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 Kane County Cougars right-hander Ryan Tapani Pitcher of the Week for Week 4.

Kane County Cougars Right-Hander Ryan Tapani Named Pitcher of the Week

On Monday, This Week in the Association and the Minor League Sports Report named Kane County Cougars right-hander Ryan Tapani as the American Association Pitcher of the Week for Week 4. Tapani tossed the second complete game shutout in the American Association this season.

The Kane County right-hander had just one start during the week, which came as part of a double-header against the Sioux City Explorers on Thursday. After the Cougars had fallen in the first game of the double-header, their fifth straight loss, the club was looking for a big outing from their starter. Tapani delivered.

The right-hander went the distance in the seven inning affair, allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out nine. Tapani retired the first nine batters of the game, striking out three. In the fourth, Danny Amaral led off the inning with a single and reached second on a stolen base, but was stranded when the Kane County ace struck out Gabe Snyder.

An inning later, the Explorers mounted their first real opportunity against Tapani when Trey Martin reached on an error and Sebastian Zawada followed with a single. That put two on with no one out, but the right-hander retired the next two batters before striking out John Anthon two and the frame.

In the seventh, he allowed his only other hit of the game, a one-out single to Martin. Tapani was dominating in the final frame, striking out the side to close out the three-hit shutout. He faced just four batters over the minimum, and 71 of his 102 pitches were for strikes.

Ryan Tapani is the son of former Major Leaguer Kevin Tapani and was drafted by the Washington Nationals in 2018. He spent three years in the Nationals system, reaching AA-Harrisburg last year. In 67 career minor league appearances, Tapani has a 6-13 record with a 4.00 ERA, striking out 182 batters in 171.0 innings.

This season he has been the ace for the Kane County Cougars, going 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA. The right-hander has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of six starts and has gone at least 5.0 innings in each outing.

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

By Robert Pannier