April 28, 2014 at 9:30 PM
Players of the Week, April 21-27: Carlos Asuaje and Brian Johnson
Carlos Asuaje, IF/OF, Greenville Drive, 7 G, 22 AB, 32 PA, 9 H, 4 2B, 2 3B, 9 R, 7 RBI, 8BB/3K, 2 SB, .409/.581/.773
The athletic 22-year-old has been a jack-of-all-trades for the Drive this season, starting games at second base, third base, and left field. He appeared at all three positions this week, while hitting well enough to earn his first SoxProspects.com Player of the Week award.
Drafted in the 11th round of the 2013 draft out of Nova Southeastern University, Asuaje put up good numbers in Lowell last season, batting .269/.366/.368 in 171 at-bats. He is a fun player to watch due to his plus speed, and his defensive flexibility makes him even more valuable to the organization. While he is being overshadowed by some other strong performances to start the season, Asuaje is an under-the-radar prospect who could be a utility player at the major league level.
Drafted in the 11th round of the 2013 draft out of Nova Southeastern University, Asuaje put up good numbers in Lowell last season, batting .269/.366/.368 in 171 at-bats. He is a fun player to watch due to his plus speed, and his defensive flexibility makes him even more valuable to the organization. While he is being overshadowed by some other strong performances to start the season, Asuaje is an under-the-radar prospect who could be a utility player at the major league level.
Season Line: .379/.500/.652, 19 G, 84 PA, 8 2B, 5 3B, 14BB/11K, 3 SB (0 CS),
Brian Johnson, SP, Salem Red Sox, 6 IP, 1-0. 0.00 ERA, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB/8 K, 0.83 WHIP, 12.00 K/9, 1.00 G/F, .182 BAA, .445 OPSA
Johnson takes the award home for the second week in-a-row, following up his six perfect innings last week with six more shutout innings this week. The 23-year-old left-hander currently leads the Carolina League in strikeouts with 33 in 25 2/3 innings.
The former Florida Gator has been inconsistent this season, with three tremendous starts and two poor starts, but if he keeps pitching like he has the past two weeks, he will be in Portland sooner rather than later. On Monday he was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive week. For the sabermetrically-inclined readers, Johnson's 1.45 FIP this season suggests he is pitching better than his ERA indicates.
Season Line: 5 G, 3-1, 3.86 ERA, 25 2/3 IP, 23 H, 7BB/33K, .230 BAA
Honorable Mentions, Batters
Bo Greenwell (GRE) (South Atlantic League Player of the Week)
Jimmy Rider (GRE)
Travis Shaw (POR)
Jantzen Witte (GRE)
Honorable Mentions, Pitchers
Jonathan Aro (GRE)
Jacob Dahlstrand (GRE)
Justin Haley (SAL)
Cody Kukuk (GRE)
Photo Credit: Carlos Asuaje and Brian Johnson by Kelly O'Connor
Johnson takes the award home for the second week in-a-row, following up his six perfect innings last week with six more shutout innings this week. The 23-year-old left-hander currently leads the Carolina League in strikeouts with 33 in 25 2/3 innings.
The former Florida Gator has been inconsistent this season, with three tremendous starts and two poor starts, but if he keeps pitching like he has the past two weeks, he will be in Portland sooner rather than later. On Monday he was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive week. For the sabermetrically-inclined readers, Johnson's 1.45 FIP this season suggests he is pitching better than his ERA indicates.
Season Line: 5 G, 3-1, 3.86 ERA, 25 2/3 IP, 23 H, 7BB/33K, .230 BAA
Honorable Mentions, Batters
Bo Greenwell (GRE) (South Atlantic League Player of the Week)
Jimmy Rider (GRE)
Travis Shaw (POR)
Jantzen Witte (GRE)
Honorable Mentions, Pitchers
Jonathan Aro (GRE)
Jacob Dahlstrand (GRE)
Justin Haley (SAL)
Cody Kukuk (GRE)
Photo Credit: Carlos Asuaje and Brian Johnson by Kelly O'Connor