Michael Crouse, CBN POW
*Michael Crouse (Port Moody, BC) swinging during spring training at the Bobby Mattick training facility./Eddie Michels photo.
By George Farelli
The best of Week 7 of Canadians in the minors …
At the plate
Player / Class / Team AB R H HR RBI AVG
Michael Crouse -- A Lansing 25 6 11 - 9 .440
George Kottaras -- AAA Nashville 16 5 7 1 6 .438
Adam Loewen - - AAA Las Vegas 27 3 11 - 3 .407
Syler Stromsmoe -- AA Richmond 10 3 4 - - .400
Chris Dennis -- A Wisconsin 24 5 9 - 7 .375
Tim Smith -- AA N.W. Arkansaas 11 3 4 - 2 .364
Brett Lawrie -- AAA Las Vegas 30 11 10 3 8 .333
Shawn Bowman -- AAA Gwinnett 16 3 5 1 2 .313
Marcus Knecht -- A Lansing 27 7 8 1 6 .296
(Minimum 10 At Bats)
On the mound
STOSH WAWRZASEK RHP - A WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS
APP IP H R ER BB K W - L SV WHIP WK ERA
2 5.1 2 - - 2 9 1-0 1 0.78 0.00
A fine week for the 20-year old Brewers prospect, as he picked up his first win and first save of the season. On May 19th in a 4-3 victory over Beloit Snappers he threw three innings, allowing only one hit, no runs and striking out six to get the win. On May 22 against the Burlington Bees he closed out another 4-3 victory with 2.1 innings of solid relief work, giving up 1 hit, no runs and three strikeouts, for the save. These performances improved his overall record at Wisconsin to 1-1, 1 Save and a 2.65 ERA.
JAMES PAXTON LHP - A CLINTON LUMBERKINGS
APP IP H R ER BB K W - L SV WHIP WK ERA
2 11.1 6 2 2 5 19 1-0 - 0.99 1.62
Continuing his excellent performance in his rookie season, Paxton made two appearances this week. On May 19th in a 7-5 loss against Burlington Bees in 11 innings, he pitched 5.1 innings, giving up only three hits, one run and struck out 7 hitters, but was not involved in the decision. On May 24th a 7-1 victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels, James threw 6 solid innings, surrendered three hits, one earned run and struck out 12 batters, picking up his first win of the season. With these two terrific performances, he improved his overall record with Clinton Lumberkings to 1-1 with a 2.22 ERA.
MITCH HODGE RHP - A BURLINGTON BEES
APP IP H R ER BB K W - L SV WHIP WK ERA
2 4.0 3 1 1 2 3 - - 1.25 2.25
Hodge had a fine week in relief for the Bees, appearing in two games. On May 19th a 3-1 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels, he threw two innings giving up only one hit and no runs, and was not involved in the decision. On May 23 an 8-5 loss to Beloit Snappers, he again tossed two innings surrendering two hits, one earned run and struck out three, but was not involved in the decision. These two outings improved his overall record with Single-A, Burlington to 0-0 with a 5.73 ERA.
NICK BUCCI RHP - A BREVARD COUNTY MANATEES
APP IP H R ER BB K W - L SV WHIP WK ERA
1 6.0 5 1 1 1 4 - - 1.00 1.50
On May 22nd a 5-1 loss to Palm Beach Cardinals, Nick started and threw six innings, surrendering only five hits, one earned run while striking out four. He got a no decision and his overall record with the Single-A Manatees improved to 3-2 with a 2.42 ERA.
NATHAN FORER RHP - A CHARLESTON RIVER DOGS
APP IP H R ER BB K W - L SV WHIP WK ERA
2 5.0 4 - - 1 2 - - 1.00 0.00
Nathan had two good outings this week, on March 22nd a 5-2 loss to Augusta Greenjackets, he threw three scoreless innings giving up three hits. On May 25th, a 3-0 loss to Hickory Crawdads, he pitched two innings and gave up one hit and no runs. In both games he was not involved in the decision, but his overall record with Charleston improved to 1-2, 2 saves and a 3.32 ERA.
Player of the Week
OF Michael Crouse (Port Moody, BC) class-A Lansing Lugnuts.
The speedster showed some pop as well with Lansing (Blue Jays) to earn honours as the best of the 65 Canadians in the minors this week. Crouse, signed by scout Kevin Briand, tied Adam Loewen for the most hits of the week, going 11-for-25 (.440), but knocked in nine runs compared to Loewen’s three at triple-A Vegas.
Runners-up, besides Loewen: George Kottaras, Markham, .438, home run, six RBIs at triple-A Nashville (Brewers); Stosh Wawrzasek, Langley, B.C. who had a win and a save in five scoreless at class-A Wisconsin (Brewers); James Paxton, Ladner, B.C., who picked up his first win at class-A Clinton (Mariners), striking out 19 in 11 1/3 innings; Nick Bucci, Sarnia, Ont. who allowed one run in six innings at class-A Brevard County (Brewers); Brett Lawrie, Langley, .333, three homers, eight RBIs at Vegas (Jays), Brampton’s Nathan Forer, who pitched five scoreless for class-A Charleston (Yankees).
Previous Players of the Week
Week 1 — LHP Mark Hardy (Campbell River, BC)
Week 2 — RHP Nick Bucci (Sarnia, Ont.)
Week 3 — 3B Brett Lawrie (Langley, BC)
Week 4 — RP Andrew Albers (North Battleford, Sask.)
Week 5 -- OF Adam Loewen (Surrey, BC)
Week 6 -- C Mike Blanke (Granby, Que.)
Player Movements this week
Trystan Magnuson (Vancouver, BC) - Moved by Oakland A’s to Triple-A, Sacremento River Cats.
Scott Mathieson RHP (Aldergrove, BC) - Moved by Philadelphia Phillies to Triple-A, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.
Peter Orr INF (Richmond Hill, Ont.) - Moved by the Philadelphia Phillies to Triple-A, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.
Blake Hawksworth RHP (North Vancouver, BC) - Moved by Los Angeles Dodgers to Single-A Rancho Cucamunga Quakes on rehab assignment.
John Suomi C (Etobicoke, Ont.) - Moved by Philadelphia Phillies to Triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs from Single-A Clearwater Threshers.
Jonathan Malo INF (Laval, Que.) - Moved by the New York Mets to Double-A Binghamton Mets from Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
Skyler Stromsmoe INF (Etzikom, Alta.) - Moved by the San Francisco Giants to Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels from extended sping training.
Jonathan Hesketh LHP (Langley, BC) - Placed on the Disabled List by Seattle Mariners at Single-A Clinton Lumberkings.
Ryan Braun (Kitchener, Ont.) - Signs as Free Agent with Lancaster Barnstormers, IND Atlantic League.
Jeff Helps (Wyoming, Ont.) - Signs as Free Agent with the Quebec Capitales, IND Can Am League.
Mathieu Poirier RHP (Montreal, Que.) - Signs as Free Agent with Quebec Capitales, IND Can Am League.
David Davidson LHP (Thorold, Ont.) - Signs as Free Agent with Edmonton Capitals, IND North American League.
John Mariotti RHP (Toronto, Ont.) - Placed on the Inactive List by the Quebec Capitales, IND Can Am League.
Aaron Wideman LHP (Mississauga, Ont.) - Placed on the Inactive List by the New Jersey Jackals, IND Can Am League.
Guillaume Duguay RHP (Trois Rivieres, Que.) - Released by the Quebec Capitales, IND Can Am League.
Andy St. Gelais RHP (Quebec City, Que.) - Released by Quebec Capitales, IND Can Am League.