TWitM: Storm Chasers play all the hits

‘This Week in the Minors’ 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, May 13 through Sunday, May 20.

AAA Omaha Storm Chasers (20-23)

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Humberto Arteaga spent the week hitting a whole bunch of baseballs all over the Pacific Coast League. His 15 (!) hits included four (!) home runs. Those homers were the first four of Arteaga’s season. He was also perfect in three stolen base attempts.

First baseman Cheslor Cuthbert had a solid week as well, going 11-for-27 with four doubles and a homer. Joining Arteaga and Cuthbert in the double-digit hit totals club was Erick Mejia, whose 10 hits included three doubles and a triple. Mejia also stole two bases.

Outfielder Bubba Starling doubled twice and homered once this week, among his eight total hits. He was out of the lineup Sunday with some neck stiffness. Also, catcher Andrew Susac socked a dinger of the grand sort. Let’s watch:

AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals (19-23)

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Right fielder Anderson Miller hit in every game this week. That by itself would be nice, but Miller actually had multiple hits in every game this week. He ended up going 13-for-24, with one of each type of extra base hit.

Want to see something weird? Check out this inning from the Naturals game at Tulsa on Wednesday:

That’s four runs scored for Tulsa, but zero of them earned.

A-Adv. Wilmington Blue Rocks (26-17)

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Wilmington is in first place in their division by four games right now, despite being dead last in the following offensive categories: runs scored, hits, doubles, RBI, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and total bases.

In something that may explain this discrepancy, here are a bunch of good pitching performances from this week:

• WEDNESDAY: Daniel Lynch pitched seven shutout innings, struck out nine, walked zero. He allowed two singles and hit one batter. That’s it.
• THURSDAY: Brady Singer struck out 10 and walked nobody in six shutout innings. He did allow six hits and one hit batsman, but that’s still a darn good start.
• FRIDAY: Jackson Kowar allowed a run, but only one, in his six-inning start. Kowar struck out five and walked one.

Meanwhile in the Blue Rocks bullpen, righty Tad Ratliff added two more saves in two more scoreless, hitless outings this week. And right-hander Tyler Zuber added three more scoreless, hitless outings of his own this week. He is now on a streak of seven appearances (10 ²⁄₃ innings) without allowing a run OR EVEN A HIT.

Low-A Lexington Legends (21-21)

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In the 13th round of the 2018 draft, the Royals went with righty Jon Heasley out of Oklahoma State University. This week, Heasley pitched the best game of his pro career so far, allowing just a solo home run and a walk in six innings, with a career-best 10 strikeouts.

Fellow 2018 draftee Jonathan Bowlan also had a strong six-inning start this week. Bowlan plunked the first batter of the game, but recovered and went on to allow just one run on four hits. He struck out six and walked one.

Catcher Freddy Fermin piled up nine this this week, including a double and homer. Outfielder Eric Cole played all three outfield spots as well as DH this week, and went 8-for-25 with two doubles and a homer.

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Did you go to any Minor League games this week? Who stood out to you? Any wacky ballpark promotions?