Rob Zastryzny, CBN POW, Week VII

LHP Rob Zastryzny had a two-win week, winning at double-A Tennessee and in his first start at triple-A Iowa. 

By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network
Any time anyone asks who is the next big thing in Canadian baseball the answer is usually Tyler O’Neill.

O’Neill (Langley, BC) hit 32 homers in 106 games for the class-A Bakersfield last year taking off a couple of weeks to help Canada win the Pan Am Games in Ajax.

This year through with roughly 2-5ths through the season the former Langley Blaze has eight in his first 42 games.

O’Neill remains a blue chip prospect but let’s not forget Rob Zed as he’s known ... or is it Rob Zee ... you know like that guy we used to see hanging with Beyonce ... Jay Z.  
 
Rob Zastryzny, top Canuck selected in the 2013 June draft from the University of Missouri in the second round, had a two-win week and was promoted from double-A Tennessee Smokies to the triple-A Iowa Cubs.

So Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) could be the next big thing from north of the border and earns Canadian Baseball Network Minor League Player of the Week for Week VII, as the best of the 87 Canucks in the minors. 

The lefty pitched 7 2/3 innings in beating the Biloxi Shuckers 7-2 before 3,380 fans at Smokies Park. He allowed two runs on four hits and one walk, while fanning eight. 

In his 101 pitch outing (73 pitches) he retired nine by ground ball outs and seven on fly balls.

Then, Zastryzny got the call to move from Knoxville, Tenn. to Des Moines, Iowa and pitch for the triple-A Iowa Cubs.

The lefty fared even better despite moving a step up the ladder pitching an 8-3 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas before 5,139 fans at Principal Park. Zastryzny pitched seven innings allowing two runs on five hits and three walks facing a lineup which included former big leaguers Hunter Renfroe and James Loney. He fanned five. 

Zastryzny needed only 79 pitches (47 strikes) to retire 21 outs, getting nine on ground balls. He benefitted from three double play balls as 3B Kristopher Negron, 2B Arismendy Alcantara and 1B Dan Vogelbach turned one, Zastryzny and Vogelbach another and the third one involved C Willson Contreras, SS Munenori Kawasaki, the forrmer popular Blue Jays infielder and Alcantara.

BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
Player / Class / Team    AB    R    H    HR    RBI    AVG
Tyler O’Neill - AA Jackson    24    2    7    2    3    .292
Brett Siddall - A Beloit    25    4    7    -    1    .280
Jesse Hodges - A South Bend    21    5    5    -    1    .238

Mike Crouse - IND New Britain    10    3    6    1    3    .600
Mike Blanke - IND Long Island    23    3    11    1    9    .478
Carter Bell - IND Joliet    24    5    10    1    5    .417
Jim Adduci - FGN Lotte (KBO)    22    4    8    2    6    .364
Jordan Lennerton - IND Quebec    22    4    8    1    4    .364
Trevor Gretzky - IND Quebec    11    1    4    -    3    .364
(Minimum 10 AB’s required)                        
 
BEST PITCHING PERFORMANCES
JAMESON TAILLON  RHP  -  AAA INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
1 6.0 5 0 0 0 8 1-0 0 0.83 0.00
Jameson Taillon had an excellent outing for the Indians this week, and the results would seem to indicate he’s completely recovered from his past injury problems. On May 19th in a 4-2 victory over Columbus Clippers he pitched six scoreless innings, gave up five base hits while striking out eight Columbus batters, to earn his third win of the season. In eight starts with Indianapolis his record is 3-2 with a 1.82 ERA.

 
ROWAN WICK  RHP  -  A  PALM BEACH CARDINALS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
3 3.0 1 0 0 0 5 0 2 0.33 0.00
Rowan Wick had another excellent week for the Cardinals with three relief appearances in which he earned two saves. It began on May 18th in a 5-1 win over Lakeland Tigers when he pitched a scoreless inning, without giving  up a hit, but was not involved in the decision. On May 20th in a 4-1 victory over Clearwater Threshers he tossed one scoreless, hitless inning, while striking out two Clearwater hitters, to earn his first save of the year. On May 24th in a 3-1 win over Ft. Myers Miracle he again pitched one scoreless inning, surrendered one base hit and while striking out one batter, to secure his second save of the week. These three outings improved his record with the Cardinals in 16 relief appearances to 1-0, with two saves and a 0.98 ERA.

BROCK DYKXHOORN RHP  -  A  LANCASTER JETHAWKS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
2 9.0 9 4 1 1 10 2-0 0 1.11 0.11
Another strong week for Astros pitching prospect Brock Dykxhoorn, with Single A Lancaster Jethawks. On May 18th in a 5-2 victory over Inland Empire ‘66ers he made his second relief appearance of the season, tossing four scoreless innings, he gave up two base hits, while striking out four Inland Empire hitters, to earn the win. Then on May 24th in an 11-9 win over Stockton Ports he pitched five innings, surrendered seven base hits and one earned run, while striking out six Stockton batters to pick up his second win of the week. His record with the JetHawks now stands at 4-1 with a 3.03 ERA. 

ROB ZASTRYZNY  LHP  -  AAA  IOWA CUBS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
2 14.2 9 4 4 4 13 2-0 0 0.92 2.54
It would be an understatement to say Rob Zastryzny had a very interesting and productive week. It began on May 19th in a 7-2 victory by the Tennessee Smokies over Southern League rivals Biloxi Shuckers. In this game he pitched seven and two thirds innings, gave up four base hits and two earned runs while striking out eight Biloxi batters, to earn the win. This outing improved his record with the Smokies in the Double A Southern League to 3-2 and a 3.79 ERA.
 
His performance at Tennessee was rewarded after that game with a promotion to Iowa Cubs, Chicago’s the Triple A affiliate in the Pacific Coast League. On May 24th in an 8-3 win over the El Paso Chihauhuas he made his first ever start at the Triple A level and tossed seven innings, surrendered five base hits and two earned runs while striking out five El Paso batters, to pick up his second win of the week. The two outings this week improved his overall record in 10 starts at Tennessee and Iowa, to 4-2 with a 3.67 ERA. 

PLAYER MOVEMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS
LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) - Moved by Chicago Cubs to Triple A Iowa Cubs from Double A Tennessee Smokies.
 
RHP Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.) - Activated from Disabled List by Chicago White Sox at Triple A Charlotte Knights.
 
INF/DH Malik Collymore (Mississauga, Ont.) - Activated by the Milwaukee Brewers at Single A Brevard County Manatees.
 
C  Maxx Tissenbaum (Toronto, Ont.) - Activated from the Disabled List by the Miami Marlins at Single A Greensboro Grasshoppers.
 

 
OF Michael Crouse (Port Moody, BC) - Acquired by New Britain Bees IND Atlantic League in a trade with Lancaster Barnstormers IND Atlantic League.
 
OF-C Chris Robinson (Uxbridge, Ont.) - Activated from the Suspended List by Schaumburg Boomers IND Frontier League.
 
OF Trevor Gretzky (Fountain Valley, CA) - Placed on the Disabled List by Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League.
 
RHP Skylar Janisse (Maidstone, Ont.) - Free Agent signs with Salina Stockade IND Pecos League.
 
INF Cedric Vallieres (Roxton Pond, Que.) - Free Agent re signs with Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League, appeared in three games and was released.

 
INF Jerome Duchesneau (Quebec City, Que.) - Free Agent re signs with Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League, appeared in one game and was released.
 
INF Kevin Czarnecki (Edmonton, Alta.) - Released by the Normal Cornbelters IND Frontier League.