Jacob Robson, CDN POW, Week XIV, Moves
By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network
Finally.
At long last OF Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.) is with an appropriately named team.
Let’s see the speedy Robson played for the Windsor Selects, the Ontario Blue Jays, the Canadian Junior Natiional Team, the Mississippi State Bulldogs, the GCL Tigers West, Connecticut Tigers, the West Michigan Whitecaps and he stole 73 bases since he stepped onto Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Miss.
And now ... Robson is with the Lakeland Flying Tigers.
Not only does he fly around the bases he led all Canadian hitters with 10 hits this week. Robson batted .500 (10-for-20) with a home run and three RBIs to earn Canadian Baseball Network minor league Canadian Player of the Week honours, as the best of the 129 Canadians playing affiliated or independent ball. It was Robson’s second weekly honour.
How the week that was went for Robson ... as he
_ Played right field and led off going 1-for-3 in a 3-0 Lakeland win over the Dunedin Blue Jays before 395 fans at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland. He singled to right to knock in Cam Gibson, who had tripled, putting the Tigers up 2-0. RF Connor Panas (Toronto, Ont.) was hitless for the Blue Jays.
_ Went 2-for-4 with a double leading off and playing left field in an 8-0 win over Dunedin before 374 fans at Joker Marchant. After being called out on strikes his first two at-bats he singled to centre in the third and he doubled to left to knock in a run pushing the Tigers lead to 8-0. RF Panas had a pair of hits and knocked in a run for Dunedin, while C Mike Reeves (Peterborough, Ont.) was hitless in two at-bats.
_ Was 2-for-4 leading off and DHing as Lakeland knocked off the Daytona Tortugas 4-1 before 1,880 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. Robson doubled to left leading off the game and scored the game’s first run and singled to centre in the seventh. He also stole a base.
_ Was 4-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs leading off and playing in right field in a 7-3 win against Daytona in front of 1,157 fans at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Robson led off the first with a home run to left, hit a run-scoring single to left to put the Tigers up 4-1, singled to centre in the seventh and reached on an infield single in the ninth.
_ Was 1-for-4 in a 2-1, 12-inning win over Daytona in front of 2,186 fans at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. Robson singled in the third and stole second base.
HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK
RHP Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.) - Ottawa Champions, was named Pitcher of the Week in the IND Can Am League. His performance included a nine-inning, complete-game, no hitter on June 28th in a 7-0 win over the Dominican Republic who, along with the Cuban squad, play an interlocking schedule with teams in the Can Am
League. He struck out 11 DR hitters and faced a total of only 28 batters, with one walk preventing him from achieving a perfect game. It was the first no hitter in Ottawa Champions franchise history.
2B/C Maxx Tissenbaum (Toronto, Ont.) - Quebec Capitales and RHP Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, QC ) - Ottawa Champions, both named to the IND Can Am League All Star Team which will play the IND American Association All Stars in Ottawa on July 25th.
3B Wes Darvill (Richmond, BC) - Winnipeg Goldeyes, named as starting Third Baseman for the IND American Association 2017 All Star Team, which will play the IND Can Am League All Stars in Ottawa on July 25th.
C Larry Balkwill (Chatham, Ont.) - Named starting Catcher for the IND Frontier League - East Division 2017 All Star team, in the game to be played July 12th at Slammers Stadium in Joliet, IL.
OF Ian Horne (Vancouver, BC) - Hollywood Stars and 2B Austin Marcellus (Oshawa, ON) - California Whiptails, named to IND Pecos League - Pacific Division 2017 All Star Team in the game played July 10th. Horne’s numbers indicated are not a misprint. He has been on a phenomenal hot streak for the past five weeks, as the following slash lines will attest. I can’t recall any other Canadian Minor Leaguer from the past being this hot, for this long.
Totals for Five Week Period :
AB - 141, R - 34, H - 62, HR - 4, RBI - 39, AVG - .440
Average Numbers per Week :
AB - 28, R - 7, H - 12, HR - 1, RBI - 8, AVG - .429
These numbers would be notable even if they were achieved at the high school level. It begs the question ... will he ever get an opportunity to move to another Indy loop, or have a chance to play for an affiliated team?
BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
Player Team AB R H HR RBI Avg.
Jacob Robson - A Lakeland 20 2 10 1 3 .500
Andrew Yerzy - Rkie Missoula 17 3 7 - 5 .412
Ben Pelletier - Rkie GCL Phillies 15 2 6 2 5 .400
Charles Leblanc - Rkie Hickory 18 2 7 - - .389
Louis Boyd - Rkie AZL Mariners 19 4 7 - 5 .368
Cole Bauml - A West Michigan 19 5 7 - 3 .368
Abraham Toro - A Tri City 23 3 8 - 3 .348
Matt Hague - AAA Rochester 18 1 6 - 2 .333
Jesse Hodges - A Myrtle Beach 25 3 8 1 2 .320
Eric Wood - AAA Indianapolis 19 5 6 2 7 .316
Tanner Kirwer - Rkie Bluefield 13 4 4 - 3 .308
Miles Gordon - Rkie Billings 20 4 6 - - .300
Ian Horne - IND Hollywood 27 12 15 1 12 .556
Maxx Tissenbaum - IND Quebec 21 4 11 - 4 .524
Phil Craig-St. Louis - IND Quebec 19 4 9 - 3 .474
Jordan Lennerton - IND Quebec 22 6 9 1 5 .409
Sebastien Boucher - IND Ottawa 25 8 10 1 5 .400
Carter McEachern - IND Trois Rivieres 18 2 7 - - .389
Wes Darvill - IND Winnipeg 22 4 8 - 1 .364
Marcus Knecht - IND Quebec 23 5 8 1 9 .348
(Minimum 10 At Bats required.)
BEST PITCHING PERFORMANCES
BROCK DYKXHOORN RHP - AA CORPUS CHRISTI HOOKS
App IP H R ER BB K W-L S WHIP WK ERA
1 7.0 2 1 - 1 8 1-0 - 0.43 0.00
As we’ve mentioned in previous weeks, a pitcher’s first year at the Double A level can be very challenging, and that’s been the case for Astros prospect Brock Dykxhoorn. This week he had an excellent start for the Hooks on July 7th in a 5-2 win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. He threw seven innings gave up just two base hits and one run -- zero earned -- while striking out eight Naturals batters, to earn his third win of the season. His record with Corpus Christi in the Double A Texas League, now stands at 3-4 with a 4.41 ERA.
JESEN THERRIEN RHP - AAA LEHIGH VALLEY IRON PIGS
App IP H R ER BB K W-L S WHIP WK ERA
2 4.0 2 - - 1 4 - - 0.75 0.00
Since being promoted to the Triple A level by Philadelphia Phillies in Week Nine, Jesen Therrien has been very consistent in his role as a late inning reliever for Lehigh Valley. This week he had two more solid outings, the first on July 7th in a 4-1 win over Scranton-Wilkes Barre Railriders when he pitched two scoreless innings, gave up two base hits while striking out two hitters to earn his third Hold of the season. On July 9th in a 5-2 victory over Scranton-Wilkes Barre he again tossed two scoreless innings, surrendered zero base hits while striking out two to earn his second Hold of the week. These outings improved his record in 13 appearances with the Iron Pigs to 0-0, with 2 Saves, 4 Holds and a 1.66 ERA.
DYLAN RHEAULT RHP - A SAN JOSE GIANTS
App IP H R ER BB K W-L S WHIP WK ERA
2 3.0 1 - - 1 3 - 2 0.67 0.00
Business as usual this week for Dylan Rheault, two appearances and two more saves. On July 6th in a 3-2 victory over Rancho Cucamonga Quakes he tossed two scoreless innings, gave up zero base hits while striking out one Quakes batter to earn the save. On July 9th in a 5-4 win over the Modesto Nuts he pitched one scoreless inning surrendering one base hit while striking out one Modesto batter to pick up his second save of the week. His overall record with the Giants in the Single A California League in 32 appearances, now stands at
2-1, with 10 saves and a 2.39 ERA.
ANDREW ALBERS LHP - AAA GWINNETT BRAVES
App IP H R ER BB K W-L S WHIP WK ERA
1 6.0 6 1 1 1 7 1-0 - 1.17 1.50
Andrew Albers made another solid start for the Braves this week, on July 9th in a 7-2 win over the Indianapolis Indians. He pitched six innings, surrendered six base hits and one earned run while striking out seven Indianapolis batters, to earn his eighth win of the season. His record with Gwinnett in the Triple A International League in 20 appearances, now stands at 8-3 with a 3.61 ERA.
PLAYER MOVES & TRANSACTIONS
OF Jim Adduci (Burnaby, BC) - Activated from Re Hab assignment by the Detroit Tigers and optioned to Triple A Toledo Mud Hens.
RHP Rowan Wick (North Vancouver, BC) - On Re Hab assignment moved by St. Louis Cardinals to Double A Springfield Cardinals from Rookie Class Gulf Coast Cardinals.
LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) - Sent out on Re Hab assignment by the Chicago Cubs to Rookie Class AZL Cubs.
RHP Alex Webb (Surrey, BC) - Sent out on Re Hab assignment by the Cincinnati Reds at Rookie Class AZL Reds.
INF T.J. Bennett (Lethbridge, Alta.) - Moved by San Francisco Giants to Triple A Sacramento Rivercats from Single A San Jose Giants.
3B Vladimir Guerrero (Montreal, Que.) - Moved by Toronto Blue Jays to Single A Dunedin Blue Jays from Single A Lansing Lugnuts.
1B Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) - Moved by the San Diego Padres to Double A San Antoinio Missions from Single A Lake Elsinore Storm.
RHP Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) - Moved by San Diego Padres to Double A San Antonio Missions from Single A Lake Elsinore Storm.
INF Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) - Moved by the Texas Rangers to Rookie Class Hickory Crawdads from Single A Spokane Indians.
C Mike Reeves (Peterborough, Ont.) - Activated from the Disabled List by Toronto Blue Jays at Single A Dunedin Blue Jays.
RHP Tom Robson (Ladner, BC) - Placed on the Disabled List by Toronto Blue Jays at Single A Dunedin Blue Jays.
OF Raphael Gladu (Trois Rivieres, Que.) - 2017 16th Round Draft Pick activated by the New York Mets at Rookie Class Kingsport Mets.
OF Eric Senior (Toronto, Ont.) - 2017 13th Round Draft Pick activated by the Washington Nationals at Rookie Class Gulf Coast Nationals.
2B Jared Young (Prince George, BC) - 2017 15th Round Draft Pick signed by the Chicago Cubs. Activated at Single A Eugene Emeralds.
C J.D. Osborne (Whitby, Ont.) - 2017 22nd Round Draft Pick signed by the Miami Marlins. Not assigned yet.
RHP Reign Letkeman (Red Deer, Alta.) - Released by Tampa Bay Rays from Single A Hudson Valley Renegades.
OF Tyson Gillies (Vancouver, BC) - Activated from the Disabled List by Ottawa Champions IND Can Am League.
LHP Guillaume Blanchette (St. Constant, Que.) - Released by Trois Rivieres Aigles 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).
Week XIV _ OF Jacob Robson (Windsor, Ont.) Lakeland Flying Tigers (Tigers).