In American Association Daily, the Minor League Sports Report names their American Association Player and Pitcher of the Week for Week 9 as chosen by Robert Pannier and Kevin Luckow, with Wichita Wingnuts outfielder Tony Thomas being named Player of the Week and Winnipeg Goldeyes left-hander earning the top pitcher for Week 9.

Tony Thomas, Mitch Lambson Honored in Week 9

The Minor League Sports Report has named their Player and Pitcher of the Week for Week 9 of the 2018 American Association season. Wichita Wingnuts outfielder Tony Thomas increased his American Association leading home run total, adding four as part of being named Player of the Week. Winnipeg Goldeyes left-hander Mitch Lambson earned the top pitcher nod, tossing a complete game shutout.

Player of the Week: Tony Thomas, Wichita Wingnuts

Tony Thomas of the Wichita Wingnuts was named the Player of the Week by the Minor League Sports Report. Thomas hit .393 in seven games during the week, driving in 11 and hitting four home runs, giving him 15 on the season. He also had nine total extra-base hits during the week.

Thomas had hits and all seven games, giving him a nine-game hitting streak. It began on Monday, July 9 when the Wichita outfielder was 1-4 with a run, a homer, and an RBI. He would hit another home run on Tuesday, his third straight game with a homer in an 8-3 victory over the Fargo-Moorehead RedHawks. In the final game of the series, Thomas was 1-5 with a double. He finished the series 4-13 with 3-runs and 2-RBI.

Against the Texas AirHogs, Tony Thomas was a true catalyst for the club, going  7-15 with 5-runs and 9-RBI. He drove in at least one RBI in each game, and concluded the series with a perfect 3-3 afternoon, driving in four.

Overall for the week, Thomas had four doubles, a triple, and four home runs. He also walked five times. He led the league in slugging at 1.036 and had a gaudy 1.521 OPS.

Pitcher of the Week: Mitch Lambson, Winnipeg  Goldeyes

Mitch Lambson was named Pitcher of the Week. He made just one start during Week 9, but made the most of it, allowing just two hits in a complete game shutout of the Sioux Falls Canaries.

Lambson gave up his first hit of the game with one out in the third, but the runner was picked off rounding too far from first. The only other hit allowed was a single by David Bergin to lead off the eighth inning. To that point, the left-hander had retired the minimum, and he would finish just one over the minimum, facing just 28 batters. The only other runner to reach in the game was Bergin, who earned a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth but was erased on a double play. The left-hander struck out 6, and 65 of his 93 pitches when for strikes.

2018 Players of the Week

Tim Colwell, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
Fernando Perez, Wichita Wingnuts
Brady Shoemaker, St. Paul Saints
Zach Walters, Kansas City T-Bones
Colin Willis, Gary Southshore RailCats
Brandon Jacobs, Lincoln Saltdogs
Angel Reyes, Lincoln Saltdogs
Daniel Jackson, Sioux City Explorers

2018 Pitchers of the Week

Cesilio Pimentel, Sioux Falls Canaries
Austin Robichaux, Lincoln Saltdogs
Daniel Minor, Gary Southshore RailCats
Charlie Gillies, Wichita Wingnuts
Jake Esch, St. Paul Saints
Alex Gunn, Gary Southshore RailCats
Eddie Medina, St. Paul Saints
Michael Tamburino, Lincoln Saltdogs

By Robert Pannier