MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Two-Timer: Kubitza Named Pitcher of the Week Again

Published on May 5, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - For the second time this season, West Michigan Whitecaps' pitcher Austin Kubitza was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week on Monday.

The 22-year-old right-hander made only one start last week, but it was a dominant performance at Lake County on Thursday night. Kubitza racked up a career-high 12 strikeouts over seven masterful innings, allowing just two hits and issuing one walk without giving up a run. He recorded 19 of his 21 outs on either strikeouts or groundouts and did not allow a ball to leave the infield until a fifth-inning single broke up his early no-hit bid.

Kubitza, the Detroit Tigers' fourth-round pick out of Rice University last summer, is 3-0 with a 2.15 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 29.1 innings of work. He has issued only eight walks and limited opposing hitters to a paltry .189 batting average. The 6-foot-5 right-hander currently ranks among the league leaders in winning percentage (T-1st), strikeouts (3rd) and ERA (8th). His strikeout-to-walk ratio of 11.97 also ranks second in the Midwest League behind only teammate Buck Farmer.

Kubitza is the first Midwest Leaguer to win multiple weekly awards this season. He was also named the league's Pitcher of the Week during the opening period of the season from April 3-13 after going 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA and a 16-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Kubitza is part of a talented West Michigan Whitecaps' pitching staff that currently leads the Midwest League with a 2.56 ERA and 273 strikeouts.

The Whitecaps are back at Fifth Third Ballpark to open a six-game homestand on Monday night at 6:35 p.m. against the Lake County Captains. RHP Jonathon Crawford (1-1, 3.04) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Robbie Aviles (0-1, 1.02) of Lake County. Fans that present a church or community bulletin will receive half-price reserved seats thanks to JQ99 FM. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

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Midwest League Stories from May 5, 2014


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