KODAK, Tenn. – Tennessee Smokies pitcher Austin Bibens-Dirkx was named today by the Southern League as its “Pitcher of the Week,” for the week of May 10-16. The award is Bibens-Dirkx’s first of the season and first for a member of the Smokies’ pitching staff in 2010.
Still looking for his first win of 2010, and with his team on a three-game losing streak, Bibens-Dirkx came through big in Saturday’s series opener against Huntsville. The Salem, Ore. native allowed only one run (unearned) on two hits in the Smokies’ 8-2 win, to lower his ERA to 2.19 and improve to 1-1 on the year. In 37 innings pitched, he’s allowed only 23 hits and nine walks, while striking out 32.
Bibens-Dirkx was signed by the Chicago Cubs as a minor league free agent last July, and was initially selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 16th round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
