Eddie's Farm: July Employees of the Month

It's that time of the month again (no, not that. Well, yeah, I suppose for some people it is that time of the month)! Eddie's Farm Employees of the Month get 10% off in the Team Store, and get to park in the Special Designated Parking Spot.

Round Rock

Position Player: Brian Bogusevic. Followed up a .274/.344/.434 June with a .301/.421/.447 July. For the first time this season, and maybe in his career, he drew more walks (21) than strikeouts (20), and posted a season-high .867 OPS.

Pitcher: This one was tough, but it's going back to Josh Banks. He didn't have a great month - in fact going 0-2 with a a 4.82 ERA. But he did allow 31H and 4BB in 28IP.

Corpus

Position Player: This could go to catcher Jon Fixler, but he only played in 15 games, posting a .317/.404/.634 line in those games. However, due to more production in twice as many ABs, it goes to Jon Gaston. In 29 games he hit .324/.376/.546 for a .922 OPS - topping his June OPS by 331 points. Yes, 331 points.

Pitcher: Another tough one. But it's going to Jeremy Johnson. Finished July with a 3.89 ERA and 40H (12BB) in 34.2IP.

Lancaster

Position Player: It was difficult, but because there were a couple of good candidates. This month it goes to Brian Pellegrini. Coming off surgery, Pellegrini posted a .303/.407/.566 line with five doubles, five homers, 19K:12BB in 20 games.

Pitcher: Here's a surprising choice - Leandro Cespedes. His ERA was highly inflated (5.92), but he allowed 38 baserunners in in 24.1IP, posting a 1.18 groundball/flyball rate - the first month since April that it wasn't upside-down - but with 25K:9BB, he's as deserving as anyone else.

Lexington

Position Player: Not sure how we don't give it to Jose Altuve. He hit .346/.402/.449 in 26 games, with 12K:10BB in 107ABs, with 15 stolen bases in 17 attempts.

Pitcher: Going to roll this out to Tanner Bushue. He suffered from a high ERA, though his 4.39 July ERA was almost a run and a half lower than his June ERA. Bushue only allowed 32 baserunners (23H/9BB) in 26.2IP, and had a groundball/flyball ratio above 1.00 (1.55, actually) for the first time this season, holding hitters to a .237 average.

Tri-City

Position Player: Tyler Burnett. Dude hit .330/.439/.511 in 25 games in July, with 16K:18BB.

Pitcher: Goes to reliever Travis Blankenship - who allowed 17 baserunners in 13.2IP, though did post a 0.66 ERA, holding hitters to a .196 BAA.

Greeneville

Position Player: Marcus Nidiffer. Hit .302/.400/.538 in 29 games, with 12 extra-base hits. Struck out a ton (34 times), though he did walk 10 times. Also had five stolen bases in six attempts.

Pitcher: Giving this to Vincent Velasquez. In five games - three starts - Velasquez has posted 18K (4BB) in 15.2IP for a 2.87 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. Hitters are tagging him for a .194 BAA.

GCL Astros

Position Player: Ryan Ditthardt. Ditthardt is hitting .340/.411/.460 in 17 games, with four of his 17 hits coming for extra-bases.

Pitcher: Jose Perdomo! In 28IP in July, Perdomo has 31K:7BB, allowing 18 hits and no homers.