Southern League Pitcher and Player of the Week May 8-14
Published on May 15, 2017 under Southern League (SL1) News Release
MARIETTA, GA - The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs announces its Pitcher and Player of the Week for May 8 through 14. The Mississippi Braves earned the first sweep of the weekly awards this season, as righthander Mike Soroka was selected as the Pitcher of the Week while newcomer Ronald Acuna earned Player of the Week honors.
With three consecutive pitcher of the week honors, Southern League batters have witnessed firsthand the potential of the Mississippi pitching staff after Mike Soroka flirted with perfection on Friday, May 12. The third youngest player in the Southern League this season (see below) did not allow a baserunner through six innings last week en route to his third win of the year. Exiting the game with two outs in the seventh, Soroka allowed just one hit and issued one walk, while striking out five batters in the Braves 6-1 win over Mobile. In addition to his clean ERA, the Calgary native posted a league-low WHIP of 0.30 and .048 opponents' batting average.
Questions about Ronald Acuna's age at the Double-A level were answered quickly last week when the slugger connected on a two-run homerun on his first Southern League pitch on May 9. One night later, he repeated the feat, sending the first ball thrown to him in the game over the left field wall at the cavernous Trustmark Park. The youngest player in the loop either led or tied for the Double-A lead last week with 14 hits, 10 RBI, a .920 slugging percentage and OPS of 1.513. Acuna led the Southern circuit with a .560 batting average and finished second with 23 total bases. Adding six runs, four extra-base hits, a double, a triple, two homeruns and four stolen bases, the La Guaria, Venezuela native dominated League pitchers over his six games played last week.
Southern League Stories from May 15, 2017
- M-Braves Clinch Series with Offensive Explosion - Mississippi Braves
- RECAP: Flores Powers Generals to Walk-Off Win - Jackson Generals
- Jackson's Flores Hits Walk-Off to Beat Pensacola, 4-3 - Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Soroka, Acuna Sweep Southern League Weekly Awards - Mississippi Braves
- Southern League Pitcher and Player of the Week May 8-14 - SL1
- Weekly Sports League & Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
- Acuna, Soroka Claim Weekly Honors - Mississippi Braves
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