By George Farelli

Canadian Baseball Network

His last name rhymes with fat.

Yet, LHP Mitch Bratt doesn’t throw many pitches that appear “fat” to opposing hitters.

Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) offerings are described as “on the black,” “knee-buckling,” and just “plain nasty.”

Pitching five scoreless innings, Bratt fanned seven as the Down East Wood Ducks blanked the Carolina Mudcats 5-0. The win was Bratt’s first as a pro -- and at age 18. He was a fifth-round pick from the Toronto Mets by the Texas Rangers, who gave him a signing bonus of $850,000.

By getting his victory in impression fashion, Bratt earns Canadian Baseball Network Play of the Week for Week X11.

Best Offense

Player/Class/Team AB R H HR RBI AVG

Owen Caissie - A South Bend 23 6 11 - 3 .478

Dasan Brown - A Dunedin 14 5 6 - 1 .429

Liam Hicks - Rookie ACL Rangers 18 3 7 - 1 .389

Damiano Palmegiani - A Vancouver 14 5 5 1 4 .357

Adam Hall - AA Bowie 20 3 7 - - .350

Jonathan Lacroix - IND Quebec 22 5 9 2 7 .409

Tristan Pompey - IND Winnipeg 19 4 7 - - .368

David Glaude - IND Quebec 23 4 8 - 2 .348

Mike Crouse - IND Chicago 26 6 9 2 5 .346

Jake Sanford - IND Ottawa 24 4 8 1 5 .333

(Minimum 10 ABs)

Best Pitching

Mitch Bratt LHP - A Down East Wood Ducks

GM W SV ER ERA H IP K WHIP

1 1 - - 0.00 - 5.0 7 0.000

When you consider the fact that Mitch Bratt will not be 19 years of age until July 3rd of next week, you would have to agree that despite his obvious inexperience he’s pitched very well this year. Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the fifth round of the 2021 draft, the Newmarket, Ont. native is currently active with the Down East Wood Ducks in Low A Carolina League. This week he made great start on June 25th in a 5-0 win over Carolina Mudcats when he pitched five hitless, scoreles innings, while striking out seven Carolina batters, to secure his first win of the

season. His overall record in nine Carolina League appearances, now stands at 1-2 with a 2.38 ERA. Bratt was named by the Minor League Baseball Network as in Low A Pitcher of the Week in Carolina League, for June 20-26, 2022.

Adam Shoemaker LHP - Rookie FCL Braves

GM W SV ER ERA H IP K WHIP

1 - - - 0.00 1 5.0 5 0.400

Adam Shoemaker, a Great Lake Canadians grad from Cambridge, Ont., is a 19 year old Atlanta Braves pitching prospect, who was selected in the 11th round of the 2021 draft. Currently active with FCL Braves in the Florida Complex League, he had an excellent outing this week on June 23rd, in a 4-3 loss to the FCL Red Sox. He pitched five scoreless innings, gave up only one hit and no runs while striking out five Red Sox batters, but was not involved in the decision. His overall record with the FCL Braves in three Florida Complex game appearances, is 0-1 with a 2.89 ERA.

Minor League Player of the Week

Week I - INF Charles Leblanc (Laval, Que.) Marlins

Week II _ OF Denzel Clarke (Pickering, Ont.) A’s

Week III _ OF Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) Brewers

Week IV _ RHP Landon Leach (Pickering, Ont,) Braves

Week V _ RHP Indigo Diaz (North Vancouver, BC), Braves

Week VI _ OF Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) Cubs

Week VII _ C Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) Guardians

Weej VIII _ RHP Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.) Phillies.

Week IX _ OF Tanner Kirwer (Spruce Grove, Alta.) Mariners

Week X _ 3B Damiano Palmegiani (Surrey, BC) Blue Jays

Week XI _ RHP Matt Brash (Kingston, Ont.) Mariners

Week XII _ LHP Mitch Bratt (Newmarket, Ont.) Rangers