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This is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: "Who had a good week?"
Today, we’ll cover results from Monday, June 26 through Sunday, July 2.
AAA Omaha Storm Chasers (38-44)
The Chasers won just one game this week, on a glorious walkoff dinger by 1B Ryan O’Hearn. Aside from that, the theme of their past nine games has been Colorado Springs keeps beating them. The Sky Sox swept in a five-game series in CSP, and then won three of four in Omaha.
That walkoff home run by O’Hearn was one of four homers for him this week. He also doubled twice and hit half a dozen singles. He also walked six times. Eight of O’Hearn’s 13 home runs this season are to the opposite field.
Outfielder Billy Burns had 10 hits this week, all singles. He walked five times, bringing his season total to 28 walks. That is tied with O’Hearn for the team lead. Veteran infielder Dean Anna also had a hit total in the double digits this week, with 10 hits in 27 at bats.
AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals (45-36)
The Naturals had a truncated schedule this week, due to the Texas League All-Star break. Northwest Arkansas was well represented in the game: 2B Jack Lopez, 1B Samir Duenez, SS Humberto Arteaga, LHP Sam Selman, RHP Jake Newberry, and RHP Pedro Fernandez all appeared.
Duenez and Lopez had good weeks in addition to being All-Stars. Duenez cracked three doubles among seven hits in four games. Lopez had six hits in four games, including two doubles.
Center fielder Donnie DeWees hit eight times in four games, including two doubles, a triple, and a home run. DeWees now leads the team in doubles, with 16, and in triples, with six.
Two new faces in the Naturals’ lineup are shortstop Nicky Lopez and outfielder Anderson Miller. Lopez landed with a big splash in his new lineup, with nine hits in his first four games.
The amazing scoreless streak by Richard Lovelady has come to an end, after the left-handed reliever was promoted to Northwest Arkansas. He added two more shutout innings to the streak in his Naturals debut. The final tally: 15 appearances, 25.2 innings, 10 hits, 0 runs, 3 walks, 34 strikeouts.
Left-hander Foster Griffin was solid on Saturday, striking out 10 in six innings. He gave up two earned runs on five hits, and walked two.
A-Adv. Wilmington Blue Rocks (43-39)
Scott Blewett needed just 107 pitches to achieve his complete-game shutout over Salem on Sunday. He allowed just four hits, walked nobody, and struck out four. Salem, as a team, has walked 299 times this season, which is in the better half of the Carolina League. According to the Blue Rocks, it was the team’s first 9-inning shutout since August of 2003, and the first time Blewett has done it in his career.
On Saturday, righty Andres Machado had himself a great start too. Machado pitched seven innings, allowing just one run, and struck out 14 (!) batters. That is, naturally, a career high.
Center fielder Brandon Downes hit three home runs this week, including two in Sunday’s game. Those dingers were part of a 10-hit week, also including three doubles.
In seven games, second baseman D.J. Burt had eight hits, and also drew eight walks.
Low-A Lexington Legends (41-40)
Center field prospect Khalil Lee drew six walks, and had nine hits, giving him an OBP of .469 for the week. Among the hits were two triples and two doubles. However, he also struck out 10 times and was caught stealing twice.
Like Lee, second baseman Gabriel Cancel also nit nine times this week. Cancel doubled three times and drove in five runs. Elsewhere in the Lexington middle infield, shortshop Angelo Castellano had a good week, going 8-for-24 with his 9th double of the year.
Right-handed reliever Justin Camp was moved back down to Lexington from Wilmington a couple weeks ago, but between the two levels he has a scoreless streak of 13.2 innings (7 appearances) going. Camp, an Alabama native, was drafted out of Auburn University in the 37th round in 2016.