Pannone Named League Player of the Month

Recently-promoted lefty will start for Double-A Akron tonight

(Lindsay Carico)

May 8, 2017

Thomas Pannone has been named Carolina League Player of the Month for April, as announced by the Minor League Baseball office Monday afternoon.Pannone, who was recently promoted to Double-A Akron, made four starts in April and allowed just seven hits in 20 2/3 innings. The only run he surrendered was unearned, while

Thomas Pannone has been named Carolina League Player of the Month for April, as announced by the Minor League Baseball office Monday afternoon.
Pannone, who was recently promoted to Double-A Akron, made four starts in April and allowed just seven hits in 20 2/3 innings. The only run he surrendered was unearned, while his WHIP (0.68) and batting average against (.106) led the league. Left-handed batters were a mere 1-19 (.053) against the southpaw.

Prior to being promoted, Pannone made his fifth start for Lynchburg on May 1. He held Winston-Salem to only three baserunners while striking out eight batters in seven innings to start Lynchburg's second combined shutout of the season, 5-0.
Pannone (2-0, 0.00) extended his streak without allowing an earned run to 45 2/3 regular-season innings, dating back to August 25 of last year. He tossed 27 2/3 frames in 2017 with the only run against him being unearned. Pannone left for Akron with 39 strikeouts and seven walks for an impressive 12.7 K/9 IP ratio. Both of his victories came in combined shutouts with the other one occurring in a 1-0 win at Carolina April 18. The 2013 ninth-round pick out of the College of Southern Nevada originally went to college as a two-way player, spending time both on the mound and in the outfield.
"My pitching career hasn't been long enough to go on a tear like this," said Pannone when asked about his streak following his May 1 start. "I'm just trying not to think about it. I'm just trying to go about my everyday business on and off the field and keep on the same track I'm on."
The left-hander will make his Double-A debut against the Trenton Thunder tonight. Meanwhile, Lynchburg returns home to face the Carolina Mudcats Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Triston McKenzie (2-2, 2.39) will start for the Hillcats against Conor Harbor (1-1, 2.61). It's a #2FurTuesday presented by ABC 13, so tickets are buy one, get one free. Gates open at 5:30. For those who can't make it, the game can be heard live at www.lynchburg-hillcats.com with coverage beginning at 6:20.