By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network
Line up all the Canadians on minor-league rosters in alphabetical order and Rob Zastryzny would be dead last. 
 
Line them up in order of their skill and success this week and Zastryzny would be top of the heap, A-No. 1. 

The left-hander, drafted in the second round in 2013 from University of Missouri Tigers by Tim Wilken and signed by Ty Nichols, the Chicago Cubs prospect earned Canadian Baseball Network minor league player of the week, the best of the 83 Canucks with affiliated teams.

Coming back from missing a start, Zastryzny threw four innings for the triple-A Iowa Cubs allowing one run -- unearned -- in an 8-2 win over the New Orleans Zephyrs before 3,863 fans at Zephyr Field at in Metairie, La.

The lefty held Zephyrs hitless through three. In the fourth, New Orleans took advantage of a lead-off walk to Xavier Scruggs as the base runner stole second and scored an unearned run on a sharp line-drive single from Destin Hood. He recorded five ground outs and three fly ball outs.

A five-run second was possible since Zastryzny helped his own self when he drew a walk and later scored on a ground out from Albert Almora Jr. Zastryzny would exit after four, allowing the single hit with three walks and three strikeouts.

And in his second outing Zastryzny pitched five perfect innings as Iowa beat the Omaha Storm Chasers 13-0 before 6,474 at Werner Park. Iowa in Papillion, Neb.

He limited Omaha to three hits, tying a season low for its opponents, and sat down 17 batters on strikes.

Zastryzny dominated, striking out eight while spinning five perfect innings. He was pulled prior to the sixth after tossing 69 pitches -- 45 strikes. He improved to 5-3 collecting his first win since June 26. He recorded seven ground ball outs. 

And on the season, including nine starts at double-A Tennessee he is 8-5 with a 4.33 ERA in 22 games (21 starts). He has walked 49 and fanned 105 in 124 2/3 innings.
 
BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
Player/Class/Team              AB   R   H  HR  RBI   AVG
Daniel Pinero - A Connecticut     10   4   5    -    3   .500
Tyler O’Neill - AA Jackson        23   5   9    1   6   .391
Mike Reeves - A Dunedin        14   3   5    1   2   .357
Jesse Hodges - A Myrtle Beach   20   3   7   1    4   .350
Jacob Robson - Rkie GCL Tigers    12   1   4    -    1   .333
 
Maxx Tissenbaum - IND Quebec   11   4   4    -    1   .364
Jordan Lennerton - IND Quebec   12   4   4   -    3   .333
Mike Crouse - IND New Britain    26   4   8   2    8   .308
Carter Bell - IND Joliet           24   3   7   1    3   .292
Sebastien Boucher - IND Ottawa   14   3   4   1    1   .286
(Minimum 10 AB’s required)

 
BEST PITCHING PERFORMANCES
ROB ZASTRYZNY  LHP  -  AAA  IOWA CUBS
APP  IP  H   R  ER  BB  K  W-L  SV   WHIP  WK ERA
2   9.0  1   1   -    -   11  1-0    -    0.11    0.00
Rob Zastryzny had two outstanding outings this week for the Iowa Cubs and in the process, earned his fifth Pacific Coast League win of the season. On July 27th in an 8-2 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs he pitched four innings, gave up one base hit and no runs while striking out four Zephyrs batters, but was not involved in the decision. On Aug. 1st in a 13-0 win over Omaha Storm Chasers he was at his very best as he tossed five innings, surrendered no hits and no runs, while striking out eight Omaha hitters, to earn the win. Despite the fact he was pitching a perfect game at the time, it’s obvious his manager felt it was wise it to save some innings, in what was already a rout. These two starts improved his record with Iowa to 5-3 with a 4.37 ERA, and his overall record in 22 starts this year including a stint with Double A Tennessee Smokies, now stands at 8-5 with a 4.13 ERA.

 
RYAN KELLOGG  LHP  -  A SOUTH BEND CUBS
APP  IP  H   R  ER  BB  K  W-L  SV   WHIP  WK ERA
1   6.0  4   -   -    -   6   1-0    -    0.67    0.00
Ryan Kellogg made an excellent start for the Cubs this week, and it’s one which some might describe as his best of the season. On July 28th in a 3-0 win over the Lake County Captains he pitched six innings, gave up four base hits and no runs while striking out six Lake County batters to earn his fourth win of the season. This outing improved his record, in 18 appearances with South Bend in the Single A Midwest League, to 4-7 with a 3.46 ERA. 

 

MICHAEL SOROKA  RHP  -  A  ROME BRAVES
APP  IP  H   R  ER  BB  K  W-L  SV   WHIP  WK ERA
1   6.0  5   -   -    -   6   1-0   -     0.83   0.00
On July 31st Michael Soroka made an excellent start for the Rome Braves in a 6-3 win over the Greenville Drive. In this game he pitched six innings, gave up just five base hits and no runs while striking out six Greenville batters, to earn his fourth win of the season. His record with the Braves in the Single A South Atlantic League, now stands at 4-9 with a 3.17 ERA.

 
DEVON STEWART  RHP  -  A  LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS
APP  IP  H   R  ER  BB  K  W-L  SV   WHIP  WK ERA
3   4.2  2   -   -    3   1  1-0   -    1.19    0.00
Getting adjusted at Lake County in the Midwest League, since his recent move by the Cleveland Indians from Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the New York-Penn League, Devon Stewart made three excellent relief appearances for the Captains this week. On July 28th in a 3-0 win over South Bend Cubs he pitched one scoreless inning, gave up zero base hits, but was not involved in the decision. On July 29th in an 11-7 victory over South Bend he tossed one scoreless inning, but again was not involved in the decision. On Aug. 1 in a 3-1 win over the West Michigan Whitecaps he pitched 2 2/3 scoreless allowing two base hits earning his first win of the season. His record with Lake County is now 1-1, one save and a 2.45 ERA and his overall record for the season, including his stint at Mahoning Valley in a total of 14 appearances, is 1-4, one save and a 3.68 ERA.

PLAYER MOVEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS
LHP Adam Loewen (Surrey, BC) - Called up to Major League Roster by Arizona Diamondbacks from Triple A Reno Aces.
 
1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) - Traded by Miami Marlins to the San Diego Padres in the Andrew Cashner deal, and moved by Padres to Single A Lake Elsinore Storm from Single A Greensboro Grasshoppers.
 
C Dustin Houle (Penticton, BC) - Moved by the Milwaukee Brewers to Double A Biloxi Shuckers from Single A Brevard County Manatees.
 
RHP Alex Webb (Surrey, BC) - Moved by Cincinnati Reds to Single A Dayton Dragons from Rookie Class Billings Mustangs.
 
RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) - Moved by the San Diego Padres to Single A Tri City Dust Devils from Rookie Class AZL PAdres.
 
RHP Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, BC) - Placed on the Disabled List by St. Louis Cardinals at Double A Springfield Cardinals.
 
OF Miles Gordon (Oakville, Ont.) - Placed on the 60 Day Disabled List by Cincinnati Reds at Rookie Class Billings Mustangs.

 

Weekly Winners

Week XX _ Ismael Pena (Montreal, Que.) Mariners

Week XIX _ RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) Blue Jays

Week XVIII _ LHP Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, Ont.) Cubs

Week XVII _ LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) Cubs

Week XVI _ C Jordan Procyshen (Calgary, Alta.) Red Sox and OF Brett Siddall (Windsor, Ont.) A’s.

 

Week XV _ 1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) Marlins.

Week XIV _ RHP Alex Webb (Surrey, BC) Reds.

Week XIII _ OF Gareth Morgan (North York, Ont.) Mariners and OF Cole Bauml (Meunster, Sask.) Tigers.

Week XII _ Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) Blue Jays.

Week XI _ RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) Phillies.

 

Week X _ RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) Blue Jays.

Week IX _ OF Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) Blue Jays.

Week VIII _ RHP Chris Leroux (Mississauga, Ont.) Blue Jays

Week VII _ LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) Cubs

Week VI _ LHP Evan Grills (Whitby, Ont.) Astros

 

Week V _ RP Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, BC) Cardinals.  

Week III _ LHP James Paxton (Ladner, BC) Mariners.

Week II _ OF Brett Siddall (Windsor, Ont.) A’s. 

Week I _ C Dustin Houle (Penticton, BC) Brewers.