International League Week in Review: Home Run Derby Participants Named
By Jay Blue
Mar 5, 2014; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Ezequiel Carrera (61) dives to make a catch during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
In the International League, things are heading towards the All-Star Break as the Triple-A leagues will play their All-Star Game at the same time as the big leaguers. We’re not there yet, so here’s some news and notes from around the league this week.
League Awards
The IL Player of the Week was Ezequiel Carrera, outfielder for the Toledo Mud Hens, the Detroit Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate. Carrera played all seven games this week and hit .407/.500/.704 with two doubles, two home runs and four stolen bases. The International League All-Star is hitting .318/.409/.433 with 36 stolen bases through 77 games in his first season in the Detroit system.
The Pitcher of the Week was 26-year-old lefty Adam Wilk of the Pirates’-affiliated Indianapolis Indians. Wilk joined the Pirates as a free agent in the offseason and earned his award thanks to two outstanding outings including one complete-game shutout. In 15 total innings, Wilk allowed just two earned runs on 13 hits and three walks with 12 strikeouts.
Home Run Derby Participants
The Home Run Derby participants for the All-Star Weekend festivities coming up have been named and the three IL representatives are Jesus Aguilar (Columbus Clippers), Mike Hessman (Toledo Mud Hens) and Dan Johnson (Buffalo Bisons). Hessman is, of course, the active career minor league leader in home runs with 418 and Johnson has 294 dingers in the minors himself. Johnson, who leads the International League with 17 home runs this year, has also tallied 56 home runs in the major leagues. Swinging for the Pacific Coast League will be Allan Dykstra of Las Vegas, Mike Jacobs of Reno and Francisco Pena of Omaha.
League News
Alfredo Aceves has been suspended for 50 games for testing positive a second time for a drug of abuse. Aceves, a Mexican righty, signed a minor league contract with the Yankees on March 29 after being released by the Baltimore Orioles just before the season started. Aceves, 31, was originally signed by Toronto in 2001 but was sold to Yucatan in the Mexican League the following April. He signed again with a big league team, joining the Yankees and getting to the big leagues that year and spending 2011-2013 with the Red Sox and has appeared in at least 10 major league games every years since 2009.