Washington Nationals Minor Leagues: Players Of The Week (6/29-7/5)

(Photo Credit: MILB.com)

Hagerstown Suns (40-39)

Hitter Of The Week: SS Osvaldo Abreu (.285, 4 HR, 26 RBI’s)

The Hagerstown shortstop has been on fire over the last four days in the South Atlantic League. This week, Abreu went 10-for-26 at the plate with three RBI’s, but eight of those hits have come in the last four games. On July 2, against the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Miami Marlins), he went 4-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

In nine games out of the leadoff spot this season, the 21-year-old shortstop is hitting .343 with three RBI’s. He hit .250 in the month of June with two home runs and 11 RBI’s. Despite those struggles, Abreu has had a great start to July, hitting .444 in five games with four doubles.

Honorable Mention: 1B Jose Marmolejos-Diaz (.279, 6 HR, 41 RBI’s)

With DeBruin now in high-A, Marmolejos-Diaz is now one of the main power hitters in this lineup. This week, the 22-year-old first baseman went 9-for-29 with seven RBI’s. He had four hits and a home run in the two games of a doubleheader against the Delmarva Shorebirds (Baltimore Orioles) on June 29. Marmolejos-Diaz’s 41 RBI’s leads the team and he is eighth in the South Atlantic League in that category. In addition, he is third in the SAL in doubles with 20. During the month of June, he hit .274 with two home runs and 18 RBI’s.

Pitcher Of The Week: SP Austen Williams (8-1, 2.10 ERA)

Williams has been a constant as the Suns’ pitcher of the week and this past week was no different. In two starts this past week, he went 2-0, threw a combined 12 innings, gave up five runs on nine hits, struck out nine batters, and walked three. Last night, against the Lakewood BlueClaws (Philadelphia Phillies), he went six innings, gave up three runs on five hits, struck out four, and walked one.

The 22-year-old right-hander has been dominating South Atlantic League offenses this season. In the month of June, the SAL All-Star went 1-0 in three starts with a 2.50 ERA. He has not lost a start in the SAL since April 9 against Hickory. He is second in the league in ERA, fifth in WHIP, and is tied for fifth in wins.

Honorable Mention: P Connor Bach (2-1, 3.21)

While Bach wasn’t as dominant as he was on June 26, when he threw 5.1 no-hit innings of relief against Delmarva, he was pretty close. On July 2, the 23-year-old left-hander got the start against Greensboro. He went six innings, gave up no runs on two hits, struck out eight batters, and walked three in a 5-0 win.

Bach not given up a run in his last 11.1 innings and has struck out 14 batters. He only made one start in June, but had a 3.12 ERA in four appearances. Bach’s 62 strikeouts are one behind Austen Williams for the team lead.

Next: New York-Penn League