Struck to Daytona, Chiefs add Kirk from Boise
Published on August 23, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
PEORIA, IL- The Peoria Chiefs and Chicago Cubs have announced that that starting pitcher Nick Struck has been promoted to Advanced-A Daytona while former third round pick Austin Kirk will take his place on the roster from Short-Season Boise. Kirk, a lefty, will piggyback with right-hander Marcus Hatley and pitch Monday night in Clinton.
Struck, 20, leads the Chiefs in wins and losses with eight each and has posted a 3.22 ERA in 25 games and 18 starts. He entered the Chiefs record book on April 30 with a five-inning no hitter against Clinton that was shortened by rain at O'Brien Field. Following the no-hitter Struck lost six straight decisions over a 13 outing span before picking up a win against Dayton on July 15. He won his final six decisions in seven outings from July 15 to August 18 to finish with an 8-8 record. Struck leaves the Chiefs seventh in the Midwest League in ERA (3.22), fifth in WHIP (1/16) and fourth in opponents batting average (.225). He struck out 84 batters and walked 40 over 114 2/3 innings. The Oregon native was 3-0 with a 1.24 ERA in July and 3-0 with a 2.53 ERA so far in August. Since the MWL All-Star break he emerged as the Chiefs ace with a 6-1 mark and a 2.08 ERA in 11 outings.
Kirk, 20, joins the Chiefs from the Boise Hawks where he was 4-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 12 games and 10 starts. His last outing was on Wednesday as he beat the Everett AquaSox with one run allowed on four hits over five innings. He went at least five innings five times this season and struck out 48 batters with 12 walks over 51 2/3 innings. Drafted out of Owasso High School in Oklahoma in the third round of the 2009 draft, Kirk struck out a career-high nine batters July 16 against Salem-Kaizer. Last season he was 2-1 with a 3.95 ERA in seven games and two starts split between Mesa and Boise. He was 8-1 with a 0.45 ERA in 11 games as s senior in high school at Owasso. He struck out 111 batters in 61 2/3 innings to lead Owasso to its 11th state championship in the last 13 years.
Struck takes the Daytona roster spot of former Chiefs ace Trey McNutt who has been promoted to Double-A Tennessee. In 22 total starts this season, McNutt is 10-0 with 119 strikeouts over 100 2/3 innings and a 1.97 ERA. The ERA ranks him second in all of Minor League Baseball behind Brandon Beachy of the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves who has a 1.86 ERA in 32 games and 10 starts.
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