MiLB August Player of the Month - You make the call

[CheezWizHed]

DSL:
Pitcher: Gian Rizzo – What a nice birthday present for the soon to
be 18 year old RHP (Sept 5). But he earned it with a 0.45 ERA in 20 IP
that included 22K and 4BB.
Batter: Deivi Mejia: Seems that many of the kids wore down in
August, but the 21 year old catcher is rounding out a nice season by putting up
a 303/351/545/897 line for the month.

Arizona:
Pitcher: Will West – Not a great ERA (3.54), due to a high
BAA (.318), but Will wins the award over Lopez and a few other contenders based
on his 25K/4BB in 20.1 IP.
Batter: Jimmie Pharr – If you want
to hit in AZ, you must be a catcher…. Nothing spectacular from the AZ crew in
August, but the catchers continue to lead the way. Granted, the 22 year old Pharr just might have
an age advantage. Still no one else
really came close to deserving it, so Pharr’s 271/368/500/868 takes it for this
month.

Helena:
Pitcher: Seth Harvey – The former 2010 37^th
round pick found his stride to a tune of 1.17 ERA and a ratio of 24K and 4BB in
15.1 innings.
Batter: Max Walla – Still not showing the power people were
expecting, but it’s nice to see Walla with a strong showing this year. Still only 20, Max put up 299/393/454/846.

Wisconsin:
Pitcher: Matthew Miller – Puts up his best month yet for
the ‘Rattlers. The 6’6” RHSP started 6
games for an ERA of 3.31 and 32K/16BB in 35.1 IP. Honorable mention goes to
Adrian Rosario for bringing the Brewers $25k (net proceeds from the Rule V
draft) and ½ of the K-Rod trade. Oh, and
he pitched ok, too.
Batter: Mike Brownstein – Mittelstaedt, Walker, Hawn or Ramirez? Nope, Brownstein stole the show this
month. Limited ABs for the 24 year old SS (who shares his August
9th birthday with my daughter), but came up with a line of 365/459/519/978 in
52 ABs. Nice to see Cody Hawn coming around here late in the season, putting up
nice numbers these last couple months.

Brevard:
Pitcher: Tyler Thornburg – Welcome
back Tyler! Well, actually his peripherals
say he never left, but it’s still nice to see the results. 3.48 ERA in 5 starts
for a 41K/13BB in 31IP. Too bad the team
offense couldn’t help him more than a 1-3 record.
Batter: Scott Krieger – Can’t say
that I’ve heard of him, but for August, he out-hit Morris, Ke Davis, Gennett,
and the rest. 313/376/470/846. Nice to see Josh Prince hitting a little bit
at SS also.

Huntsville:
Pitcher: Daniel Merklinger – Huntsville’s
pitching squad was thin in August with Peralta and Fiers promoted
and Scarpetta was injured (although pitched well in 2 games). Still Dan did an admirable job for the
month. With a 3.82 ERA and 33K/17BB in
35.1 IP. Kudos also to Lucas Luetge for
17K in 9IP and Robert Hinton for 0.00 ERA in 14 IP.
Batter: Zelous
Lamar Wheeler - Looks
like Wheeler is turning himself into a nice utility player candidate. Certainly would be on the SS radar if he had
the defensive chops for it. Minor injuries
have been a problem this year, but he finally put together a nice month at:
326/449/579/1028. 16BB in 95AB is a nice
ratio also. Nice to see BK have a nice
month of August also.

Nashville:
Pitcher: Michael Fiers –
Peralta has moved up to AAA to give Fiers some competition. Peralta is younger and stronger, but Fiers
had the better month: ERA 0.68, 44K/11BB in 39.2 IP. Remember when the Brewers kept trying to put
him in the bullpen? In AA??? Wow!
Honorable mention to Daniel Herrera for bringing in ½ of K-Rod after the
Brewers picked him on for nothing earlier this year. McClendon might not end up as much, but I’m
happy to keep him over Herrera.
Batter: Taylor Green – Green, Maldonado and Gindl all had
great months in August; Basically neck and neck. But Green breaks the tie by finally getting
the attention of DM and Co. I guess
three consecutive months with an above 1.000 OPS will do that. This month, he comes through with
360/406/640/1047.

Overall:
Pitcher: Michael Fiers – Really making some noise this year,
proving he can start. In 2+ months at
AAA, he has an ERA of 1.21, and 65K/22BB in 59.2 innings. Add that to the recent scouting report that
informs that he has a 88-92 MPH FB and good secondary pitches and I think we
found a 22^nd round gem.
Batter: Taylor Green – In keeping with the theme of late round
gems (25^th round), Green just keeps hitting. It might not be pretty, he might not be
extremely athletic, and he might need motivation from pretty country music singers,
but if he keeps producing, no one will care.