SL Weekly Awards: May 20-26
MARIETTA, GA - The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs are proud to name Tennessee Smokies infielder Vimael Machin the league's Player of the Week and Mississippi Braves LHP Kyle Muller the Pitcher of the Week. Both awards recognize these players' performances for games during the week of May 20-26.
MARIETTA, GA - The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs are proud to name Tennessee Smokies infielder
Machin, 25, earns Player of the Week honors after making five appearances for Tennessee and reaching base safely at least twice during each game. The Humacao, Puerto Rico native led all qualified hitters last week in OPS (1.227) and batting average (.476) while also ranking among the league leaders in a number of other categories including: runs scored (6, T-4th), hits (10, T-3rd), total bases (14, T-5th), RBI (6, T-5th), on-base percentage (.560, 2nd), and slugging percentage (.667, T-2nd).
Video: Machin cracks two-run homer
Through 32 games with the Smokies this season, Machin has hit .366 (41-for-112) with one home run and 19 RBIs. He also appeared in 79 games with Tennessee last season, and is a career .265 (96-for-362) hitter with the Smokies.
The Chicago Cubs selected Machin in the 10th round of the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft out of Virginia Commonwealth University.
Muller, 21, is recognized as Pitcher of the Week following a pair of strong starts which resulted in a 2-0 record alongside a 0.71 ERA (1 ER/12.2 IP) with four walks and 17 strikeouts. His 12.2 IP were the most in the league last week, while his 0.71 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and .143 opponents' batting average were the lowest among all pitchers who made more than one start.
Through 10 starts with the M-Braves this season, Muller is 3-1 with a 1.89 ERA (11 ER/52.1 IP). Entering play today he ranks among the Southern League leaders in ERA (1.89, T-5th), strikeouts (57, T-5th), innings pitched (52.1, T-6th), and opponents' batting average (.180, 2nd).
Video: Braves' Muller gets ninth strikeout
The Atlanta Braves selected Muller in the second round of the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft out of Jesuit College Prep in Dallas, TX. He is currently listed by MLB Pipeline as Atlanta's no. 12 overall prospect.