# Minor League Baseball Announces April 2024 Players And Pitchers Of The Month

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/minor-league-baseball-announces-april-2024-players-and-pitchers-of-the-month/
- Published: 2024-05-03T10:50:41-05:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

### **MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ANNOUNCES APRIL** **PLAYERS AND PITCHERS OF THE MONTH**

#### _**Winners come from 16 organizations; Orioles and Mariners lead with three selections**_

[⌊MiLB Press Release - Minor League Baseball⌉⌊MiLB Press Release - Minor League 
Baseball⌉[

**May 3, 2024 —** [Minor League Baseball](http://www.milb.com)™ (MiLB™) today announced
the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for April in each of the 11 full-
season leagues in [Major League Baseball](http://www.mlb.com)’s player development
system.

**International League (Triple-A)**

Norfolk Tides (Orioles) first baseman/outfielder **[Heston Kjerstad](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kjershe01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
batted .324/.420/.770 and led the league in home runs (10), RBI (26) and slugging
percentage (.770). He was second in total bases (57) and OPS (1.190) and third in
runs (21). Prior to his April 22 promotion to Baltimore, he recorded six multi-hit
games, including a career-high five-hit game that included two doubles, two home
runs and 10 RBI on April 3 at Charlotte. Kjerstad, 25, was selected by Baltimore
with the second overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft out of the University of Arkansas.

Norfolk left-hander **[Cade Povich](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=povich000cad&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
went 2-1 with a 1.03 ERA in five starts as he allowed three earned runs on 10 hits
over 26.1 innings with a league-best 40 strikeouts. His .116 average against was
the lowest among IL pitchers with three or more starts. His 0.76 WHIP was second
best among pitchers with three or more starts. Povich, 24, was originally selected
by Minnesota in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Nebraska.

**Pacific Coast League (Triple-A)**

Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros) outfielder/first baseman **[Joey Loperfido](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/loperjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
batted .289/.404/.667 and led MiLB in runs (28), while also leading the PCL in home
runs (10). He was second in total bases (60), fourth in OPS (1.071) and fifth in
slugging percentage (.667). He recorded nine multi-hit games prior to his April 
30^(th) promotion to Houston. Loperfido, 24, was selected by Houston in the seventh
round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Duke University.

Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners) left-hander **[Jhonathan Diaz](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/diazjh01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**

**Eastern League (Double-A)**

Somerset Patriots (Yankees) infielder **Benjamin Cowles **batted .351/.433/.623 
and led the league in average (.351), hits (27), doubles (eight), total bases (48),
on-base percentage (.433), slugging percentage (.623) and OPS (1.056). He was fourth
in runs scored (14). He recorded seven multi-hit games and hit safely in six straight
games to start the month and eight straight games to end the month. Cowles, 24, 
was selected by New York (AL) in the 10^(th) round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of 
the University of Maryland.

Somerset right-hander **[Trystan Vrieling](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=vrieli000try&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
went 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA in four starts as he held opponents to a .145 average. 
He struck out 25 and walked six over 24.0 innings. Vrieling, 23, was selected by
New York (AL) in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Gonzaga University.

**Southern League (Double-A)**

Birmingham Barons (White Sox) shortstop **[Brooks Baldwin](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=baldwi000bro&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
batted .408/.464/.566 and led the league in average (.408), hits (31), doubles (
nine) and on-base percentage (.464). He finished second in total bases (43), RBI(
15) and OPS (1.030) and was third in slugging percentage (.566). He recorded 10 
multi-hit games and had separate hitting streaks of six games and seven games. His
four-hit games on April 18 and April 25 are a career-high. Baldwin, 23, was selected
by Chicago (AL) in the 12^(th) round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of the University
of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Birmingham right-hander **[Drew Thorpe](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=thorpe000dre&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
went 4-1 with a 1.20 ERA in five starts as he scattered 19 hits and seven walks 
over a league-best 30.0 innings. He held opponents to a .184 average as he allowed
one earned run in his first 20 innings of the season. Thorpe, 23, was originally
selected by New York (AL) in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Cal-Poly.

**Texas League (Double-A)**

Amarillo Sod Poodles (Diamondbacks) first baseman **[Deyvison De Los Santos](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=deloss000dey&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
batted .376/.430/.682 and led the league in hits (32), home runs (seven) and total
bases (58). He was second in average (.376), runs (18) and RBI (18), while finishing
third in slugging percentage (.682) and OPS (1.112) and fourth in on-base percentage(.
430). He recorded nine multi-hit games and began the year with a seven-game hitting
streak. De Los Santos, 20, was signed by Arizona as an international free agent 
out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on July 2, 2019.

Springfield Cardinals right-hander **[Tink Hence](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=hence-000mar&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
went 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA in five starts as he allowed 13 hits and six walks over
25.2 innings. He led the league with 31 strikeouts and held opponents to a .148 
average. His 0.74 WHIP was the best in the league among pitchers with three or more
starts. Hence, 21, was selected by St. Louis in Competitive Balance Round B (63^(
rd) overall) of the 2020 MLB Draft out of Watson Chapel High School in Watson Chapel,
Arkansas.

**Midwest League (High-A)**

Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins) third baseman/first baseman **[Rubel Cespedes](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cesped000rub&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
batted .373/.447/.657 and led the league in slugging percentage (.657). He was second
in average (.373), total bases (44), RBI (22) and OPS (1.104) and was third in doubles(
seven) and home runs (four). He recorded nine multi-hit games in April. Cespedes,
23, was signed by Minnesota as an international free agent out of Azua, Dominican
Republic, on April 29, 2019.

West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers) right-hander **[Jaden Hamm](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=hamm--000jad&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
pitched to a 1.33 ERA in five starts as he allowed 18 hits and a walk over 20.1 
innings. He struck out 30, making him the only Minor Leaguer with 30 or more strikeouts
and fewer than three walks, and his 1.33 ERA was the lowest in the league among 
pitchers with more than 14.0 innings pitched. Hamm, 21, was selected by Detroit 
in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Middle Tennessee State University.

**Northwest League (High-A)**

Spokane Indians (Rockies) third baseman **[Kyle Karros](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=karros000kyl&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
batted .333/.443/.530 and led the league in average (.333), slugging percentage (.
530) and OPS (.973). He was second in doubles (eight) and on-base percentage (.443)
and was third in hits (22), total bases (35) and RBI (14). He recorded seven multi-
hit games in April. Karros, 21, was selected by Colorado in the fifth round of the
2023 MLB Draft out of UCLA.

Eugene Emeralds (Giants) right-hander **[Dylan Cumming](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cummin000dyl&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
went 1-0 with a 0.50 ERA in five games (four starts). He allowed seven hits and 
four walks over 18.0 innings while striking out 24 as he held opponents to a .123
average. Cumming, 24, was signed by San Francisco as a free agent on February 25,
2023.

**South Atlantic League (High-A)**

Aberdeen IronBirds (Orioles) catcher/first baseman **[Creed Willems](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=willem000cre&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
batted .299/.333/.975 and led the league in total bases (43), home runs (tied for
the lead with six), RBI (21) and slugging percentage (.642). He finished third in
OPS (.975 and fifth in doubles (five). He homered in five of the first seven games
and drove in at least one run in the first seven games of April. Willems, 20, was
selected by Baltimore in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Aledo High
School in Aledo, Texas.

Rome Emperors (Braves) right-hander **[Owen Murphy](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=murphy003owe,murphy004owe&search=Owen+Murphy&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
went 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA in four starts. He scattered nine hits over 24.0 innings
while leading the league with 37 strikeouts. His .110 average against and 0.63 WHIP
were both the best in the league among starters with 16.0 or more innings pitched.
Murphy, 20, was selected by Atlanta in the first round (20^(th) overall) of the 
2022 MLB Draft out of Riverside-Brookfield High School in Riverside, Illinois.

**California League (Single-A)**

Modesto Nuts (Mariners) infielder/outfielder **[Caleb Cali](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=cali--000cal&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
batted .404/.507/.649 and led the league in average (.404) and slugging percentage(.
649). He was second in OPS (1.156) and doubles (seven) and was fourth in hits (23).
He posted nine multi-hit games in 15 contests, including four straight games to 
end the month. Cali, 23, was selected by Seattle in the 16^(th) round of the 2023
MLB Draft out of the University of Arkansas.

Modesto right-hander **[Elijah Dale](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dale--000eli&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
was selected by Seattle in the 13^(th) round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Illinois
State University.

**Carolina League (Single-A)**

Fredericksburg Nationals first baseman **[Brandon Pimentel](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=piment000bra&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
batted .351/.412/.581 and led all Minor League players with 33 RBI in April. He 
led the Carolina League in total bases (43) and doubles (eight), was second in slugging
percentage (.581) and finished third in hits (26) and fifth in average (.351) and
OPS (.993). He recorded nine multi-hit games. Pimentel, 23, was signed by Washington
as a free agent out of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Lynchburg Hillcats (Guardians) left-hander **[Matt Wilkinson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=wilkin004mat,wilkin000mat&search=Matt+Wilkinson&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
dominated Carolina League hitters, going 2-0 with a 0.44 ERA in four starts. He 
held opponents to six hits (only two for extra bases – both doubles) in 20.2 innings,
while striking out a Minor League-best 41 batters (13 more than anyone else in the
Carolina League). His .091 average against was the lowest in MiLB in April. He finished
April in style, striking out 15 in six innings of no-hit ball against Myrtle Beach
on April 25. Wilkinson, 21, was selected by Cleveland in the 10^(th) round of the
2023 MLB Draft out of Central Arizona Junior College.

**Florida State League (Single-A)**

St. Lucie Mets centerfielder **[Nick Morabito](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=morabi001nic&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
batted .397/.518/.529 and led the league in average (.397), hits (27), on-base percentage(.
518) and OPS (1.047). He was second in total bases (36) and fourth in triples (two),
stolen bases (nine) and slugging percentage (.529). He recorded seven multi-hit 
games and hit in seven straight games to end the month. Morabito, 20, was selected
by New York (NL) with a compensation round pick (75^(th) overall) after the second
round in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Gonzaga High School in Washington, D.C.

Clearwater Threshers (Phillies) right-hander **[George Klassen](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=klasse000geo&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-05-03_br)**
went 2-0 and did not allow an earned run in 21.0 innings over four starts. He was
the only pitcher in MiLB to pitch more than 20.0 innings without allowing an earned
run. He allowed just seven hits (only two for extra bases – both doubles) and five
walks while striking out 32 as he held opponents to a .103 average. His .103 average
against was the third-best in MiLB and his 0.57 WHIP was the best in MiLB. Klassen,
22, was selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of
the University of Minnesota.

###

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