By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network
Daniel Pinero celebrated the first anniversary of becoming a pro last week.

Once the suspenders were off from during a base-clearing incident at second base, the shortstop for the class-A West Michigan Whitecaps went on a tear hitting .400 (6-for-15) with a pair of RBIs. 

Drafted in the 36th round by the Detroit Tigers in 2016, Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) earned Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Week honours as the best Canuck of the 93 Canadians in the minors.

How the week that was for Pinero as he ...

_ Singled in a 6-5, 12-inning Canada Day loss to the Great Lakes Loons before 7,687 at Fifth Third Ballpark. Canada Day was hosted by the Whitecaps to honour their three every day players Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.) and Cole Bauml (Meunster, Sask.) along with Canadian Baseball Network ball scribe Alexis Brudnicki (London, Ont.) 

_ Singled in a 4-3 loss to the Dayton Dragons in front of 6,664 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark.

_ Was hitless in a 5-1 win against over Dayton before 8,754 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark. DH Bauml had a base hit for the Whitecaps.

_ Was 3-for-3 with a double and a triple with an RBI as West Michigan beat Dayton 9-2 in front of 5,361 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark. Robson went 4-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, while Bauml also doubled. So, the three Canucks accounted for eight hits and 13 total bases and three RBIs. 

_ Singled in an 8-2 loss to Dayton before 3,614 Fifth Third Ballpark. 

BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
Player AB  R H HR RBI AVG
Daniel Pinero - A West Michigan   15  3  6 -  2 .400
Jesse Hodges - A Myrtle Beach   18  3  7 1 6 .389
Connor Panas - A Dunedin     16  2  6  - 1  .375
Gareth Morgan - A Clinton     22  7  8  - -  .364
Eric Wood - AAA Indianapolis   19 2 6 -  5 .316
Brett Siddall - A Stockton     16  6  5 1 3 .313
Matt Hague - AAA Rochester    20  2  6 - 4 .300
 
Ian Horne - IND Hollywood     25  3 15 - 4 .600
Trevor Gretzky - IND Trois Rivieres  18  1  9  - 6 .500
Jordan Lennerton - IND Quebec   25  3  9  2 8  .360
Marcus Knecht - IND Quebec    25  3  9  - 2  .360
Maxx Tissenbaum - IND Quebec   27 8  9  2  4 .333
Wes Darvill - IND Winnipeg    22  2  7  1  5  .318
(Minimum 10 At Bats required)      

BEST PITCHING PERFORMANCES
ANDREW ALBERS LHP - AAA GWINNETT BRAVES
APP IP  H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
 1 6.1  5  - -  - 6  1-0 -  0.82  0.00
Andrew Albers continues to pitch very well for Atlanta’s affiliate the Gwinnett Braves, and his start this week on June 7th in a 6-0 win over Norfolk Tides was typical. He tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings surrendering five base hits while striking out six Norfolk batters, to earn his fifth win of the season. In thirteen appearances for the Braves in the Triple A International League, his record now stands at 5-1 with a 2.75 ERA. His five wins place him in a tie for second place, and his 2.75 ERA is eighth best in the International League’s pitching stats.
 
BROCK DYKXHOORN RHP - AA CORPUS CHRISTI HOOKS
APP IP H  R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
1 3.1 4  - -  2  7 1-0 -  1.29  0.00
As it is with most young pitching prospects, the jump from the Single A level to Double A provides a real challenge, and this has been the case in 2017 with Brock Dykxhoorn. Pitching for the Astros affiliate Corpus Christi Hooks in the Texas League on June 8th in an 11-6 win over Frisco Roughriders, he threw 3 1/3 innings, surrendered four base hits and while striking out seven, to earn his first win of the season. This outing improved his record in 11 appearances for the Hooks to 1-3 with a 5.68 ERA. 

JORDAN ROMANO RHP - A DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS
APP IP  H R ER BB K W-L SV WHIP WK ERA
1 7.0 1  1 1 - 9  1-0 -  0.14  1.29
In what could easily be described as his best outing of the season to date, on June 10th in a 3-1 victory over Bradenton Marauders, Jordan Romano dominated his opponents. He pitched seven innings, gave up only one base hit and one earned run while striking out nine Bradenton hitters, to earn his third win of the year. This result improved his record in 13 pitching appearances with Dunedin in the Single A Florida State League, to 3-1 with a 2.18 ERA.
 
PLAYER MOVES & TRANSACTIONS
RHP Jameson Taillon (The Woodlands, Tex.) - Recalled to Major League Roster by Pittsburgh Pirates from Re Hab assignment at Triple A Indianapolis Indians.
 
RHP Brock Dykxhoorn (Goderich, Ont.) - Moved by the Houston Astros to Double A Corpus Christi Hooks from Single A Tri City Valley Cats.
 
SS Daniel Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) - Activated by Detroit Tigers from the Suspended List at Single A West Michigan Whitecaps.
 
C Owen Spiwak (Mississauga, Ont.) - Assigned by Toronto Blue Jays to Roster of Single A Vancouver Canadians from their Extended Spring Training facility.
 
RHP Brayden Bouchey (White Rock, BC) - Assigned by Toronto Blue Jays to Roster of Single A Vancouver Canadians.
 

LHP Jon Fitzsimmons (London, Ont.) - Released by Los Angeles Angels at Single A Inland Empire 66’ers.
 
 
RHP Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.) - Free Agent signs with Ottawa Champions IND Can Am League.
 
OF Tyson Gillies (Vancouver, BC) - Free Agent signs with the Ottawa Champions IND Can Am League.
 
LHP Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, Ont.) - Free Agent signs with Texas Airhogs IND American Association. Released without ever appearing in a game.
 
RHP Jared Mortensen (Abbotsford, BC) - Free Agent signs with the Texas Airhogs IND American Association. Appeared in one game and was then released.
 
C Mike Blanke (Granby, QC) - Released by Cleburne Railroaders IND American Association.

2017 Canadian Baseball Network Players of the Week

Week I _ INF Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) El Paso (Padres).

Week II _ RHP Nick Pivetta (Victoria, BC) Lehigh Valley (Phillies).

Week III _ INF Jamie Romak (London, Ont.) El Paso (Padres).

Week IV _ 1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) and RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) Lake Elisnore (Padres).

Week V _ OF Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.) West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers).

Week VI _ OF Gareth Morgan (North York, Ont.) Clinton Lumberkings (Mariners).

Week VII _ 3B Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays).

Week VIII _ 1B Bruce Yari (Waterloo, Ont.) Dayton Dragons (Reds).  

Week VIV _ LHP Ryan Kellogg (Whitby, Ont.) Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs)

Week X _ INF Danny Pinero (Toronto, Ont.) West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers)