Midwest League Week in Review: Amir Garrett Spins a Gem

We’re coming down the home stretch for the Midwest League’s first half and there are still some races to be decided. Keep reading to find out why there’s a basketball player in our photo.

League Awards

Winning the Player of the Week award in the Midwest League is Jake Bauers of the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Bauers, who is just 18 years old after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2013 by the San Diego Padres, has been absolutely destroying the MWL after getting out of extended spring training at the end of April. He hit .455/.520/.727 over six games last week with two of his five home runs and taking three walks while stealing three bases. Despite being one of the youngest players in the league, Bauers has hit .365/.444/.895 with 13 extra-base hits.

The MWL Pitcher of the Week this week was a pitcher who has gone under the radar in a relief role: Brian Loconsole for the Burlington Bees. The 23-year-old righty was also a 2013 draftee by the Los Angeles Angels but he was a late round pick, getting selected in the 20th round. Loconsole made three appearances last week and didn’t allow a hit and walked just one batter while striking out five in 5 2/3 innings. He’s got an 0.82 RA and 0.82 WHIP through 22 innings in 10 games so far this season with Burlington.

Division Races

With a few days to go in the first half, the South Bend Silver Hawks (ARI) and the West Michigan Whitecaps (DET) are duking it out for first place in the Eastern Division. They’re separated by 0.5 games and the two clubs will be going for positioning when the playoffs come around at the end of the season. Third place Dayton (CIN) is just one loss (or win by the other two teams) away from elimination and it looks like the Silver Hawks and Whitecaps will finish one-two and secure playoff spots in the East. The only question is who will finish on top. West Michigan, which is also hosting the MWL All-Star Game on Tuesday, is the hotter team with a 7-3 record in their last ten games.

In the Western Divison, the Kane County Cougars (CHC) have the first half championship locked up with an 8.5 game lead over Burlington (LAA). Technically, four teams are still competing for that second playoff spot with Peoria (SLT), Quad Cities (HOU) and Wisconsin (MIL) all locked in a three-way tie for third, two games back of Burlington. Burlington has helped their own cause by going 8-2 over the last ten games but Wisconsin is the hottest team in the league, going 9-1 over their last 10 games. They’ve got three games with Quad Cities before the All-Star Break.

Individual Accomplishments

Lefty Amir Garrett of the Dayton Dragons had his best professional start this week, throwing a complete game (seven-inning) outing, allowing no runs on three hits with no walks and striking out five batters, picking up his second win of the season. Garrett is still trying to decide whether to make baseball or basketball his full-time sport, but he’s had a bit of a roll this year as he had to sit out a season of basketball after transferring from St. John’s to Cal State-Northridge this past year.

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