Brewers minor-league stars of the week: Aug. 24
Each week FOXSportsWisconsin.com identifies the best pitcher and position player from the Milwaukee Brewers' top four main affiliates: Triple-A Colorado Springs, Double-A Biloxi, High-A Brevard County and Low-A Wisconsin. Here's a look at all eight stars who made the list this week.
TRIPLE-A COLORADO SPRINGS (3-5)
Player of the Week: Juan Centeno
Week stats: .500 (11 for 22), 6 RBI
Recent highlights: During a week in which Luis Sardinas, Matt Clark and Nevin Ashley were very productive at the plate for the Sky Sox, Centeno did the most. The 25-year-old catcher played in only six of the team's eight games but still managed to tie for the team lead in base hits and RBI. He had four multi-hit games, including a 4-for-5 outing Aug. 22 against Tacoma. For the season, Centeno is batting .301 (.697 OPS) at Colorado Springs with 19 RBI in 42 games.
Pitcher of the Week: Ariel Pena
Week stats: 5 1/3 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K
Recent highlights: It was a rough week for Colorado Springs' starting staff, but Pena sparkled in his sole outing. In the Aug. 21 win over Tacoma, the 26-year-old righty gave up just four hits and didn't allow a walk, while striking out 10 batters over 5 1/3 innings, at which point he'd reached his pitch count (he was at 72). It was only his fifth start of the year and he more than doubled his previous season high in strikeouts. For the season, Pena is 1-2 with a 4.33 ERA (1.36 WHIP) and 70 strikeouts to 28 walks in 70 2/3 innings.
DOUBLE-A BILOXI (4-2)
Player of the Week: Orlando Arcia
Week stats: .391 (9 for 23), 3 HR, 5 RBI
Recent highlights: Arcia had himself an excellent week, showing the production and pop that help make him the Brewers' top prospect. The 21-year-old shortstop had a couple of multi-hit games, including a 3-for-4 performance Aug. 23 against Mobile that included a couple of solo homers. He also had two doubles, scored three runs and stole a base. For the season, Arcia is batting .302 (.792 OPS) with eight home runs and 62 RBI in 115 games for the Shuckers.
Pitcher of the Week: Jorge Lopez
Week stats: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
Recent highlights: Four Shuckers starters could have won the award this week -- Tyler Wagner, Josh Hader and Adrian Houser all were stellar -- but Lopez's outing was the best. The 22-year-old right-handed ace was dominant in his Aug. 18 win against Jackson, throwing seven shutout innings and only giving up one hit and four walks. His nine strikeouts matched his season high. For the season, Lopez is 12-5 with a 2.32 ERA (1.09 WHIP) and 128 strikeouts to 49 walks in 131 1/3 innings.
HIGH-A BREVARD COUNTY (4-4)
Player of the Week: Garrett Cooper
Week stats: .333 (9 for 27), 2 HR, 3 RBI
Recent highlights: Cooper and Clint Coulter, both of whom anchor the middle of the Manatees' lineup, put up extremely similar numbers (Coulter was 8 for 25 with a homer and three RBI), but Cooper was slightly better. The 24-year-old third baseman had a couple of multi-hit games, as well as two doubles and six runs scored. For the season, Cooper is batting .297 (.799 OPS) with eight home runs and 54 RBI in 118 games.
Pitcher of the Week: Jorge Ortega
Week stats: 15 IP, 12 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Recent highlights: Last week's honoree, Brandon Woodruff, turned in another superb start, with 10 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball in his win against Daytona. But Ortega did it twice, going seven innings in an Aug. 17 win over Daytona and throwing eight frames in a tight loss to Lakeland on Aug. 23. The 22-year-old righty did not walk a batter in either outing. For the season, Ortega is 9-9 with a 2.40 ERA (1.03 WHIP) and 70 strikeouts to 11 walks in 138 2/3 innings.
LOW-A WISCONSIN (3-3)
Player of the Week: Blake Allemand
Week stats: .333 (10 for 30), 4 RBI
Recent highlights: Not many Timber Rattlers batters had a good week, but Allemand was productive from the top of the order. The 23-year-old shortstop had a pair of multi-hit games, including a 3-for-4 performance on Aug. 19 against Quad Cities. He had a couple of doubles, scored a pair of runs and also stole a base. For the season, Allemand is batting .292 (.693 OPS) with 20 RBI in 58 games.
Pitcher of the Week: Luke Curtis
Week stats: 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Recent highlights: The Wisconsin starting staff struggled, but Curtis and his fellow relievers helped mitigate the damage. In two scoreless appearances, the 23-year-old righty only gave up one hit and one walk, picking up the win on Aug. 23 against Peoria. For the season, Curtis is 8-2 with a 3.28 ERA (1.29 WHIP) and 31 strikeouts to 22 walks in 46 2/3 innings.
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