July 20, 2010 at 12:21 PM
Players of the Week, July 12-18; Will Middlebrooks and Armando Zerpa
A Carolina League All-Star and a key member of the Greenville Drive's bullpen highlight this week's SoxProspects.com Players of the Week. The community voted High-A Salem third baseman Will Middlebrooks Player of the Week and Low-A Greenville reliever Armando Zerpa Pitcher of the Week.Middlebrooks, 21, helped lead Salem to a 4-2 record last week, thanks to his .391/.462/.522 showing at the plate. In 23 at-bats, Middlebrooks collected 9 hits including a home run, 8 RBI and 3 runs scored. The former 2007 draft pick continues to put together a stellar season, as he has hit .294/.354/.461 with 8 home runs and 53 RBI this season.
Zerpa, 23, has had an interesting season which has seen him be selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the Rule 5 Draft, traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and returned to the Red Sox in March. This week the left-hander was lights out in his two appearances out of the Greenville bullpen, tossing 4.0 innings allowing just 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out 6. He has split time this season between Short-Season-A Lowell and Low-A Greenville. In 9 appearances out of the bullpen, Zerpa has posted a 1-1 record with a 2.77 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 13.0 innings pitched.