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 Minor League Sports Report name Sioux City Explorers right-hander Kevin McCanna Pitcher of the Week for Week 12.

Sioux City Explorers Right-Hander Kevin McCanna Named Pitcher of the Week

On Monday, This Week in the Association and the Minor League Sports Report named Sioux City Explorers right-hander Kevin McCanna as the American Association Pitcher of the Week for Week 12. McCanna tossed seven scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Dogs on Saturday.

Kevin McCanna only made one start during the week, but he made it a big one, helping to lead Sioux City to a 4-0 victory over Chicago. His seven innings started a run of 18 straight scoreless innings pitched by Sioux City over the final two games of the series.

The right-hander was in complete command of this game from the start, allowing a single in the second and a double in the third as the only hits allowed through the first three innings. After giving up a leadoff walk in the fourth, McCanna retired the next seven batters. The right-hander allowed his third and final hit of the contest with one down in the sixth. He found himself in a little trouble, intentionally walking K.C. Hobson to put two on with two down, but got a fly out to and the frame. In the seventh, he retired Chicago in order to close out his seven innings of work.

Kevin McCanna allowed three hits and two walks while striking out five. He threw 93 pitches in the contest, 64 for strikes. The victory moved the right-hander to 7-4 with a 4.31 ERA in 16 appearances, 15 of which are starts.

McCanna is in his second stint with Sioux City. He began his career in the Houston Astros organization after being selected in the 13th round of the 2015 MLB amateur draft. McCanna was released following the 2016 season, signing was Sioux City where he starred, going 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA in 27 appearances. That earned him a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, where he reached AAA-Reno in both 2019 and 2021. In six seasons in the minors, McCanna is 23-21 with a 3.11 ERA. He has pitched 350.1 innings, striking out 351 batters.

McCanna is the second Explorers pitcher to be named as American Association Pitcher of the Week. Left-hander Patrick Ledet earned the honors in Week 5.

2022 American Association Pitchers of the Week

Week 1 – Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks Alex DuBord
Week 2 – Buddy Baumann, Lincoln Saltdogs
Week 3 – Myles Smith, Milwaukee Milkmen
Week 4 – Ryan Tapani, Kane County Cougars
Week 5 – Patrick Ledet, Sioux City Explorers
Week 6 – Ty Culbreth, Sioux Falls Canaries
Week 7 – Duncan Snider, Lake Country DockHounds
Week 8 – Vance Worley, Kane County Cougars
Week 9 – Matt Hall, Kansas City Monarchs
Week 10 – Angel Ventura, Lake Country DockHounds
Week 11 – Greg Minier, Lincoln Saltdogs

By Robert Pannier