Kwan, Lugo claim weekly awards for August 5-11

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (August 12, 2019) - During the week of August 5-11, no hitter posted a better batting average than Lynchburg's Steven Kwan, and no pitcher logged more innings without giving up a run than Wilmington's Rito Lugo. As a result, Kwan has collected his first career Player of the Week award, while Lugo has seized his first career Pitcher of the Week honor, the Carolina League office announced on Monday.
Kwan posted a .462 average, logging a league-best 12 hits in 26 at-bats last week. A former fifth-round pick out of Oregon State, Kwan amassed three hits in three of his six games, while he also reached in every plate appearance on Thursday at Salem via two singles and three walks.

The Los Gatos, Calif., native was a key cog in the Hillcats' 5-1 week, which has thrust them back into serious playoff contention. With three weeks left in the regular season, Lynchburg is just three-and-a-half games back of Salem for the final Northern Division playoff spot. Kwan has been with the Hillcats all season long, owning a .270 average and a .726 OPS in 105 games.
Lugo has been a multi-faceted pitching option for the Blue Rocks, who claimed the first-half Northern Division title. Despite spending much of his season in the Wilmington bullpen, Lugo has shined as a starter lately, with last week's performances standing out most of all. He blanked Fayetteville over 6.2 innings on Tuesday before holding Myrtle Beach without a run in 5.2 innings of work on Sunday.
In total, Lugo logged 12.1 scoreless frames last week, thus becoming the only pitcher in the Minor Leagues to throw 12 or more innings and surrender zero runs. The Venezuela native has not permitted a run over his last four outings spanning 21.1 innings.
Following Monday's league-wide off day, Kwan and the Hillcats will travel to Delaware to meet up with Lugo and the Blue Rocks in a potential playoff preview. The opener of that series is set for 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday from Frawley Stadium.