Toro-Hernandez, CBN POW, Week XVI, Moves
Former Seminole State slugger 3B-C Abraham Toro-Hernandez (Longueuil, Que.) earned POW Week XVI honours. Photo: Rob Witt.
By George Farelli
Canadian Baseball Network
When scout Jim Stevenson speaks in the war room, the Houston Astros brass listens.
Stevenson drafted LHP Dallas Keuchel in the seventh round in 2009 from University of Arkansas. Keuchel grew up to win the National League Cy Young award in 2015 going 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA in 33 starts, walking 51 and striking out 216 in 232 innings.
And when the Astros turn came in the fifth round, Stevenson mentioned this infielder playing at Seminole State College.
People across North America dialed into draft coverage heard “with their fifth round pick, the Houston Astros select INF Abraham Toro-Hernandez ...” Stevenson gave Toro-Hernandez (Longueuil, Que.) a $250,000 US bonus to sign.
The switch-hitting third baseman had the best week of all the Canuck hitters as he hit .471 (8-for-17) with two homers and three RBIs for the class-A Tri City Valley Cats. He was the best of the 142 Canadians being paid to play, which includes 88 in affiliated ball.
How the week that was for Toro-Hernandez as he ...
_ Was hitless batting third and playing third base in a 3-1 win over the Connecticut Tigers before 3,402 fans at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy, NY. Officially he was 0-for-2 with a walk.
_ Catching and batting third, he was 1-for-3 with a walk in a 3-1 decision over the Lowell Spinners before 3,878 at Edward A. LeLacheur Park in Lowell, Mass. He singled to left in the first inning, he picked off a runner from first base in the bottom half of the inning and walked in the fourth.
_ Was batting third and playing third as he went 1-for-3 knocking in a run in an 8-1 verdict over Lowell before 3,575. Toro-Hernandez singled to centre in the third for a 2-0 lead, walked in the fifth and scored and walked in the sixth
_ Playing third and hitting third in the order, he was 3-for-4 with a solo homer in a 5-1 win over Lowell before 4,177 fans. And how bout this? The hitting star and the pitching star were both Stevenson signs. On a re-hab assignment Keuchel pitched five innings allowing one run on three hits while striking out five. Toro-Hernandez walked in the first and scored, singled and scored in the fifth, hit a solo homer to right in the seventh making it 4-1 and singled to right in the ninth.
_ DHing and batting third, he was 2-for-4 with a double in a 9-1 romp over the
Vermont Lake Monsters before 1,109 fans at Centennial field. Toro-Hernandez double to right leading off the fourth and scored the first run of the four-run rally, singled to right and later was thrown out attempting to steal third and walked in the ninth.
_ Playing third and batting third, Toro-Hernandez was 1-for-3 with a solo homer in an 11-3 loss to the Monsters before 2,801 fans. He hit a solo homer to right in the ninth cutting the deficit to 11-2. The Quebec native went deep for the sixth time, this one off RP Marc Berube (Trois Pistoles, Que.). Berube pitched 1 1/3 innings all lowing two runs on two solo homers as he walked two and struck out two.
BEST OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
Player AB R H HR RBI Avg
Abraham Toro-Hernandez - A Tri City 17 7 8 2 3 .471
Brett Siddall - A Stockton 22 6 10 2 5 .455
Roland Gladu - Rkie Kingsport 25 5 11 1 5 .440
Michael Saunders - AAA Buffalo 16 6 7 1 2 .438
Tanner Kirwer - Rkie Bluefield 14 5 6 1 3 .429
Daniel Pinero - A West Michigan 18 2 7 - 1 .389
Connor Panas - A Dunedin 24 5 9 3 6 .375
Jordan Procyshen - AA Portland 19 3 7 1 7 .369
Andrew Yerzy - Rkie Missoula 17 2 6 2 6 .353
Charles Leblanc - A Hickory 22 2 7 1 2 .318
Josh Naylor - AA San Antonio 22 3 7 - 3 .318
Jacob Robson - A Lakeland 22 3 7 - - .318
Tyson Gillies - IND Ottawa 23 4 9 2 7 .391
Austin Marcellus - IND California 30 3 10 - 1 .333
Carter McEachern - IND Trois Rivieres 21 2 7 - 2 .333
Maxx Tissenbaum - IND Quebec 18 2 6 - 2 .333
Wes Darvill - IND Winnipeg 15 4 5 - 1 .333
Larry Balkwill - IND Windy City 22 5 7 2 3 .318
(Minimum 10 At Bats required.)
BEST PITCHING PERFORMANCES
CAL QUANTRILL RHP - AA SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS
AP IP H R ER BB K W-L S WHIP WK ERA
1 6.2 6 1 1 1 5 0-1 - 1.13 1.45
Making only his second start at the Double A level with the Missions, and despite being saddled with the loss, Cal Quantrill had an excellent outing this week. On July 21st in a 1-0 loss to the Frisco Roughriders he pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out five Frisco batters, but took the loss. His record with San Antonio in two Texas League starts stands at 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA.
MIKE SOROKA RHP - AA MISSISSIPPI BRAVES
AP IP H R ER BB K W-L S WHIP WK ERA
2 14.0 8 3 3 - 18 0-0 - 0.79 1.92
Mike Soroka had a week which can be considered as very successful, despite the fact he didn’t actually win a game in making his two starts. On July 19th in a 3-2 win over Biloxi Shuckers he pitched seven innings, surrendered two base hits and two earned runs while striking out 12 Biloxi batters, but was not involved in the decision. He followed that up on July 26th in a 3-2 victory over Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and tossed seven innings, scattered six base hits and gave up only one earned run while striking out six Jacksonville hitters but again, was not involved in the decision. Two starts, 14 innings, eight base hits, only three earned runs, 18 strikeouts ... pretty successful by anyone’s standards. These two outings improved his Southern League record in 19 starts to 10-5 with a 2.32 ERA.
JORDAN ROMANO RHP - A DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS
AP IP H R ER BB K W-L S WHIP WK ERA
2 9.0 9 2 2 5 9 1-0 - 1.55 2.00
Jordan Romano made two strong starts this week for Dunedin the first of which was on July 19th a 3-0 victory over Clearwater Threshers. He threw five scoreless innings gave up three base hits while striking out seven Clearwater hitters, to earn his fifth win of the season. On July 24th in a 12-4 win over Lakeland Flying Tigers he pitched four innings and surrendered six base hits and two earned runs while striking out two Lakeland batters but was not involved in the decision. These two outings improved his overall record with Single A Dunedin in 21 appearances to 5-5 with a 3.18 ERA.
ANDREW ALBERS LHP - AAA GWINNETT BRAVES
AP IP H R ER BB K W-L S WHIP WK ERA
2 12.1 9 3 3 3 10 1-0 - 0.99 2.23
Another successful week for Andrew Albers as he made two more solid starts for Gwinnett. On July 19th in a 5-1 loss to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs he pitched seven innings, gave up five base hits and one earned run while striking out five Iron Pigs hitters, but was not involved in the decision. On July 24th in a 9-3 win over Lehigh Valley he tossed five and a third innings, surrendered four base hits and two earned runs while striking out five hitters, to earn his tenth win of the season. These two outing improved his current record in 23 Triple A International League appearances with the Braves, to 10-3 with a 3.13 ERA.
PLAYER MOVES & TRANSACTIONS
OF Jim Adduci (Burnaby, BC) - Called up to Major League Roster by the Detroit Tigers from Triple A Toledo Mud Hens. Appeared in four games with Detroit and was then optioned back to Toledo.
OF Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, BC) - Traded by the Seattle Mariners to St. Louis Cardinals, assigned to their Triple A affiliate Memphis Redbirds.
LHP Andrew Case (St. John, NB) - Moved by the Toronto Blue Jays to Triple A Buffalo Bisons from Double A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Appeared in three games with Buffalo and was moved by Toronto back to Double A New Hampshire.
RHP Tom Robson (Ladner, BC) - Moved by the Toronto Blue Jays to Double A New Hampshire Fisher Cats from Single A Dunedin Blue Jays.
RHP Curtis Taylor (Port Coquitlam, BC) - Moved by Arizona Diamondbacks to Rookie Class AZL Diamondbacks from Single A Kane County Cougars.
LHP Rob Zastryzny (Edmonton, Alta.) - Activated from Re Hab assignment by the Chicago Cubs at Rookie Class AZL Cubs and reassigned to Triple A Iowa Cubs.
RHP Alex Webb (Surrey, BC) - Activated from Re Hab assignment by Cincinnati Reds at Rookie Class AZL Reds and reassigned to Single A Dayton Dragons.
C Mike Reeves (Peterborough, Ont.) - Placed on Temporary Inactive List July 19th by Toronto Blue Jays at Single A Dunedin Blue Jays. On July 21st he announced his retirement and was removed by Toronto from the Dunedin Roster.
RHP Kody Rock (Canora, Sask.) - Undrafted Free Agent signs with the Milwaukee Brewers and was assigned to Rookie Class AZL Brewers.
LHP Ethan Elias (Entwhistle, Alta.) - Traded by Rockland Boulders INDCan Am League to the Trois Rivieres Aigles IND Can Am League.
RHP Karl Gelinas (Iberville, Que.) - Placed on the Disabled List by Quebec Capitales IND Can Am League on July 19th, he missed three days and was reactivated on July 23rd.
RHP Tyler Gillies (London, Ont.) - Released by Quebec Capitales 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).
Week XV _ RHP Mike Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) Mississippi Braves (Braves).
Week XVI _ 3B-C Abraham Toro-Hernandez (Longueuil, Que.) Tri-City ValleyCats (Astros.)