In American Association Daily, the Minor League Sports Report names their American Association Player and Pitcher of the Week for Week 6 as chosen by Robert Pannier and Kevin Luckow, with St. Paul Saints 1B Brady Shoemaker being named Player of the Week and Gary Southshore RailCats starter Daniel Minor earning top pitcher honors for the week.

Brady Shoemaker, Daniel Minor Honored in Week 6

On Monday, the Minor League Sports Report named their Pitcher and Player of the Week for Week 6 in the American Association. St. Paul Saints 1B Brady Shoemaker was named the Player of the Week while Gary Southshore RailCats starter Daniel Minor was recognized as the top pitcher for Week 6.

Player of the Week: Brady Shoemaker, St. Paul Saints

There is no doubt that it was a tough week for the St. Paul Saints, as they went 3-4, and that would normally count against a player, but Brady Shoemaker clearly separated himself from the rest of the league, and this is why he was named as the Player of the Week by the Minor League Sports Report and This Week in the Association. Shoemaker hit .433 and he led the league during the week in runs (8) and RBI (10). The first baseman added 3-doubles and walked four times.

Shoemaker got the week rolling as the Saints took two of three from the Lincoln Saltdogs. In the three game series, the slugger was 5-13 with 2-runs and 6-RBI.

It began on Monday, when the Saints battled back in a slugfest to down Lincoln, 15-9. Shoemaker had a huge performance, going 2-5 with 4-RBI to help lead the comeback. The following day he was 1-4 with an RBI in a 5-4 loss, but in the final contest, the Saints shutout the Saltdogs 6-0, and Shoemaker was one of the main offensive catalysts, going 2-4 with 2-runs and an RBI.

St. Paul returned home where they would lose three of four to the Winnipeg Goldeyes, primarily because the bullpen was unable to hold leads in th0se first three contests. Brady Shoemaker was destroying the ball, however, going 8-17, including a 4-4 game to open the series. He scored 2-runs in the contest, a 16-5 loss. The following night, the first baseman was 2-4 with 2-runs and 3-RBI.He also walked twice.

Game 3, Shoemaker went 2-5 with 2-runs and an RBI in a 9-8 loss. Oddly enough, he was 0-4 in the one game of the series that St. Paul won, a 1-0 affair on Sunday, but he was robbed of hits on two outstanding defensive plays.

Brady Shoemaker finished with a .500 on-base percentage, a .533 slugging percentage, giving him a 1.033 OPS.

Shoemaker is the third Saints player to be honored this season, joining Eddie Medina and Jake Esch who had each earned Pitcher of the Week honors.

Pitcher of the Week: Daniel Minor, Gary Southshore RailCats

The Minor League Sports Report named Gary Southshore RailCats starter Daniel Minor as the Pitcher of the Week for Week 6 in the American Association. Minor was outstanding, going 2-0 in his two starts with a 1.13 ERA.

Daniel Minor made his first start of the week on June 19, when he allowed one run on 4-hits in a 3-1 victory over the Cleburne Railroaders. The right-hander allowed a run in the third, then tossed four scoreless innings. He struck out 3.

On June 24, Minor took on the Sioux City Explorers, the team with the best record in the American Association. The righty was absolutely brilliant, giving up a one-out hit in the first, and then not allowing another hit until the sixth. The RailCats starter would go 6.2-innings without allowing a run, extending his scoreless steak to 10.2-innings.

In 13.2 total innings pitched, Minor allowed 7-hits and one total run. He walked 3 and struck out 11.

He became the third RailCats player to earn honors this year. Colin Willis was named the league’s top player two weeks ago and Alex Gunn was the top pitcher three weeks ago.

2018 Players of the Week

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

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