MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ANNOUNCES JUNE PLAYERS AND PITCHERS OF THE MONTH
Winners come from 15 organizations; Rays lead with four winners
July 6, 2023 — Minor League Baseball (MiLB) today announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for June in each of the 14 leagues in Major League Baseball’s player development system.
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International League (Triple-A)
Durham Bulls (Rays) infielder Jonathan Aranda batted .448/.531/.823 and led Minor League Baseball in average (.448), hits (43), total bases (79), on-base percentage (.531) and OPS (1.354). He led the league in slugging percentage (.823) and finished second in home runs (nine), fourth in runs (22) and RBI (24) and fifth in doubles (nine). He posted 16 multi-hit games, including two separate streaks of six straight multi-hit games. Aranda, 25, was originally signed by Tampa Bay as an international free agent out of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, on July 2, 2015.
Norfolk Tides (Orioles) right-hander Grayson Rodriguez went 4-0 with a 2.22 ERA in five starts. Rodriguez struck out a league-best 39 batters and held opponents to a.184 average as he scattered 18 hits and seven earned runs over 28.1 innings. Rodriguez, 23, was selected by Baltimore in the first round (11th overall) of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Pacific Coast League (Triple-A)
Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) outfielder Dominic Canzone batted .430/.478/.759 and led the league in average (.430), slugging percentage (.759) and OPS (1.237). He was second in hits (34) and doubles (nine), while finishing third in total bases (60) and on-base percentage (.478) and was fourth in RBI (25). He recorded 12 multi-hit games and had separate hitting streaks of six and seven games in June. Canzone, 25, was selected by Arizona in the eighth round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Ohio State University.
Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) right-hander Brandon Pfaadt was 3-0 with a 3.16 ERA in five starts as he allowed nine earned runs over 25.2 innings. His 28 strikeouts were second-best in the league, and he walked just five batters. He allowed two or fewer runs in four of his five starts before being recalled to Arizona on June 29. Pfaadt, 24, was selected by Arizona in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Bellarmine High School in Bellarmine, Kentucky.
Eastern League (Double-A)
Bowie Baysox (Orioles) infielder Coby Mayo batted .340/.467/.711 and led the league in home runs (eight), total bases (69), on-base percentage (.467), slugging percentage (.711) OPS (1.178) and walks (20). He was second in doubles (10), third in runs (19) and hits (33), fourth in average (.340) and fifth in RBI (18). Mayo recorded nine multi-hit games and had a nine-game hitting streak in June. Mayo, 21, was selected by Baltimore in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants) right-hander Mason Black made five starts and pitched to a 1.27 ERA in 21.1 innings as he allowed three earned runs on 12 hits and six walks while striking out 25. He held opponents to a .162 average as he ended the month on a 17.1 inning scoreless streak. Black, 23, was selected by San Francisco in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Lehigh University.
Southern League (Double-A)
Montgomery Biscuits (Rays) infielder Austin Shenton batted .385/.490/.820 and led the league in average (.385), home runs (nine), on-base percentage (.490), slugging percentage (.821) and OPS (1.311). He finished second in total bases (64) and RBI (27), third in doubles (seven) and was fourth in hits (30). Shenton recorded seven multi-hit games and had a nine-game hitting streak in June. Shenton, 25, was originally selected by Seattle in the fifth round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Florida International University. He was obtained by Tampa Bay in the July 29, 2021, trade that sent Diego Castillo to Seattle.
Montgomery Biscuits (Rays) left-hander Mason Montgomery went 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in five starts as he allowed six earned runs on 13 hits and nine walks while striking out 31. He held opponents to a .144 average and allowed one run over his last 16 innings in June. Montgomery, 23, was selected by Tampa Bay in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Texas Tech University.
Texas League (Double-A)
San Antonio Missions (Padres) outfielder Tirso Ornelas batted .378/.434/.556 and led the league in average (.378), total bases (59), RBI (26) and OPS (1.090). He finished second in the league in hits (34) and slugging percentage (.556), was fourth in on-base percentage (434) and fifth in home runs (six). Ornelas recorded 11 multi-hit games and posted separate hitting streaks of six and nine games before a June 28 promotion to Triple-A El Paso. Ornelas, 23, was signed by San Diego as an international free agent out of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, on March 31, 2017.
Arkansas Travelers (Mariners) right-hander Emerson Hancock went 4-0 with a 1.74 ERA in five starts. He held opponents to a .224 average and walked six as he struck out 29 over 31.0 innings. His six earned runs allowed were the fewest by any Texas League pitcher with more than 19.0 innings pitched. He threw six scoreless innings in his first and last outings of June and didn’t allow more than three earned runs in any of his five starts. Hancock, 24, was selected by Seattle in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Georgia.
Midwest League (High-A)
Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins) infielder Tanner Schobel batted .323/.400/.613 and led the league in runs (25), hits (30), home runs (seven), RBI (26), slugging percentage (.613) and OPS (1.013). He finished third in average (.323) and triples (two) and fourth in on-base percentage (.400). He recorded eight multi-hit games and hit safely in his last nine games of the month. Schobel, 22, was selected by Minnesota in the Competitive Balance Round B (68th overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Virginia Tech.
Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers) left-hander Justin Wrobleski went 3-1 with a 1.09 ERA in five starts. Wrobleski allowed just three earned runs on 17 hits and six walks over 24.2 innings. He struck out 28 and held opponents to a .195 average. He struck out a career-high 10 batters on June 14 against Wisconsin. Wrobleski, 22, was selected by Los Angeles (NL) in the 11th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma State University.
Northwest League (High-A)
Spokane Indians (Rockies) outfielder Jordan Beck batted .316/.431/.537 and led the league in runs (22) and walks (20). He finished second in hits (30) and RBI (35) was third in average (.316), home runs (five) and on-base percentage and was fourth in OPS (.986). He walked 20 times while striking out 18 times. He recorded nine multi-hit games in June. Beck, 22, was selected by Colorado in the Competitive Balance Round A (38th overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft out of the University of Tennessee.
Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays) right-hander Devereaux Harrison went 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA in four starts. He allowed two earned runs over 23.0 innings on 14 hits and eight walks. He held opponents to a .182 average and struck out 20 batters, including a career-high eight strikeouts on June 10 at Everett. Harrison, 22, was selected by Toronto in the ninth round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Long Beach State University.
South Atlantic League (High-A)
Hickory Crawdads (Rangers) outfielder Abimelec Ortiz batted .373/.442/.723 and led the league in average (.373), hits (31), runs (19), total bases (60), home runs (eight) and RBI (22). He finished second in on-base percentage (.442), slugging percentage (.723) and OPS (1.165). He recorded 10 multi-hit games and posted a 14-game hitting streak to end the month. Ortiz, 21, was signed as a free agent out of Florida Southwestern State Junior College in Fort Myers, Florida, on July 29, 2021.
Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees) right-hander Drew Thorpe went 3-0 with a 0.31 ERA in four starts as he started the month with a 25-inning scoreless streak and allowed just one earned run on 12 hits and six walks over 28.2 innings. He struck out 34, including a career-high 12 on June 11 at Jersey Shore. He held opponents to a .129 average in June. Thorpe, 22, was selected by New York (AL) in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Cal Poly.
California League (Single-A)
Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies) infielder Ryan Ritter batted .353/.418/.706 and led the league in total bases (60), home runs (six), slugging percentage (.706) and OPS (1.124). He finished second in average (.353), triples (three) and RBI (22). He was fourth in runs (20) and hits (30) and fifth in on-base percentage (.418). He recorded eight multi-hit games and hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games in June. He was promoted to High-A Spokane on July 3. Ritter, 22, was selected by Colorado in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of the University of Kentucky.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers) right-hander Gabe Emmett went 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in four appearances (three starts). He allowed three earned runs on nine hits and nine walks over 21.0 innings. He held opponents to a .136 average and started the month with a five inning, no-hit start June 2 against Inland Empire. Emmett, 22, was selected by Los Angeles (NL) in the 19th round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Folsom Lake College in Folsom, California.
Carolina League (Single-A)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Astros) outfielder Zachary Cole batted .311/.462/.556 and led the league in runs (24), triples (three) and walks (23). He finished third in on-base percentage (.462), OPS (1.018), total bases (50), doubles (seven) and stolen bases (nine). He recorded 10 multi-hit games and separate hitting streaks of five and seven games. Cole, 22, was selected by Houston in the 10th round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Ball State University.
Charleston RiverDogs (Rays) right-hander Yoniel Curet went 2-0 with a 0.35 ERA in five starts as he allowed one earned run over 26.0 innings on eight hits and 10 walks. He struck out 29 batters and held opponents to a .101 average and ended the month on a 15.2 inning scoreless streak. Curet, 20, was originally signed by Tampa Bay as an international free agent out of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, on July 2, 2019.
Florida State League (Single-A)
Tampa Tarpons (Yankees) outfielder Christopher Familia batted .380/.456/.899 and led the league in average (.380), runs (22), home runs (10), RBI (28), total bases (71), slugging percentage (.899) and OPS (1.355). He finished third in on-base percentage (.456), was fourth in doubles (seven) and fifth in hits (30). Familia, 23, was originally signed by New York (NL) as an international free agent out of Bani, Dominican Republic, on July 2, 2018. He was promoted to High-A Hudson Valley on June 29.
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (Twins) right-hander C.J. Culpepper went 3-1 with a 1.35 ERA in four starts as he allowed three earned runs on 12 hits and seven walks over 20.0 innings as he held opponents to a .176 average. In his first start of the month, he threw five no-hit innings and in his final start of the month he allowed one hit over six innings. Culpepper, 21, was selected by Minnesota in the 13th round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of California Baptist University.
Arizona Complex League (Rookie)
ACL Rockies shortstop Dyan Jorge batted .377/.506/.623 and led the league in runs (30), total bases (43), walks (19), on-base percentage (.506) and OPS (1.129). He finished second in average (.377), hits (26), triples (three) and slugging percentage (.623) and was fourth in stolen bases (nine). He recorded nine multi-hit games in 20 contests and was promoted to Single-A Fresno on July 3. Jorge, 20, was signed by Colorado as an international free agent out of Havana, Cuba, on January 15, 2022.
ACL Dodgers right-hander Aldrin Batista went 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA in five appearances (three starts) as he allowed just nine hits and three earned runs in 19.1 innings. He struck out 25 and held opponents to a .143 average. Batista, 20, was originally signed by Los Angeles (NL) as an international free agent out of Azua, Dominican Republic, on June 1, 2022.
Dominican Summer League (Rookie)
DSL Giants Black outfielder Rayner Arias batted .414/.539/.793 and was second in the league in slugging percentage (.793) and OPS (1.332). He finished third in average (.414) and total bases (46) and was fourth in RBI (21) and on-base percentage (.539). Arias walked 15 times and struck out 11 times. He recorded seven multi-hit games in 16 contests. Arias, 17, was signed by San Francisco as an international free agent out of Bani, Dominican Republic, on January 15, 2023.
DSL Pirates Gold right-hander Adolfo Oviedo went 2-0 and did not allow a run in four starts as he surrendered three hits and 13 walks over 16.2 innings. He held opponents to a .064 average in June. Oviedo, 18, was originally signed by Pittsburgh as an international free agent out of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, on May 27, 2022.
Florida Complex League (Rookie)
FCL Yankees infielder Hans Montero batted .344/.523/.641 and led the league in on-base percentage (.523), slugging percentage (.641) and OPS (1.164). He finished second in total bases (41), triples (two), was third in runs (20), was fourth in average (.344) and home runs (four) and was fifth in hits (22). He recorded six multi-hit games and hit safely in 15 of his 19 games. Montero, 19, was signed by New York (NL) as an international free agent out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on January 21, 2021.
FCL Red Sox right-hander Yordanny Monegro went 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in three starts as he allowed two earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out 20 in 15.0 innings. He held opponents to a .102 average before a June 20 promotion to Single-A Salem. Monegro, 20, was originally signed by Boston as an international free agent out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on February 20, 2020.
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