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 Lincoln Saltdogs left-hander Greg Minier as the American Association Pitcher of the Week for Week 15.

Lincoln Saltdogs LHP Greg Minier Named Pitcher of the Week

On Monday, This Week in the Association and the Minor League Sports Report named Lincoln Saltdogs left-hander Greg Minier as the American Association Pitcher of the Week for Week 15. Minier tossed seven shutout innings in his one start during the week.

The only start of the week for Greg Minier occurred on August 27 against the Cleburne Railroaders. With Lincoln battling to try to keep their playoff hopes alive, the left-hander recorded a gem, tossing seven shutout innings in a 3-0 victory over the Cleburne.

Minier allowed a hit and a walk in the first inning, then got a strikeout-throw out double play to end the frame. In the third, he gave up a single and an error put two on with just one down but, once again, the left-hander got out of the jam by getting two flyball outs to end the inning. Minier allowed a walk in the fourth and a single in both the fifth and sixth innings, but those would be the only other baserunners to reach against the left-hander.

Minier left after seven innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out nine. Of his 85 pitches, 57 went for strikes.

The victory moved Greg Minier to 6-6 while lowering his ERA to 2.62, second best in the American Association. The left-hander has allowed 90 hits and 29 walks while striking out 107 and 103 innings pitched.

Minier was selected in the 32nd round of the 2017 draft by the Chicago White Sox. He played just two seasons in the White Sox organization before being released in 2018. Arm injuries and Covid-19 kept him out of baseball for two seasons, but he returned to the diamond in 2021, pitching for the Saltdogs where he went 9-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 25 appearances.

Greg Minier was  also the Pitcher of the Week in Week 11. Teammate Buddy Baumann received the honors in Week 2.

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
Week 4 – Ryan Tapani, Kane County Cougars
Week 5 – Patrick Ledet, Sioux City Explorers
Week 6 – Ty Culbreth, Sioux Falls Canaries
Week 7 – Duncan Snider, Lake Country DockHounds
Week 8 – Vance Worley, Kane County Cougars
Week 9 – Matt Hall, Kansas City Monarchs
Week 10 – Angel Ventura, Lake Country DockHounds
Week 11 – Greg Minier, Lincoln Saltdogs
Week 12 – Kevin McCanna, Sioux City Explorers
Week 13 – Jeff Kinley, Chicago Dogs and Matt Hall, Kansas City Monarchs
Week 14 = Westin Muir, Kane County Cougars

By Robert Pannier