– Covering May 28th – June 3rd games —

Pitcher:
Adam Warren, 24, RHP, AAA
13.1 IP, 12 K, 3 BB, 12 H, 2 ER, 1 HR
Notable: June 3rd start was a complete game shutout (7 IP – 1st game of double-header

Over the last year, Adam Warren’s name has always been mentioned as one of the three pitchers who would give the big club depth at the back end of the rotation (David Phelps and DJ Mitchell being the other two). He auditioned in spring training and was ultimately sent back to AAA.

Up until this past week, this season has not been kind to Warren. His ERA finally went below 5.00 after these last two starts (now at 4.33). However, what’s peculiar about Warren’s season is that his strikeouts and walk rates (6.7 K/9, 3.1 BB/9) are identical to his 2011 AAA numbers. In 2011, he had an ERA of 3.60 and FIP of 4.05.

The difference this year is the big increase in hits he’s allowing. He’s gone from 8.6 H/9 in 2011 to 11.7 H/9 in 2012. One of the main culprits looks to be a career-high BABIP of .348. The highest BABIP he’s had at any stop in the minors was .309 (at AA). So, Warren’s either experienced so bad luck or he’s getting tattooed. Without batted ball data, it’s tough to tell…but that BABIP seems abnormally high.

Hitter:
Tyler Austin, 20, RHB COF/1B/3B, A
.555/.636/.851 in 33 PAs (6 BB, 2 SB)
Notable: Went 5-for-5 with a 2B, 3B, BB, and SB on May 28th!

We’ve had seven editions of MLPW so far this season, and Charleston Riverdogs OF Tyler Austin has won three of them. We’ve said it already, and we’ll say it again: he’s the best hitter in the organization. He had 15 hits this past week, and now has a line of .333/.409/.671 on the season. He’s also stolen 13 bases in 14 attempts.

Austin leads the South Atlantic League in HRs (14), SLG, and OPS.

Honorable Mentions:

DJ Mitchell, 25, RHP, AAA
6 IP, 7 K, 1 BB, 5 H, 3 ER
4.42 ERA, but 3.52 FIP

Vidal Nuno, 24, LHP, AA
7 IP, 5 K, 1 BB, 3 H, 0 ER
Recently promoted to AA

Gary Sanchez, 19, RHB C, A
.413/.452/1.034 in 31 PAs
Would have won if not for Austin, 5 HRs on the week