Captain of the Week (5/21-5/26): Parker Messick

EASTLAKE, OH – After each series this season, the Lake County Captains will spotlight a Captain of the Week, presented by Official League, showcasing a player and their strong performance over the previous week.

For the week of May 21 through 26, Lake County is recognizing LHP Parker Messick as its sixth 2024 Captain of the Week.

MLB Pipeline’s No. 21 Cleveland prospect had his best start of the season against the West Michigan Whitecaps on Friday, May 24. The left-hander tied his season-high of six innings pitched, allowing season-lows of two hits and no runs (tied), while surrendering just one walk and throwing a season-high 10 strikeouts in 82 pitches (54 strikes). This was his second quality start of the year, with his first also occurring against West Michigan back on April 25.

Messick recorded Lake County’s first double-digit strikeout performance of the season, and the team’s first since his 10 strikeouts versus the Peoria Chiefs on August 18, 2023. He was also one of just four Midwest League pitchers to post double-digit strikeouts in a game last week.

The 23-year-old has excelled in three starts against West Michigan this season. He has gone 2-1 with a 0.00 ERA, allowing just one unearned run and three walks, while throwing 23 strikeouts in 17 innings of work.

So far this year, Messick is tied for the Midwest League lead with nine starts, while ranking second in the league in both strikeouts (52) and innings pitched (45.2, tied). Additionally, his 127 strikeouts since making his Captains debut on June 29, 2023 versus the Fort Wayne TinCaps are the most in High-A.

Messick was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Florida State. He had a strong three seasons with the Seminoles, making 48 appearances (32 starts). The left-hander went 16-8 with a 3.10 ERA, 289 strikeouts, one save, and a 1.05 WHIP in 200.1 innings of work.

Messick was named an All-American and First Team All-ACC in each of his final two seasons, and was tabbed as a 2022 First Team NCBWA All-American after his final collegiate campaign. He was also named the 2021 ACC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, becoming just the second player to garner both honors in the same season. The Plant City, Florida native showed two-way prowess as well, being named a 2021 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award Semifinalist. Offensively, Messick hit .225 with nine hits, one home run, and five RBI in 2021.

Messick was promoted to Lake County on June 27, 2023 after a strong 13 starts for the Single-A Lynchburg Hillcats last season. He went 3-2 with a 3.02 ERA, 61 strikeouts, and a 1.09 WHIP with Lynchburg before his promotion. In 13 more appearances (11 starts) with the Captains, the left-hander went 2-4 with a 4.43 ERA, 75 strikeouts, and an average of 10.38 strikeouts per nine innings.

Messick will look to continue his recent success this week, as the Captains will begin a season-long 12-game road trip with a six-game series against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. The series is set to begin on Tuesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET from Rise 2 Greatness Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Lake County's 12-game road trip will be broadcast on both the Bally Live app and MiLB.TV, with social media coverage courtesy of @LCCaptains on both X and Instagram.

The Lake County Captains are the High-A Affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, and have been a Class A Affiliate of Cleveland since the team was founded in 2003. To find out more information about the Captains or purchase tickets, visit CaptainsBaseball.com, or call (440) 975-8085.