In another notch for Nelson Figueroa’s case for a promotion, he was named Pitcher of the Week for the International League. According to SmallBall USA, it was the second time Figueroa has earned the honors this year.
Here’s the release, via Surfing the Mets…
The International League announced that the Bisons' Figueroa has been named the league’s Pitcher of the Week for the period of July 16-19. It’s the second time Figueroa has been given the weekly honor by the IL, having also won Pitcher of the Week from June 8-14.
Figueroa began his week on Wednesday night as he pitched a scoreless inning for the IL in the Triple-A All-Star Game. The veteran righthander worked a scoreless eighth, allowing a hit and striking out two in the IL’s 6-5 win over the Pacific Coast League.
The All-Star returned to Buffalo to throw a seven-inning shutout in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of the Toledo Mud Hens. Figueroa allowed seven hits and no walks while striking out five in the Herd’s 2-0 win. With Jon Niese’s shutout in Game 1 the Bisons had their first doubleheader shutout sweep since 2006.
Figueroa’s gem lowered his season ERA to 2.32, the second-lowest mark in the International League behind only Charlotte’sCarlos Torres(2.20). Figueroa has won six decisions in a row and has allowed more than two runs in only two of his 15 starts with the Bisons this year.
Adam Rubin also notes that Brad Holt was named Pitcher of the Week for the Eastern League while pitching for the Binghamton Mets.