By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network
Miles Gordon, Brett Siddall and Tyler O’Neill all put up solid numbers this week. They were strong enough to contend for Canadian Baseball Network minor league player of the week honours.

Yet, former the Ontario Royals OF Miles Gordon (Oakville, Ont.) led the week batting .444 (8-for-18) at rookie-class Billings, former Windsor Selects slugger Siddall (Windsor, Ont.) shared the lead in hits (10) and was second in RBIs (five) and batting average (10-for-24, .417) and one-time Langley Blaze OF O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) led in home runs (four) and RBIs (seven) while batting .385 (10-for-26).

Gordon, Siddall, or O’Neill didn’t win the CBN Player of the Week honours. 

Nope never mind looking in the batter’s box, the best of the 132 Canucks in the minors stands on the mound. 

Reliever Dylan Rheault (Garson, Ont.) of the class-A San Jose Giants has a week as close to perfect as possible.

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

_ Worked a 1-2-3-4 ninth to get the save as San Jose edged the Stockton Ports 8-5 before 2,688 fans at Municipal Stadium. Rheault retired the first hitter on a fly ball to right, walked Argenis Raga, struck out the next hitter and got the 27th and final out on a pop up to third base. It was save No. 6. Siddall went hitless for the Ports. He threw 18 pitches (11 for strikes).

_ Faced only three men in a 2-1 win over the Modesto Nuts in front of 4,147 at John Thurman Field. He retired the first hitter on a fly ball to centre and allowed a single to Gianfranco Wawoe. Then, Rheault struck out Joey Curletta as Aramis Garcia threw out Wawoe attempting to steal second. That is a strategy we never understood ... leaving Willie Argo -- three home runs, .235 average, 16 RBIs and .648 OPS in the on-deck circle. He needed only 10 pitches (eight strikes).
 
_ Faced three men in a 3-1 victory over Modesto before 5,399 at John Thurman Field. First he struck out Argo, retired the next hitter on a ground ball to second and the final out on a liner to short. He threw 15 pitches (11 for strikes).

In three scoreless innings he allowed two base runners -- a walk and a single -- while throwing 43 pitches (30 for strikes).

Week’s highlights ... Four Canadians named to the All World team which will participate
in the 2017 Futures Game, to be held at the MLB All Star Festivities
July 9th at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida.
 
  3B  Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) - Toronto Blue Jays
  1B  Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.)  -  San Diego Padres
  RHP  Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) -  San Diego Padres
  RHP  Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.)   -  Atlanta Braves
 
OF Michael Crouse (Port Moody, BC) - Named to 2017 IND Atlantic League - Liberty Division mid season All Star Team.

Rheault was a 19th round pick of the Baltimore Orioles from Central Michigan in 2013. He was released by Orioles after three seasons. He pitched for Sioux City in the independent American Association and was signed by the Giants.
 
BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES  
Player           AB R  H  HR  RBI  AVG
Miles Gordon - Rkie Billings     18 4 8 2  4 .444
Brett Siddall - A Stockton     24 5  10  2  5 .417
Bruce Yari - A Dayton      18  5 7 -  -  .389
Tyler O’Neill - AAA Tacoma     26 8  10  4  7 .385
Jake Lumley - Rkie AZL Athletics   17 1 6 -  2 .353
Louis Boyd - Rkie AZL Mariners    24 4 8 -  6 .333
Vladimir Guerrero - A Lansing   24 7 8 1  4 .333
Matt Romanin - A Vancouver    15 1 5 -  3 .333
Cole Bauml - A West Michigan    31 1 10 -  5 .323
Josh Naylor - A Lake Elsinore    30 4 9 1 4 .300
Dustin Houle - AA Biloxi      10 1 3 - -  .300
 
Carter McEachern - IND Trois Rivieres 12 4 7 - 3  .583
Austin Marcellus - IND California   29 6 14 - 2  .483
Sebastien Boucher - IND Ottawa   23 6 11 - 1  .478
Larry Balkwill - IND Windy City   13 3 6 1 4  .462
Ian Horne - IND Hollywood    28 7 12 1  9  .429
Jordan Lennerton - IND Quebec    25 12 10 - 4 .400
Wes Darvill - IND Winnipeg     28 3 11 - 7 .393
(Minimum 10 At Bats required.)     
 
BEST PITCHING PERFORMANCES
DYLAN RHEAULT  RHP - A SAN JOSE GIANTS
APP  IP  H  R  ER  BB  K  W-L  SV  WHIP  WK ERA
3   3.0  1 - -  1 3  -  3  0.67  0.00  
 
For any closer, three appearances in a week which resulted in three saves, would most likely be considered a perfect week, and Dylan Rheault just experienced that feeling. On June 29th in an 8-5 win over Stockton Ports he pitched one scoreless inning, without allowing a base hit, while striking out one Stockton batter, to pick up the save. On June 30th in a 2-1 victory over the Modesto Nuts he again tossed another scoreless inning, allowing a base hit while striking out one batter, to earn his second save of the week. On July 3rd in a 3-1 win over Modesto he pitched another scoreless, hitless inning, while striking out one Modesto hitter, to pick up his third save of the week. These three outings improved his record with San Jose in the class A California League in 30 relief appearances to 2-1, with eight saves and a 2.60 ERA. His eight saves rank him second amongst closers in the Cal League.
 
JORDAN ROMANO  RHP  -  A  DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS
APP  IP H  R  ER  BB  K  W-L  SV  WHIP  WK ERA
2 11.2  6  2 2 6 15  1-1 -  1.07  1.61
 
Now completely healthy, Blue Jays Pitching Prospect has begun to show signs of his excellent potential and, although he lost one of his two starts this week, he pitched well in both of them. On June 28th in a 4-1 loss to Bradenton Marauders he pitched 4 2/3 innings, gave up three hits and two earned runs while striking out eight Bradenton batters, but was saddled with the loss. On July 3rd in 5-0 shutout of the Daytona Tortugas he threw seven scoreless, surrendered three base hits while striking out seven Daytona hitters, to pick up his fourth win of the season. His record with Dunedin in the Single A Florida State League in 17 appearances now stands at 4-3 with a 2.63 ERA.
 
ANDREW ALBERS  LHP  -  AAA  GWINNETT BRAVES
APP  IP H R  ER  BB  K  W-L  SV  WHIP  WK ERA
2 11.1  16  8 7  2 13  1-1 -  1.62   5.67
Andrew Albers has been a true work horse for the Gwinnett Braves season, and his durability and level of consistency are exactly what the Braves expected from this veteran when they signed him as a Free Agent. On June 29th in a 12-5 loss to Toledo Mud Hens he pitched 5 1/3 innings, gave up eight base hits and six earned runs while striking out four Toledo batters, and incurred the loss. On July 4th in an 11-3 win over Norfolk Tides he threw six innings, surrendered eight base hits and only one earned run while striking out nine Norfolk batters to earn the win. These two starts improved his record with Gwinnett in 19 Triple A International League appearances, to 7-3 with a 3.79 ERA.

PLAYER MOVES & TRANSACTIONS
OF Michael Saunders (Victoria, BC) - Free Agent signed by the Toronto Blue Jays, assigned to Triple A Buffalo Bisons.
 
3B Freddie Freeman (Fountain Valley, Calif.) - Sent out on Re Hab Assignment by the Atlanta Braves at Triple A Gwinnett Braves. Appeared in two games with Gwinnett and was recalled to Atlanta’s Major League Roster.
 
OF Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Onnt.) - On Re Hab Assignment moved by Toronto Blue Jays to Single A Dunedin Blue Jays from Triple A Buffalo Bisons. Appeared in four games with Dunedin and was moved back to Buffalo Bisons.
 
RHP Rowan Wick (No. Vancouver, BC) - Sent out on Re Hab Assignment by the St. Louis Cardinals at Rookie Class Gulf Coast Cardinals.
 
INF T.J. Bennett (Lethbridge, Alta.) - Moved by San Francisco Giants to Triple A Sacramento Rivercats from Single A San Jose Giants. Appeared in two games with Sacramento and was moved back to San Jose.
 

2B Mattingly Romanin (Burlington, Ont.) - Moved by Toronto Blue Jays to Single A Lansing Lugnuts from Single A Vancouver Canadians.
 
RHP Jordan Balazovic (Mississauga, Ont.) - Activated by Minnesota Twins at Rookie Class Gulf Coast Twins.
 
LHP Jeff Degano (Surrey, BC) - Activated by the New York Yankees at Single A Staten Island Yankees.
 
LHP Matt Jones (Whitby, Ont.) - Activated by the Minnesota Twins at Rookie Class Gulf Coast Twins.
 
RHP Jake Polancic (Langley, BC) - Activated by Arizona Diamondbacks at Rookie Class AZL Diamondbacks.
 

RHP Bryan Saucedo (Toronto, Ont.) - Activated by Chicago White Sox at Rookie Class AZL White Sox.
 
RHP Darren Shred (Brampton, Ont.) - Activated by the Cincinnati Reds at Rookie Class AZL Reds.
 
RHP Daniel Procopio (Toronto, Ont.) - 2017 10th Round Draft Pick activated by Los Angeles Angels at Rookie Class Orem Owlz.
 
RHP Jordan Scheftz (North York, Ont.) - 2017 23rd Round Draft Pick activated by Cleveland Indians at Rookie Class AZL Indians.
 
RHP Kyle Thomas (Mississauga, Ont.) - 2017 30th Round Draft Pick activated by Detroit Tigers at Rookie Class Gulf Coast Tigers - West.
 

RHP Dustin Molleken (Regina, Sask.) - Released by the Detroit Tigers at Triple A Toledo Mud Hens. Signs as a Free Agent with Somerset Patriots IND Atlantic League.
 
 
 
RHP Noah Gapp (St. Albert, Alta,) - Free Agent signs with the Ottawa Champions IND Can Am League.
 
RHP Tyler Gillies (London, Ont.) - Free Agent signs with Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League.
 
LHP Evan Rutckyj (Windsor, Ont.) - Free Agent re signs with the Winnipeg Goldeyes IND American Association.
 
OF Tyson Gillies (Vancouver, BC) - Placed on the Disabled List by Ottawa Champions IND Can Am League.
 
LHP Jon Fitzsimmons (London, Ont.) - Released by Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League.
 

RHP Andrew Cooper (Belle River, Ont.) - Released by the Ottawa Champions IND Can Am League.

 

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)

 

Week XI _ RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) Mississippi Braves (Braves).

Week XII _ OF Miles Gordon (Oakville, Ont.) Rookie-class Billings (Reds)

Week XIII _ RP Dylan Rheault (Garson, Ont. class-A San Jose (Giants).