Sioux Falls Canaries LHP Ty Culbreth Named American Association Pitcher of the Week
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 Sioux Falls Canaries left-hander Ty Culbreth as American Association Pitcher of the Week for Week 2 of the 2024 season.
Canaries LHP Ty Culbreth Named Pitcher of the Week
On Monday, This Week in the Association and the Minor League Sports Report named Sioux Falls Canaries left-hander Ty Culbreth as the Pitcher of the Week for Week 2 of the 2024 season. Culbreth had a great week, going 1-0 in two starts with a 0.60 ERA.
The left-hander began the season with a no decision in a 3-2 loss to the Kane County Cougars on May 14. Culbreth was spectacular in the contest, allowing one run on five hits while striking out five in 6.0 innings. He did not walk a batter in the contest, with 55 of his 75 pitches going for strikes. The lefty shut out Kane County through the first four innings, but the Cougars finally got on the board in the fifth. The game was tied at one through nine, with the Cougars earning the victory in extra innings.
Five days later, Culbreth took to the hill against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, allowing one unearned run in the first complete-game of the season in the American Association. As he had against the Cougars, Culbreth dominated the RedHawks, shutting them out through the first six innings. The RedHawks finally scored in the seventh thanks to a throwing error. Culbreth then retired the final six batters of the contest, allowing just four hits and no walks while striking out six in going the distance.
In 15.0 innings, the left-hander allowed nine total hits and no walks while striking out 11. He posted a 0.60 ERA, ninth the best in the league. Opponents hit just .170 against the lefty and he posted a microscopic 0.60 WHIP.
This is the fifth season for Ty Culbreth with the Sioux Falls Canaries. He was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the eighth round of the 2016 draft. Culbreth spent four seasons in the Rockies organization, going 21-23 with a 4.52 ERA in 66 starts and 15 career relief appearances. He reached AA-Hartford in 2019.
In 2020, Culbreth joined the Canaries, helping the team to reach the American Association Championship Series. He returned to the Canaries in 2021, going 7-9, and has won seven contests in each of the last three seasons. In five seasons in Sioux Falls, the left-hander has gone 25-22 with a 5.52 ERA in 66 starts.
Culbreth is the second Sioux Falls Canaries pitcher to have already earned Pitcher of the Week honors. Right-hander Ryan Zimmerman earned the honor last week.
2024 American Association Pitchers of the Week
Week 1 – Ryan Zimmerman, Sioux Falls Canaries
By Robert Pannier