August 31, 2010
Minors notebook: Drabek shines for Fisher Cats
by Roger Brown/
New Hampshire Fisher Cats pitcher Kyle Drabek has been named Eastern League Pitcher of the Year. (photo: Eastern League)
“Why hasn’t Kyle Drabek been promoted,” Portland Sea Dogs manager Arnie Beyeler asked a handful of media members before a late-August game against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
Beyeler had a smile on his face at the time, but no one was sure if he was joking. That’s how good Drabek has been this season.
Drabek has not only been New Hampshire’s most dominant pitcher, he’s been the most dominant pitcher in the league. He was recently named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year.
“I feel he can get big leaguers out right now,” New Hampshire manager Luis Rivera said. “He’s got the three pitches [fastball, curveball and changeup] that he needs to be a starter in the big leagues – and they’re all good.”
Drabek, a right-handed starter, has a 14-9 record and a 2.89 ERA. He leads the league in victories and ranks second among Eastern League pitchers in innings pitched (159) and opponent’s batting average (.213). He’s also among the league leaders in strikeouts (127/third), ERA (fourth) and WHIP (1.19/fifth).
Drabek, who had Tommy John surgery in 2007, said much of his success can be attributed to an improved changeup.
"My changeup has come a long way since last year – and the beginning of this year,” Drabek explained. “It’s one of my favorite pitches to throw.”
New Hampshirehas clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2004 and will play a best-of-five series against Trenton beginning Sept. 8.
“This is a great team,” Drabek said. “The guys all get along and it’s been a lot of fun winning. We’ve made it to the playoffs. Now we just have to take it to Trenton.”
Drabek, was named to the Eastern League mid-season and postseason All-Star teams. He was the Eastern Division’s starting pitcher in the All-Star game and threw one scoreless inning.
Drabek, whose father Doug won the National League Cy Young Award in 1990, also threw New Hampshire’s first nine-inning no-hitter in a 5-0 victory over New Britainon July 4.
Toronto acquired Drabek as part of the Roy Halladay trade in 2009. Philadelphiaselected Drabek with the 18th pick in the 2009 draft.
Drabek became the second New Hampshireplayer to be named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year. New Hampshire’s Gustavo Chacin won the award in 2004, when he posted a 16-2 record.
Lavarnway remains hot
Portland catcher Ryan Lavarnway won the Eastern League Player of the Week Award for the week ending Aug. 29.
Lavarnway, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound catcher, batted .421 (8 for 19) with three doubles, four home runs, seven RBI, seven runs scored, nine walks and had a 1.211 slugging percentage during the seven games played that week. He reached base at least twice in each of the seven games.
Lavarnway, 23, was promoted to Portland on July 15 after he hit .289 with 14 home runs and 63 RBI in 82 games with Class-A Salem. Boston selected Lavarnway in the sixth round of the 2008 draft after he hit .398 with 13 home runs and 42 RBI in 34 games during his junior season at Yale.
Freitas has MVP season
Vermont Lake Monsters catcher/designated hitter David Freitas won the 15th annual Tom Racine Award on Aug. 26. The award is given to the team’s most valuable player each season.
Freitas leads Vermont in batting average (.308), OPS (.404), slugging percentage (.455), RBI (38 in 55 games) and total bases (90).
Freitas set a franchise record by hitting safely in 21 consecutive games this season. He was selected for the New York-Penn League All-Star game and won the league’s home run derby.
