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 Pitcher of the Week for Week 11.

Lincoln Saltdogs left Hander 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 11. Minier was fantastic in his one start during the week, tossing six shutout innings while striking out 11 in a 6-1 victory over the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

Minier made his start on July 29 in the series opener against the RedHawks. The left-hander found himself in a little bit of trouble right off as the first two batters of the game reached base, but he struck out the next two before getting a ground out to get out of the threat. Lincoln then staked their starter to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, and Minier did the rest.

In the second, the Saltdogs starter gave up a leadoff single and gave up back-to-back two out hits in the third. However, he used to strike out to get himself out of the jam each time. He allowed a single walk in the fourth and sixth innings as the only other blemishes on his record. Minier struck out two in each of the first three innings and struck out at least one batter in every frame, including striking out the side in the sixth.

The left-hander left after six innings, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out 11. Of his 95 pitches, 61 when for strikes. The outing moved him to 5-5 with a league-leading 2.38 ERA.

Greg Minier was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 32nd round of the 2017 MLB amateur draft. He spent one season in the White Sox organization, playing eight games in the Pioneer League at Great Falls. Arm troubles kept him out of baseball for the next three seasons, but he returned to the mound in 2021, becoming the ace of the Saltdogs staff. In this season, he was 9-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 25 appearances, 13 of which were starts. The left-hander struck out 90 in 86.0 innings. This season he has struck out 73 in 72.0 innings.

One other Lincoln Saltdogs player has been honored this season. Minier joins Buddy Baumann who was named as Pitcher of the Week 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

By Robert Pannier