The Appalachian League has named right-handed pitcher Shane Baz as their Pitcher of the Week. The 2017 first round draft pick had two shutout appearances last week, throwing 4.2 innings on Monday, then coming back with five scoreless frames on Saturday. He picked up total of 12 strikeouts, while allowing seven hits and four walks.
The week was impressive because Baz left his start on July 28th with some soreness and had his next start pushed back, while adding a bullpen between starts to make sure everything was okay. That accounts for the lower pitch count on Monday when he went just 4.2 innings.
On the season, Baz had a 3.97 ERA in 45.1 innings over ten starts, with 23 walks, 54 strikeouts, a .250 BAA, a 1.50 WHIP and a 2.90 GO/AO ratio. He was originally scheduled to pitch for West Virginia this year around the start of May, but control issues in Extended Spring Training caused the 19-year-old from Texas to remain at Pirate City and go to Bristol instead. He should have three starts remaining this season, though he could get a fourth if Bristol makes the playoffs or he receives a late promotion to Morgantown for added experience.
