For the series running August 23rd – August 28th
By David Welch @dcwelch_24 August 30th, 2022
Each week we will recognize the top hitting and pitching performances from our Indiana Hoosier alum who are playing professional baseball at both the affiliated and independent, major and minor-league levels. We will also highlight other notable performances of the week and pass along other Hoosier related news and notes.
As long as there’s been Hoosier Alumni Players of the Week, we have always tried to avoid “Co-Players of the Week”. It was impossible to do so. The performances put on by both Cade Bunnell and Grant Richardson this week deserved to be equally recognized.
Co-Alumni Position Players of the Week
Cade Bunnell
Mississippi Braves (AA) – Atlanta Braves
Since his promotion from the High A Rome Braves to Double A Mississippi, Cade Bunnell has kept delivering key hits for Mississippi. This week Cade exploded for a two home run game Wednesday night and added a go-ahead, 9th inning grand slam in Sunday’s finale against the Birmingham Barons. Bunnell talled 7 hits which drove in 10 runs to go with his own 5 runs scored.
| AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | BB | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 24 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 0 | .292 | .414 | .750 | 1.164 |
Grant Richardson
Hudson Valley Renegades (Advanced A) – New York Yankees
Equally impressive was the series Grant Richardson had. Richardson had two multi-hit games in this week’s series against the Hickory Crawdads. Not only did he tally hits in each of the four game he played, but Grant also launched 2 solo home runs into the woods beyond the Hudson Valley fences.
| AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | BB | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 17 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | .375 | .412 | .750 | 1.162 |
Hitter Notes:
- Kyle Schwarber is currently on pace to hit 47 home runs this season. This will be the most in a season by a former Indiana Hoosier since Ted Kluszewski hit 49 in 1954.
- Speaking of Kyle Schwarber home runs. Over the last 4 season, Schwarber ranks 5th in MLB since 2018 with 142 home runs. He is 11 behind Eugenio Suarez and his 153 home runs (Danny Vietti).
- While playing the “On the Pace” game…Prior to Matt Gorski’s quad injury, he was on pace to hit 56 minor league home runs this season. Which leads me to believe, if he was on pace to hit that many home runs, he wouldn’t have remained in the minors that long to do so.
Alumni Pitcher of the Week
Tim Herrin
Columbus Clippers (AAA) – Cleveland Guardians
Tim Herrin’s performance this week, in a word, could be described as, “perfect”. In two appearance this week, over 4 innings, Herrin did not allow a base runner, while striking out 5 of the 12 batters he faced. It wasn’t just that Tim was completely lockdown this week, it was the situations he was brough into.
Thursday night, Tim came in to relieve the starter who went two-thirds of an inning. Herrin came in with a runner on second, down 5-0. Herrin was able to stabilize the inning for the Clippers and escape with no further damage and the Clippers would come back to pull out a victory, 9-6.
Sunday, Herrin was brought into the 4th inning with a runner on second with one out. He was able to get a flyball to center which moved the runner to third, then struck out the next batter to get out of the inning unscathed.
Herrin has been on an upward trend the month of August. He’s pitched to a 2.61 ERA with a WHIP of 0.86 while allowing batters to hit just .167 off him.
| G | W | L | ERA | IP | TBF | H | R | ER | BB | SO | AVG | WHIP | K% | K/9 |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .000 | 0.00 | 41.6% | 11.57 |
Other Notable Performances:
Tommy Sommer
| G | W | L | ERA | IP | TBF | H | R | ER | BB | SO | AVG | WHIP | K% | K/9 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.50 | 6.0 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | .200 | 0.83 | 28.6% | 9.00 |
Reese Sharp:
| G | W | L | SV | ERA | IP | TBF | H | R | ER | BB | SO | AVG | WHIP | K% | K/9 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 2.0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | .125 | 2.50 | 33.3% | 18.0 |
Jack Perkins:
| G | W | L | SV | ERA | IP | TBF | H | R | ER | BB | SO | AVG | WHIP | K% | K/9 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 2.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .000 | 0.00 | 50% | 13.5 |
Pitcher Notes:
- Gabe Bierman was the latest Hoosier to receive a promotion this season. Of the 19 minor leaguers to have played this season, 10 have received at least one promotion. Players promoted include Cade Bunnell, Craig Dedelow, Tanner Gordon, Matt Gorski, Tim Herrin, Grant Richardson, Andrew Saalfrank, Braden Scott (2), and Tommy Sommer.
- In his High A debut, Gabe Bierman pitched 6 innings giving up just 2 earned runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. Bierman struck out 4 in his 6 innings.
- In 4 appearances at the Class A level, Jack Perkins has been flat out dominant. Over 7 innings pitched, and 23 batters faced, Perkins has allowed just 3 hits and 1 earned run, has walked none while striking out 10.
- As predicted, we were treated to a Hoosier vs Hoosier matchup last week when Braden Scott and Elijah Dunham faced off. Scott got the better part of Dunham, striking him out on 6 pitches.