The Cincinnati Reds had two different prospects win some hardware for their performance last week on the farm system. Right-handed pitcher Jose Acuna was named the Florida State League Pitcher of the Week and infielder Tyler Callihan was named the Midwest League Player of the Week.
Jose Acuna joined the Reds organization on July 28th when he was acquired from the New York Mets along with Hector Rodriguez in a trade that sent Tyler Naquin and Phillip Diehl to New York. Cincinnati sent the right-handed pitcher to Single-A Daytona where he joined the Tortugas in the Florida State League on the 29th. The 19-year-old has been dominant for the five weeks since arriving, posting a 2.25 ERA in 28.0 innings across six games while allowing just 13 hits, walking eight, and striking out 27 batters. That culminated on Thursday when he allowed just one hit against the Palm Beach Cardinals in 5.0 shutout innings without a walk while striking out four batters.
Here are some of the highlights from his start against Palm Beach on the 1st:
Tyler Callihan take the honor in the Midwest League
It had been a rough seven game stretch for Tyler Callihan from August 19th through 27th as he went 2-23 (.087). For as tough as that slump was, Callihan was just as hot last week against Cedar Rapids in the final home series for High-A Dayton. While seeing time at both second and third base during the series, Callihan picked up at least one hit in each game and hit .458/.500/.917 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, two walks, and eight runs batted in. In the final game of the series he capped the week off going 2-2 with a triple and two walks.
We’ve got video below of both of the home runs on the week for Tyler Callihan. The first one went off of the batters eye and Trackman estimated it at 438 feet (had it continued unobstructed).
There have been ten other players that have been named as player of the week for their league this season:
- Matt McLain – Southern League Player of the Week – April 11-17
- Sam Benschoter – Florida State League Pitcher of the Week – May 2-8
- Joe Boyle – Midwest League Pitcher of the Week – May 23-29
- Ruben Ibarra – Florida State League Player of the Week – June 6-12
- Leonardo Balcazar – Arizona Complex League Player of the Week – June 27-July3
- Elly De La Cruz – Midwest League Player of the Week – July 4-10
- Robert Dugger – International League Pitcher of the Week – July 25-31
- Spencer Stockton – Southern League Pitcher of the Week – July 25-31
- Yassel Pino – Florida State League Player of the Week – August 15-21
- Ariel Almonte – Arizona Complex League Player of the Week – August 15-21