American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. In today’s edition, This Week in the Association and the Minor League Sports Report name Kane County Cougars left-hander Greg as the American Association Pitcher of the Month for the month of July.

Cougars LHP Greg Mahle Named July Pitcher of the Month

On Friday, This Week in the Association and the Minor League Sports Report named Kane County Cougars left-hander Greg Mahle as the American Association Pitcher of the Month for July. Mahle went 5-0 with a 1.84 ERA in five starts in July.

The first start of the month came on July 4 when the lefty tossed 6.1 scoreless innings against the Kansas City Monarchs. Mahle scattered five hits and walked three while striking out six. He held Kansas City hitless through the first 4.2 innings. Mahle left after retiring the first batter in the seventh, tossing 93 pitches in the contest.

His next start came six days later when Mahle allowed a single run in five innings to the Cleburne Railroaders. The left-hander allowed six hits and a walk, while striking out four. Mahle found himself in trouble in the fifth when he loaded the bases with no one out, but remained calm, getting a shallow fly ball before inducing a double-play to end the threat. He came out to start the sixth but left after the first two batters of the inning reached. One of those runners scored.

On July 15, Mahle held the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to five hits, a walk, and a run in six innings to earn his third win of the month. The lefty struck out eight. Fargo-Moorhead scored their only run in the sixth when they put together a little two out rally, but that would be it. The RedHawks put two on in the fifth, but came away empty-handed. Mahle left after tossing 101 pitches.

On July 20, the left-hander allowed one run in seven innings to the Gary SouthShore RailCats. Mahle was in complete command, yielding six hits and no walks while striking out three. He tossed seven shutout innings before the RailCats were finally able to get on the board. Gary did not get their first hit until the fifth. The lefty needed only 88 pitches to get to the eighth inning, throwing 64 for strikes.

His final outing came on July 27 when the lefty allowed three runs in five innings in a win over the Milwaukee Milkmen. It was hit toughest outing of the month as Mahle allowed five hits and a walk, but struck out eight. His team trailed 3-0 after three, but Mahle hung tough, giving his team the chance to battle back to earn the win.

For July, Mahle went 5-0, allowing 27 hits and six walks in 29.1 innings pitched. He posted a .252 opponent batting average.

Greg Mahle was selected in the 15^th round of the 2014 draft by the Los Angeles Angels. He moved up quickly, reaching the Majors in 2016 when he pitched in 24 games for the Angels. Mahle posted a 5.40 ERA. He then spent much of the next three seasons in AA and AAA. Mahle went to Mexico following the Covid year and retired following the 2021 seasons.

However, he returned to the diamond this year and has been spectacular for the Cougars, going 8-0 with a 2.26 ERA in nine starts. He has allowed 41 hits in 51.2 innings, striking out 44 with just nine walks.

2024 American Association Pitchers of the Month

May – Ty Culbreth, Sioux Falls Canaries
June – Joey Matulovich, Winnipeg Goldeyes

By Robert Pannier