Abraham Toro-Hernandez (Longueuil, Que,) of the class-A Buise Creek Astros

By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network

They might not play in well known minor-league cities in the state of Texas like Round Rock or Frisco in the Texas Rangers organization, or say Fresno or Corpus Christi in the Houston Astros system.

Yet Abraham Toro-Hernandez (Longueuil, Que,) of the class-A Buise Creek Astros and Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) of the class-A Down East Wood Ducks had identical weeks to remember as they try to move up their respective organization ladders.

Both went 7-for-18 batting .389 to share Canadian Baseball Network minor league player of the week honours for Week X. And both earned berths on the Carolina League all-star game. Heck they were even on the same field together for a three-game series this week.

LeBlanc, selected in the fourth round by Rangers’ scout Brian Matthews and given a $415,000 US signing bonus week that was went like this:

_ Had a pair of hits batting fifth and playing second as the Down East Wood Ducks lost 3-2 to the Carolina Mudcats before 1,253 fans at Five County Stadium.

_ Had two hits batting fifth and playing second in a 13-4 loss Carolina before 2,364 at Five County Stadium. Both were doubles and he knocked in a run.

_ Was hitless in a 5-2 loss to Toro and the Buise Creek Astros in front of 2,505 at Grainger Stadium.

_ Was hitless leading off with a pair of walks in a 6-1 setback against Buies Creek before 1,988 fans at Grainger Stadium.

_ Pinch hit and singled in a run as Down East beat Buies Creek 4-2 in front of 1,813 at Grainger Stadium.

_ Batting lead off and playing second, he singled and walked twice as Down East edged the Wilmington Blue Rocks 6-5 in the opener of a doubleheader.

_ Hitting lead off he singled to drive in a run against Wilmington before 1,250 fans at Grainger.

Toro-Hernandez, selected in the fifth round by Astros’ scout Jim Stevenson and given a $250,000 bonus week that was went like this:

_ Playing third and hitting third, he was 3-for-3 with a two-run homer in a 4-2 loss to Myrtle Beach Pelicans before 282 fans at Jim Perry Stadium.

_ Hitting third and playing third, he had two base hits, including a double in 5-2 win against the Down East Wood Ducks in front of 2,505 at Grainger Stadium. It was his 17th double.

_ Played third and batted third as he was hitless in a 6-1 win against Buies Creek before 1,988 fans at Grainger Stadium.

_ Batting third and playing third, was hitless in a 4-2 Buies Creek loss before 1,813 at Grainger Stadium.

_ He singled, driving in a run in a 9-4 loss to the Carolina Mudcats in the opener of the doubleheader.

_ Batting third and hitting third he singled and walked twice in a 2-1 win against Carolina before 331 fans at Jim Perry Stadium.

Highlights of the Week -

Cole Armstrong, Surrey, BC - Named as a coach with 2018 double-A Southern League (North Division) Mid Season All Star Team.

Charles Leblanc, Laval, Que. - Named to the 2018 Single-A Carolina League ( South Division ) Mid Season All Star Team.

Abraham Toro, Longueuil, Que. - Named to the 2018 Single-A Carolina League ( South Division ) Mid Season All Star Team.

Demi Orimoloye, Orleans, Ont. - Named to the 2018 Single-A Midwest League ( West Division ) Mid Season All Star Team.

Jared Young, Prince George, BC - Named to 2018 Single-A Midwest League ( East Division ) Mid Season All Star Team.

Evan Grills, Whitby, Ont. -- Was the “feel good story of the week.`After missing the entire 2017 season due to injury, was activated by the Colorado Rockies at Double A Hartford on June 6, and pitched in a game versus Erie SeaWolves.

BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
Player/Class/Team AB R H HR RBI AVG
Abraham Toro - A Buise Creek 18 3 7 1 4 .389
Charles Leblanc - A Down East 18 5 7 - 3 .389
Demi Orimoloye - A Wisconsin 21 3 8 - 1 .381
Jared Young - A South Bend 26 3 9 1 5 .346
Bruce Yari - A Daytona 26 1 9 - 7 .346
Josh Naylor - AA San Antonio 27 4 9 1 5 .333
Jim Adduci - AAA Toledo 27 4 9 - 4 .333
Jacob Robson - AA Erie 21 3 6 1 7 .286

Sebastien Boucher - IND Ottawa 24 7 15 - 7 .625
Will Thorpe - FGN Germany 10 - 5 - 2 .500
David Glaude - IND Trois Rivieres 21 5 8 - 5 .381
Danny Beaver - IND Santa Fe 16 8 6 2 7 .375
Larry Balkwill - IND Windy City 19 3 7 1 4 .368
Carter McEachern - IND Washington 19 8 7 - 5 .368
(Minimum 10 ABs)

BEST PITCHING PERFORMANCES
JORDAN BALAZOVIC RHP - A CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
1 7.0 3 1 1 - 11 1-0 - 0.43 1.29

Just recently activated by the Minnesota Twins with the Cedar Rapids Kernels their Single-A affiliate in the Midwest League, Jordan Balazovic showed he was more than ready and had an outstanding “first start.” On June 11 in a 3-1 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers he pitched seven innings, gave up three base hits and one earned run while striking out eleven Wisconsin batters, to earn his first with of the season. His record in two appearances with the Kernels now stands at 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA.

PHILLIPPE AUMONT RHP - AAA TOLEDO MUD HENS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
2 4.1 1 1 1 - 7 1-0 - 0.24 2.20

Phillippe Aumont continues to pitch very well for Toledo and this week made two excellent relief appearances, the first was on June 7 in a 9-5 loss to the Buffalo Bisons. He threw 2 1/3 and a innings, gave up one base hit and one earned run while striking out four Buffalo hitters, but was not involved in the decision. On June 11 in a 4-0 win over indianapolis Indians he pitched two scoreless innings, surrendered zero hits while striking out three Indians batters to secure the win. His overall record in sixteen appearances with the Mud Hens now stands at 2-1, with three saves and a 3.95 ERA.

CAL QUANTRILL RHP - AA SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS
APP IP H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
1 5.2 6 3 3 1 2 1-0 - 1.35 5.19

For the third week in a row Cal Quantrill made a very good start for San Antonio, and it seems to indicate he’s achieved a level of consistency which bodes well for the future. On June 9 in a 9-4 victory over Corpus Christi Hooks he threw 5 2/3 innings, gave up six base hits and three earned runs while striking out two Corpus Christi batters, to earn his third straight win. His record with the Missions in 13 Texas League starts, is now 5-3 with a 4.20 ERA.

Canadian Baseball Network Players of the Week

Week 1 _ OF Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) Memphis (Cards) and Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) San Antonio (Padres).
Week II _ RHP Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) New Hampshire (Blue Jays).
Week III _ RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) Gwinett (Braves).
Week IV _ RHP Brock Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.) Corpus Christi (Astros).
Week V _ Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) New Hampshire (Jays).

Week VI _ Phillippe Aumont (Hull, Que.) Toledo (Tigers)
Week VII _ Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) New Hampshire (Jays).
Week VIII _ Curtis Taylor (Coquitlam, BC) Montgomery (Rays)
Week IX _ Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) San Antonio (Padres)
Week X _ Abraham Toro-Hernandez (Longueuil, Que,) Buise Creek (Astros) and Charles Leblanc (Lavall, Que.) Down East Wood (Rangers).

CBN POW, Week X: LeBlanc, Toro-Hernandez