RHP Alex Webb, CBN POW, Week XIII
By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network
The first hitter Alex Webb faced in his pro career was infielder Gilbert Lara.
Webb entered the game with his Billings Mustangs leading the Helena Brewers 4-0 in the top of the fifth. Lara was ranked the No. 4 international prospect when the Milwaukee Brewers gave him a $3.1 million US signing bonus.
The University of British Columbia right-hander, Webb (Surrey, BC) walked Lara, now 18.
Next Webb struck out both Cooper Hummel, 18th round choice of the Brewers from the University of Portland Pilot and Caleb Whalen, a 38th rounder also from Portland, and then retired Joantgel Segovia on a ground ball.
In the sixth inning Webb fanned Jonathan Oquendo, a 14th round choice from 2014, allowed a line single to left to Lucas Erceg, a second round pick in June, a Menlo HS from Menlo, Calif.
Then, Weston Wilson, a 17th rounder from Clemson University, flew out to left and Ronnie Gideon, a 23rd rounder from Texas A&M, was called out on strikes.
Webb wound up with the win in his first pro outing, a 4-0 decision over Helena before 2,591 at Dehler Park in Billings, Mont. for a fifth consecutive win.
A ninth round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in June, Webb had a 33-pitch outing, throwing 22 strikes. He received a $5,000 US signing bonus from Reds scout Bill Byckowski.
Demi Orimoloye (Orleans, Ont.) went 3-for-4 for the Brewers and scored a run.
Webb also worked a scoreless ninth as Billings beat Helena 8-2 at Kindrick Legion Field in Helena. Webb retired Nathan Rodriguez, an 18th rounder from Cypress College, on a ground ball, Watson on a ground ball and fourth-rounder Orimoloye reached on a fielding error and Yerald Martinez bounced out.
Earlier Orimoloye hit a solo homer, his second the summer, in the second inning to put Helena up 2-0.
Miles Gordon (Oakville, Ont.) singled, walked and stole a bases for Billings.
In his first week as a pro, Webb earned Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Week honor for Week XIII. He pitched three scoreless innings allowing a single and a walk, while fanning four.
This honor is just another pebble for the pile as already the UBC stud earned Second team NAIA All-American honors as well as being named to the CoSIDA Academic All-American Team, earning CoSIDA Player of the Year and NAIA Academic All-American Player of the Year honors. He also picked up NAIA West Pitcher of the Year, Cascade Conference First Team honors. He scored Canadian Baseball Network All-Canadian College First Team honors in 2015. This season he was 10-1 with a 1.38 ERA in 15 starts for Chris Pritchett. Webb walked 15 and struck out 115 in 104 1/3 innings.
Besides the excellence of Webb, who was acclaimed the best of the 132 Canadians in the minors, including independent leaguers ...
_ Six players made their pro debuts: C Andrew Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.) with the Arizona Diamondbacks), Abraham Toro-Fernandez (Greenfield Park, Que.) and Louis-Phillipe Pelletier (Montreal, Que.) with the Houston Astros, Ben Pelletier (Varennes, Que.) of the Philadelphia Phillies. Jeremy Newton (Toronto, Ont.) with the Milwaukee Brewers and Webb.
_ RHP Karl Gelinas (Iberville, Que.) of the Quebec Capitales earned independent Can Am League Pitcher of the Week honors.
_ INF Carter Bell (Courtenay, BC) was named to the Frontier league, East Division All Star Team.
BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
Player/Class/Team AB R H HR RBI AVG
Mike Reeves - A Dunedin 13 3 6 1 4 .462
Jesse Hodges - A South Bend 21 5 9 - 4 .429
Andrew Yerzy - Rkie AZL D’Backs 15 1 6 - - .400
Eric Wood - AA Altoona 16 4 6 2 4 .375
Demi Orimoloye - Rkie AZL Brewers 22 3 8 1 3 .364
Brett Siddall - A Beloit 26 4 9 1 3 .346
Charles Leblanc - A Spokane 23 5 7 1 1 .304
Maxx Tissenbaum - IND Quebec 28 1 11 - 3 .404
Michael Crouse - IND New Britain 16 2 5 - 1 .313
Mike Blanke - IND Long Island 13 2 4 1 3 .308
Larry Balkwill - IND Windy City 10 1 3 1 3 .300
(Minimum 10 AB’s required.)
BEST PITCHING PERFORMANCES
ALEX WEBB RHP - RKIE BILLINGS MUSTANGS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
2 3.0 1 - - 1 4 1-0 - 0.67 0.00
It’s always fun to highlight the professional debut of a young prospect, particularly if it’s a successful one. This week 21 year old Alex Webb, a native of Surrey, BC and Fifth Round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in the recent 2016 MLB Draft, began his career with Rookie Class Billings Mustangs in the Pioneer League. He made two appearances and in the process earned his first win as a pro. On July 6th in a 4-3 victory over Helena Brewers he pitched two scoreless innings, gave up one hit while striking out four Helena batters, to pick up the win. On July 11th in an 8-2 over Helena he threw a scoreless inning in relief, didn’t allow a hit, but was not involved in the decision. His record with the Mustangs now stands at 1-0 including a perfect 0.00 ERA.
NICK PIVETTA RHP - AA READING FIGHTIN’ PHILS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
1 5.0 3 - - - 6 1-0 - 0.60 0.00
Fresh off a seven day stint on the Disabled List, Nick Pivetta quickly proved in his first start that he was completely healthy again. On July 10th in a 10-2 victory over the Bowie BaySox he pitched five scoreless innings, gave up only three base hits while striking out six Bowie hitters, to earn his eighth win of the season. His record with Reading in the Double A Eastern League, improved to 8-4 with a 3.14 ERA.
ANDREW ALBERS LHP - AAA ROCHESTER RED WINGS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
1 6.0 7 2 2 2 6 1-0 - 1.50 3.00
Andrew Albers has been able to maintain a consistent level of performance ever since his contract was acquired by the Twins earlier this season. This week on July 10th in a 3-2 win over Scranton Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders he pitched six innings, gave up seven base hits and two earned runs while striking out six Scranton batters, to earn his seventh win of the year. This outing improved his overall Triple A International League record with the Red Wings to 7-3 and a 3.61 ERA.
KARL GELINAS RHP - IND QUEBEC CAPITALES
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
1 8.0 4 - - 1 6 1-0 - 0.62 0.00
Another excellent outing this week for Quebec Ace Karl Gelinas. On July 10th in a 4-0 win over the New Jersey Jackals he threw a shutout, and in eight innings he surrendered just four base hits while striking out six New Jersey hitters, to earn the win. His performance improved his record with the Capitales to 5-1 with a 4.07 ERA, and in recognition of his performance was named Can Am League Pitcher of the Week.
PLAYER MOVEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS
2B Daniel Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) - Moved by the Detroit Tigers to Single A Connecticut Tigers from Rookie Class Gulf Coast Tigers - West.
RHP Colin Kleven (Kamloops, BC) - Moved by Chicago White Sox to Double A Birmingham Barons, from Single A Winston Salem Dash.
1B Justin Morneau (New Westminster, BC) - On Re Hab assignment moved by Chicago White Sox to Double A Birmingham Barons, from Triple A Charlotte Knights.
OF Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) - Activated from Disabled List by the Toronto Blue Jays at Triple A Buffalo Bisons.
RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) - Activated from the Disabled List by Philadelphia Phillies at Double A Reading Fightin’ Phils.
OF Ben Pelletier (Varennes, Que.) - Activated by the Philadelphia Phillies at Rookie Class Gulf Coast Phillies.
RHP Jeremy Newton (Toronto, Ont.) - Activated by the Milwaukee Brewers at Rookie Class AZL Brewers.
RHP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) - 2016 Fifth Round Draft Pick signed by Minnesota Twins. Not assigned yet.
C Andrew Yerzy (Toronto, Ont.) - 2016 Second Round Draft Pick activated by Arizona Diamondbacks at Rookie Class Missoula Osprey.
3B Abraham Toro-Hernandez (Greenfield Park, Que.) - 2016 Fifth Round Draft Pick activated by Houston Astros at Rookie Class Greenville Drive.
RHP Alex Webb (Surrey, BC) - 2016 Ninth Round Draft Pick activated by Cincinnati Reds at Rookie Class Billings Mustangs.
2B Louis-Phillipe Pelletier (Montreal, Que.) - 2016 20th Round Draft Pick signed by Houston Astros and activated at Rookie Class Gulf Coast Astros.
MGR Max Poulin (St. Eustache, Que.) - Named Manager of the Trois Rivieres Eagles IND Can Am League, replacing Pete LaForest.
LHP Philippe Valiquette (St. Laurent, Que.) - Activated from Disabled List by Trois Rivieres Eagles IND Can Am League.
OF Rene Tosoni (Coquitlam, BC) - Placed on the Disabled List by the Sugar Land Skeeters IND Atlantic League.
OF Jim Adduci (Burnaby, BC) - Placed on the Suspended List by Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization, and must serve minimum of 36 games as a result of a failed a Drug Test.