MWL Awards

The Midwest League announced their Pitcher of the Week and Player of the Week yesterday.

Pitcher:

Christian Beltre, South Bend

2-0, 3.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 1 CG, 15.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 15 SO

Beltre picked up his fourth and fifth wins of the season last week to take the team lead. Beltre book-ended the Silver Hawks' five-game winning streak, beginning with an admirable six-inning, four-run, eight-strikeout performance against the Lansing Lugnuts. Saturday, he was much better when he faced the West Michigan Whitecaps and allowed a run on two hits -- one being a solo homer -- while whiffing seven and walking one in a complete-game effort. Beltre has already surpassed his career high for strikeouts in a season with 48. His previous high was 41.

Player:

Marquez Smith, Peoria

.429 (9-21), 6 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SO, 0 SB, .952 SLG

A slugger at Clemson University, the 5-foot-10 third baseman had only hit 12 home runs in three seasons of Minor League ball. But that was before last week. Smith powered three balls out of the yard and ran his season-high hitting streak to 10 games before having it snapped Saturday. The Panama City, Fla. native now has seven home runs and has already hit four triples this season.