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 Milwaukee Milkmen right-hander Myles Smith Pitcher of the Week for Week 3.

Milwaukee Milkmen Right-Hander Myles Smith Named Pitcher of the Week

On Monday, This Week in the Association and the Minor League Sports Report named Milwaukee Milkmen right-hander Myles Smith as the American Association Pitcher of the Week for Week 3 of the 2022 season. Smith had an impressive week, going 2-0 with a 1.13 ERA in two starts.

It got off to a great start for the Milwaukee ace as he tossed the first complete game shutout of the season on Tuesday, blanking the Sioux City Explorers, 9-0. Smith allowed a one-out single in the first, then retired the next seven batters before an infield hit snapped the string. He then retired 10 straight batters, keeping the Explorers from mounting any type of rally.

Finally, in the seventh, Sioux City was able to put something together, getting a leadoff single and a walk to start the frame. With two down, Blake Tiberi singled to load the bases, but Smith struck out John Anthon to end the frame.

In the eighth, back-to-back errors put two on with two down, but Smith was able to get Gabe Snyder to ground out to deny Sioux City once again. In the ninth, he retired the side in order to complete the complete game shutout. Smith allowed just four hits and a walk while striking out a season-high 10 batters.

On Sunday, Smith limited the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in an 8-5 victory. The right-hander allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk in 7.0 innings. Smith gave up two hits in each of the first two innings, but got out of both frames unscathed. In the third, Fargo-Moorhead was able to put together back-to-back hits to tie the score at one. However, the Milwaukee ace took control from there, getting a double-play to end the frame, beginning a run of 10 straight batters retired.

In the seventh, Smith walked his first batter of the game, then gave up a single to put two on with no one out. After a passed ball, a single by Nick Novak gave the RedHawks their only other run of the contest. Once again, Smith induced a double-play to end the frame. He left after seven innings, tossing 96 pitches, 64 for strikes.

With the two wins, Myles Smith is now 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in five starts. He is the only pitcher in the American Association this season with a complete game. He tossed 16.0 innings, allowing 12 total hits, two walks, and two earned runs while striking out 12. Smith posted a 0.88 WHIP and a .188 opponent batting average.

Smith is coming off an impressive 2021 season, his first as a starting pitcher. The right-hander went 13-4 with a 3.47 ERA, leading the American Association in strikeouts (134). He was named as the Pitcher of the Month for May by This Week in the Association and the Minor League Sports Report last week.

2022 American Association Pitchers of the Week

Week 1 – Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks Alex DuBord
Weel 2 – Buddy Baumann, Lincoln Saltdogs

By Robert Pannier