In American Association Daily, the Minor League Sports Report names their American Association Player and Pitcher of the Week for Week 5 as chosen by Robert Pannier and Kevin Luckow, with Kansas City T-Bones infielder Zach Walters being named Player of the Week and Wichita Wingnuts starter Charlie Gillies selected as Pitcher of the Week.

Zach Walters, Charlie Gillies Honored in Week 5

The Minor League Sports Report has named their Player and Pitcher of the Week for Week 5 of the 2018 American Association season. Kansas City T-Bones infielder Zach Walters has been named the Player of the Week after extending his hitting streak to 10 games. Wichita Wingnuts starter Charlie Gillies was named the Pitcher of the Week after earning victories in his first two starts of the season.

Player of the Week: Zach Walters, Kansas City T-Bones

Kansas City T-Bones infielder Zach Walters was named the American Association Player of the Week after recording hits in all seven games the T-Bones played, extending his hitting streak to 10. Walters was 14-31 at the plate, an impressive .452 average, third best in the league during the last week.

Walters drove in 10 and scored 7 more. He led the American Association in RBI during the week and was tied for first in runs scored. He also hit 3-doubles and 2-home runs.

Zach Walters got the week off on the right foot, posting a 3-4 day against the Sioux City Explorers on June 11. He scored a run and added an RBI. The following day, the former Major Leaguer was 2-4 with a run, homer, and RBI in the 6-0 victory over the Explorers. He would go 1-5 with 2-RBI on June 11, and closed out the series with a 3-5, 2-run, 3-RBI performance in the 9-5 victory. In the four-game set against the Explorers, Walters was 9-18, with 4-runs and 8-RBI.

He closed out the week with a 5-13 performance in the three games against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Walters drove in 2 in that series and scored 3 more runs. He was 2-5 with a run and an RBI in Friday night’s 6-4 victory. The T-Bones star was 1-3 with a run on Saturday and 2-5 with a run and an RBI in the final game of the series.

Walters posted a .469 on-base percentage and a .742 slugging percentage, which was tops in the American Association. His 1.211 OPS was second best.

Pitcher of the Week: Charlie Gillies, Wichita Wingnuts

Wichita Wingnuts starter Charlie Gillies was chosen as the American Association Pitcher of the Week for Week 5 by the Minor League Sports Report. Gillies was signed by the team last week Monday, and would become an instant success with Wichita, winning both of his starts.

In his 2-starts, Gillies was 2-0. He combined to pitch 13-innings, allowing 13-hits, 3-walks, and just one earned run. He struck out 1o and posted a 0.69 ERA.

Charlie Gillies debut came on June 11 against the Cleburne Railroaders. The right-hander tossed six scoreless innings, allowing 5-hits and 2-walks while striking out 3. Of the 72 pitches he threw, 48 went for strikes. The Wingnuts won, 6-1.

His second start came on June 16 against the Texas AirHogs. Gillies went 7-innings, allowing 8-hits and one run. He walked one and struck out 7. The Wingnuts starter blanked the AirHogs through the first six innings of the game, extending his scoreless steak to 12. That came to an end with two outs in the seventh on an RBI ground out. He threw 97 pitches, 62 were strikes.

Of those who pitched at least 7-innings during the week, Charlie Gillies posted the top ERA.

2018 Players of the Week

Colin Willis, Gary Southshore RailCats
Brandon Jacobs, Lincoln Saltdogs
Angel Reyes, Lincoln Saltdogs
Daniel Jackson, Sioux City Explorers

2018 Pitchers of the Week

Jake Esch, St. Paul Saints
Alex Gunn, Gary Southshore RailCats
Eddie Medina, St. Paul Saints
Michael Tamburino, Lincoln Saltdogs

By Robert Pannier