I will be running these awards throughout the entire season. These are my choices, depending on whom I have seen or deem as standouts during that time period. Keep in mind that there will often be multiple players deserving of the award.
*This was a short week with the season just beginning*
Position Player of the week: Glynn Davis – OF
.308/.357/.769 (4/13) with 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K
I constantly talk about his above-average bat speed and quick hands through the zone. While he is a terrific athlete, his baseball skills have dragged behind that athletic ability. However, it would be hard to tell with his start to the 2013 season. Davis is hitting .308/.357/.769 (4/13) with 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB and 2 K. One of those HR’s was a walk-off. Keep in mind that Davis had a total of 2 career HR in the minors before the 2013 season. This is a great start for the speedy OF, hopefully he can continue to show a little more pop in the bat.
Starting Pitcher of the week: Branden Kline – RHP
6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Kline made his full season debut, pitching 6 solid innings for the Shorebirds. While his line is nothing exciting, it is a great start for the 2nd round selection in 2012. From the reports given, Kline was crisp and in control, with few balls hit hard off him. More importantly, Kline was able to register 9 ground ball outs.
Relief Pitcher of the week: Mychal Givens – RHP
2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
With only a few games for each affiliate this week, there was not much to pick from in the RP department. However, Givens made his first official relief appearance since converting from an infielder. It went well as he pitched 2.0 innings with 0 H, 1 BB and 2 K. Not a bad start to his pitching career. Remember that he is still only 22 years old.
Other Notables:
Ty Kelly – IF – .455/.563/.818 (5/11) with 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K
Roderick Bernadina – OF – .444/.538/.778 (4/9) with 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 SB
Nick Delmonico – 3B – .333/.538/.536 (3/9) with 2 2B, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 1 K
Tyler Wilson – LHP – 6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 7 K
Devin Jones – RHP – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K
Michael Belfiore – LHP – 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Tucker Blair was born and raised in the Baltimore area and currently lives in Elkridge, Maryland. He graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with a B.S in Entrepreneurial Studies and is currently a Project Analyst for a Management Consulting Firm in Federal Hill, Baltimore. Tucker was previously the Managing Editor at Orioles Nation, where he worked on prospect lists, reports, and analysis on the Orioles minor league system. He also previously wrote his personal blog, The EntreprenOriole.