Former Seminole State OF Louis-Philippe Pelletier (Montreal, Que.) of the Trois-Rivières Aigles.

By George Farelli

Canadian Baseball Network

We have named a few players of the week over the years.

Yet, we have never once had a independent player win in 476 weeks since we began naming a Canadian Baseball Network minor league player of the week. We list the pitchers and hitters who had the best week -- but we tend to favor affiliated players.

And at the end of the year we award the Independent/Foreign League offensive player Of The year -- renamed the Murray Zuk award after and the pitcher Of The year, renamed the Claude Pelletier award both renamed after the 2021 season.

However, this week was a performance impossible to overlook.

Trois-Rivières Aigles OF Louis-Philippe Pelletier (Montreal, Que.) had a dominating week for the Aigles, reaching base in 23 of his 32 plate appearances.

He hit .664 for the week with a 1.988 OPS scoring 12 runs, knocking in 11, with three home runs, and two stolen bases. Pelletier has helped Trois-Rivières to a five-game winning streak and has the Aigles one game out of a playoff berth.

Pelletier is in his second Frontier League season. He currently ranks second overall with a .378 batting average. Pelletier was a post-season Can-Am Conference all-star for Équipe Québec in 2021, finishing fourth overall with a .328 average.

He was a 20th round draft pick of the Houston Astros in 2016 by scout Jim Stevenson (Leaside, Ont.) from Seminole State College. In 2016 he played in 24 games with the rookie-class Gulf Coast Astros. He was out of the game until 2021.

While Pelletier won the Frontier player of the week, Québec Capitales RHP Miguel Cienfuegos (Laval, Que.) won pitcher of the week award.

Cienfuegos made two states for the Capitales last week and did not allow an earned run over 12 innings of work. Cienfuegos struck out 11 batters while surrendering only one walk and six hits. His 1.80 ERA is the best mark in the Frontier League, while Cienfuegos is tied for second with seven wins. Cienfuegos made his pro debut in 2021 and was teammates of Pelletier’s on the Atlantic Division winning Équipe Québec team.

Best Offense

Player/Class/Team AB R H HR RBI AVG

Charles Leblanc AAA Jacksonville 25 3 10 2 4 .400

Jared Young AAA Iowa 19 3 7 1 3 .368

Edouard Julien - AA Wichita 26 8 9 2 5 .346

Matt Warkentin - A Myrtle Beach 12 2 4 0 3 .333

Bo Naylor - AAA Columbus 10 2 3 - 2 .300

L.P. Pelletier - IND Trois Rivieres 26 12 17 3 11 .654

Mike Crouse - IND Chicago 18 4 9 - 1 .500

David Glaude - IND Quebec 31 11 15 4 9 .484

Raphael Gladu - IND Trois Rivieres 25 6 11 1 11 .440

Canice Ejoe - IND Trois Rivieres 19 5 8 1 4 .421

Marcel Lacasse - IND Trois Rivieres 11 4 4 - 4 .364

Connor Panas - IND Trois Rivieres 27 7 9 2 7 .333

T.J. Bennett - IND Lake Country 10 3 3 1 2 .300

(Minimum 10 ABs)

Best Pitching

Matt Bratt LHP - Low A Down East Wood Ducks

GM W SV ER ERA H IP K WHIP

1 1 - 1 1.81 4 5.2 7 0.769

Matt Bratt made another excellent start this week for the Wood Ducks, continuing a stretch of several consistent and successful outings in a row. On July 16th in a 5-2 victory over Columbus Fireflies he pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowed four hits and one earned run while striking out seven to earn his fourth win of the season. His overall record with the Down East Wood Ducks in 12 Low A Carolina League appearances, stands at 4-2 with an outstanding 1.81 ERA.

Minor League Player of the Week

Week I - INF Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) Marlins

Week II _ OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) A’s

Week III _ OF Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) Brewers

Week IV _ RHP Landon Leach (Pickering, Ont,) Braves

Week V _ RHP Indigo Diaz (North Vancouver, BC), Braves

Week VI _ OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) Cubs

Week VII _ C Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) Guardians

Weej VIII _ RHP Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.) Phillies.

Week IX _ OF Tanner Kirwer (Spruce Grove, Alta.) Mariners

Week X _ 3B Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC) Blue Jays

Week XI _ RHP Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) Mariners