CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Wieland Again Named Pitcher of the Week

Published on May 31, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - For the second time in four weeks, Pelicans right-hander Joe Wieland is taking home a weekly award in the Carolina League. After his gem at BB&T Coastal Field on Saturday night against Wilmington, Wieland has been been named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the period of May 23-29.

Wieland shut down the Wilmington Blue Rocks over the course of seven shutout innings on May 28. He allowed five hits and struck out nine without walking a batter in a 4-0 win. Despite having the tying run in scoring position in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings, Wieland worked of trouble to preserve the shutout. He becomes the first player in the Carolina League to win a weekly award twice. Wieland was rewarded for his incredible performance at Potomac on May 4 as well. In that game, Wieland allowed two infield hits and no runs while not walking a man and striking out 13 Nationals batters in only six innings. Those 13 Ks came one shy of tying the franchise record.

Drafted out of high school by the Rangers in the fourth round in 2008, the Reno, Nevada native Wieland has pitched at three different levels in the Texas system. This year, he entered his third full professional season ranked as the 22nd-best overall Rangers prospect according to Baseball America, a publication that praises his makeup and composure on the mound saying, "He's polished for his age, with the ability to add and subtract velocity, to sink his fastball or elevate it, to pitch in or work away."

Entering play on Tuesday, Wieland leads the Carolina League in both ERA (1.53) and strikeouts (70). The 21-year-old ranks second in both WHIP (0.86) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.55). He has only walked three batters in 59 innings, not only is that the best ratio in the league, it ranks third in all of Minor League Baseball behind Brad Myers (1 BB/59.2 IP - AA/AAA WAS) and Carlos Quevedo (2 BB/49.2 IP - A HOU).

While the Pitcher and Player of the Week honors have been awarded 14 times over the season's first seven weeks, five times it has been given to a Pelican, giving Myrtle Beach the highest total in the circuit. Lefty starter Robbie Erlin and outfielder Ryan Strausborger won Pitcher and Player of the Week respectively on May 10, third baseman Mike Olt took home the first Player of the Week award on April 18.

Wieland will take the hill on Thursday night when the Birds wrap up a four-game road series with the Frederick Keys. After a weekend set in Lynchburg against the Hillcats, the Pelicans come home for a four-game series against the Winston-Salem Dash starting on Monday, June 6 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for all Pelicans home games can be purchased by visiting the BB&T Coastal Field Box office, the Tickets page at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com, or by calling (843)918-6000 or (877)918-TIXX.

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Carolina League Stories from May 31, 2011


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