‘Twas a good week to be a minor league Mariner for some as three players in the system picked up Player of the Week awards, which I can only imagine doesn’t include a trophy but maybe includes a fake medal or certificate of achievement.
Erasmo Ramirez was named the PCL Pitcher of the Week after tossing 13.1 innings over two starts with 12 hits allowed, 15 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 2 earned runs, picking up a win in each start. Erasmo started his season in the majors and was demoted, but the 22-year-old could see the bigs again soon.
Despite going 0-for-7 during a June 1st doubleheader, Nick Franklin was named the Southern League Hitter of the Week. Franklin picked up 11 hits over the week and hit a pair of three-run home runs over the weekend while going 6-for-9. Over his last ten games, the SS is hitting .400/.455/.750 but has struck out 11 times. Not a huge deal when he hits like that, but something to think about.
Finally, Danny Hultzen, the #2 pick of 2011 was named Southern League Pitcher of the Week on the same day that the M’s are going to make the #3 pick of the 2012 draft. Hultzen made two starts, went 11.2 innings, 7 hits allowed, 0 R, 11 strikeouts, and 5 walks while picking up a pair of wins. He now has a 1.44 ERA in eleven starts with only 32 hits allowed in 62.1 innings.