By George Farelli

Canadian Baseball Network

Chris Reitsma told Gary Rajsich that RHP Mike Soroka would pitch in the majors and get there quickly.

Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) was chosen 28th over-all in North America by the Atlanta Braves in 2015. This season Soroka has started 7-1 with a 1.38 in 10 starts for the for the Atlanta Braves.

In 2015, the Orioles chose OF DJ Stewart from Florida State 25th over-all. Stewart has played in the same number of games for the Orioles this year as Soroka has wins: seven. He has four hits with a .167 average and a .367 OPS.

So, with Reitsma’s advice still ringing in his ears in 2017, Rajsich the Orioles scouting director, took it this time, chosing INF Adam Hall, another Reitsma suggestion.

Hall (London, Ont.) went in the second round, 60th over-all. And the former Great Lake Canadian and London Badger was again the best of the 97 Canadians in the minors this week. Hall had the most hits (10) and the highest average (batting .476) for the Delmarva Shorebirds to earn Canadian Baseball Network minor-league Player of the Week for Week IX.

How the week the was went for Hall as he

_ Was hitless batting second and playing short in two at-bats in a 5-4 win against the Hagerstown Suns before 1,544 fans at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

_ Had three hits playing short and batting second as Delmarva beat the Greenville Drive 10-2 before 5,260 at Fluor Field at the West End. Hall hit his 12th double to right in the first, had a run-scoring single to centre in the second and reached on an infield single and scored in the fourth.

_ Had a pair of knocks batting second and playing short in a 3-2 loss to Greenville before 6,135 Fluor Field. Hall singled to left in the first but was thrown out stealing and singled to centre in the third.

_ Doubled in a 5-3 victory playing short and batting second as Delmarva beat the Greenville 5-3 in front of 5,274 at Fluor Field. Hall doubled to left and scored in the two-run third.

_ After a day off, Hall was back batting second and playing short, he singled in a 5-3 win over the Kannapolis Intimidators in front of 546 at Intimidators Stadium. Hall reached on an infield single in the ninth. He also walked and stole his 15th base in the seventh.

_ Went 3-for-3 in a 9-0 loss in front of 779 fans at Intimidators Stadium. Hall reached on an infield single in the first, singled to left leading off the fourth and hit a line drive double to left in the sixth, his 14th double.

The week raised Hall’s average to .331 with 23 RBIs and 15 steals.

Top offensive outings

Player / Class / Team AB R H HR RBI AVG

Adam Hall - A Delmarva 21 5 10 1 2 .476

J.D. Osborne - A Clinton 15 5 6 3 7 .400

Morgan Lofstrom - A Dayton 10 - 4 - 2 .400

Noah Naylor - A Lake County 17 3 5 1 4 .294

Daniel Pinero - AAA Toledo 21 5 6 2 5 .286

Billy Germaine - Ulm IT Sure ( GER ) 16 8 10 5 10 .625

Wes Darvill - IND Winnipeg 26 6 10 2 8 .385

Mike Blanke - Mainz ( GER ) 14 6 4 2 3 .286

Will Thorpe - Munchen Haar ( GER ) 14 5 4 1 2 .286

(Minimum 10 ABs)

Best pitching outings

JORDAN ROMANO RHP - TRIPLE A BUFFALO BISONS

APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA

2 2.0 - - - - 4 - 2 0.00 0.00

Currently being used out of the Bisons bullpen, Jordan Romano is showing he is quite comfortable in his new role. This week he made two excellent appearances as the closer, the first was on May 29th in a 6-4 victory over Syracuse Mets when he threw a scoreless as he didn’t give up a base hit, striking out two Syracuse batters to earn the save. On June 4th in a 5-4 win over Scranton-Wilkes Barre RailRoaders, he again pitched a scoreless inning surrendering zero hits while striking out two hitters, to secure his second save of the week. His overall record with Buffalo in 15 Triple A International League appearances, is now 1-2, with 3 saves and a 6.52 ERA.

RYAN JOHNSON LHP - IND WINNIPEG GOLDEYES

APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA

2 12.2 7 1 1 8 4 1-0 - 1.23 0.74

Ryan Johnson just recently completed his collegiate career with the NCAA Division II - Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals in Texas and was immediately signed as a free agent by the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the IND American Association. To say this native of Winnipeg had an impressive beginning to his pro ball career with his hometown team, would be an understatement. He made two excellent starts this week, the first of which was on May 29 in a 3-1 victory over the Gary South Shore Railcats when he threw 6 2/3 scoreless, gave up two base hits, while striking out three Railcats batters, to earn his first win of the season. He followed that up on June 3 in a 7-6 win over Sioux City Explorers, pitching six innings, in which he surrendered five base hits and one earned run while striking out one hitter, but was not involved in the decision. His record in two starts with the Goldeyes now stands at 1-0 with a 0.74 ERA.

PHILLIPPE AUMONT RHP - IND OTTAWA CHAMPIONS

APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA

1 8.0 8 2 1 - 11 1-0 - 1.00 1.13

Active in the dual role and both pitcher and pitching coach with the IND Ottawa Champions, it would seem that Phillippe Aumont is providing an excellent example for his starting staff to follow. On June 2nd in a 10-2 win over Trois Rivieres Aigles he pitched eight innings, scattered eight base hits and gave up only one earned run while striking out 11 Trois Rivieres batters, to earn his second win of the season. His record with Ottawa in four starts is now 2-1 with a 1.40 ERA.

Previous Players of the Week

Week 1 _ INF Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) Double A Frisco Roughriders (Rangers).

Week II _ RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) Triple A El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres).

Week III _ RHP R.J. Freure (Burlington, Ont.) Class-A Quad Cities River Bandits (Astros).

Week IV _ INF Adam Hall (London, Ont.) Class-A Delmarva Shorebirds (Orioles).

Week V _ RHP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) Class-A Fort Myers Miracle (Twins).

Week VI _ RHP Curtis Taylor (Port Coquitlam, BC) double-A Montgomery Biscuits (Rays)

Week VII _ RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) triple-A Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Phillies) and 3B Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que.) double-A Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros).

Week VIII _ 1B Jim Adduci (Burnaby, BC) triple-A Iowa Cubs (Cubs).

Week IX _ INF Adam Hall (London, Ont.) Class-A Delmarva Shorebirds (Orioles).