters. He threw a season-high 88 pitches and 68 strikes (77.3% strikes). It was his fourth start of the season with at least 4.0 innings pitched and allowed two hits or less. Stripers batter Preston Tucker recorded both hits off Rodriguez.
In his last five starts, Rodriguez is 3-0 with a 0.94 ERA (3 ER, 28.2 IP), allowing 14 hits and nine walks (0.80 WHIP) while striking out 43. He's struck out at least eight batters in four straight starts, totaling six such games this season. He's the first pitcher in the International League to have a four-game eight-strikeout streak since Michael Kopech did so with Charlotte in 2018.
It's the second time that a Tide has won the International League Pitcher of the Week Award this season, and the third weekly award overall. Kyle Bradish won Pitcher of the Week in week two of the season from April 11 - 17 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He totaled 9.0 innings of work, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out nine hitters. He threw 64% of his pitches for strikes, tossing 125 pitches, 80 for strikes.
Kyle Stowers won Player of the Week the series prior to Rodriguez' award-winning week. Stowers put on an impressive display of power during the Tides six-game series at Charlotte from May 17 - 22. The Orioles No. 8 prospect, according to MLB.com, went 12-for-25 (.480) with three doubles, five home runs and 10 RBI, while scoring 11 runs and also drawing five walks. Stowers posted a .567 on-base percentage and slugged 1.200, recording an incredible OPS of 1.767. In the final game of the series, he went 3-for-5 with four runs scored, three home runs and five RBI, becoming the ninth player in Tides franchise history with three home runs in a season.
The Norfolk Tides lead the International League in Player of the Week awards this season; they're the only team with three award winners. Lehigh Valley, Memphis, Worcester and Buffalo are the other International League teams with multiple league weekly award winners this season.
Ticketing Information
Fans can purchase tickets in person at the Harbor Park box office or online at NorfolkTides.com/Tickets. The Harbor Park box office is currently open from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday each week. The box office also opens at 10 a.m. on Saturdays when the team is at home, and is open from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturdays with no home game.
Single-game tickets start at $14 for Reserved Seats, with Box Seats available for $15. The Tides also offer special discounts to children ages two through high school, active military with ID (4 tickets per ID) and senior citizens (60 +). These special discounts are available in the Lower and Upper Reserved sections and can be purchased for $12. Children under two years old are admitted free of charge. For groups of 20 or more, please call the Norfolk Tides front office to speak with a group sales representative at 757-622-2222.
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