The American Association named their Player and Pitcher of the Week for June 22 on Monday. St. Paul Saints catcher Vinny DiFazio and Sioux City Explorers pitcher Ryan Zimmerman earned the honors.

Vinny DiFazio, Player of the Week

DiFazio has been on a ridiculously hot tear of late for the St. Paul Saints. During the week that ended on June 21, DiFazio was 18-29 (.621) with 2 doubles, 2 home runs and 9 RBI. The catcher had at least two hits in every game he played during the week, and ran his hitting streak to 10-games, which includes a club record nine straight games with at least two hits. He also scored eight runs.

DiFazio’s week began with a three-game series in Winnipeg where, despite hurting his hamstring, he went 11-15 with 3 runs and 4 RBI. He had three hits in the first contest of the series, then had back-to-back 4-5 days.

On Friday the Saints slugger began a three-game set with the Gary Southshore RailCats. DiFazio was 7-14 in the series with 5 runs scored and 5 RBI.

His hellacious run moved the St. Paul star’s batting average to .439, which leads the American Association.

DiFazio is the second St. Paul Saints player to earn the Player of the Week honors this season. First baseman Ian Gac was the choice after the first week of the 2015 American Association season.

Ryan Zimmerman, Pitcher of the Week

Ryan Zimmerman made two starts for the Sioux City Explorers this past week, winning both of them. The right-hander began the week by shutting out the Lincoln Saltdogs on June 16 in a 5-0 Explorers win. He allowed just four hits in the game and didn’t walk a batter, while striking out six. He threw just 94 pitches in the game, 69 for strikes. The complete game shutout was his first complete game of the season, and his third straight win.

Zimmerman moved that winning streak to four on June 21 when he allowed just two hits and one run, which was unearned, in a seven inning performance against the Sioux Falls Canaries. The righty walked four while striking out seven in the 8-3 win.

The two outstanding outings dropped his ERA to 2.31, which is 10th in the league. He leads all American Association pitchers in opponent batting average with a miniscule .183 average, and has a WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of just 0.95.

Zimmerman is the second Sioux City Explorers player to be honored this season. Infielder Brock Kjeldgaard was named the Player of the Week by the American Association last week.

By Robert Pannier