Thomas Szapucki Named SAL Pitcher of the Week

COLUMBIA, SC - Fireflies starting pitcher Thomas Szapucki was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 19-25, the league announced. The 21-year-old struck out a season-high 10 batters in his start on June 25 against the Kannapolis Intimidators.
Szapucki issued just two hits over six innings on Sunday. The 10 punch-out performance is no anomaly for the southpaw. Szapucki struck out 10 or more hitters in five of his nine starts in 2016. The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, native led all short-season pitchers in 2016 with a 14.9 K:9 IP ratio. Over three seasons with the Mets, Szapucki owns a 2.23 ERA and has struck out 110 batters compared to just 27 walks.
Szapucki was drafted by the New York Mets in the 5^th round of the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Dwyer High School. Baseball America calls Szapucki's curveball the best in the Mets organization.
"My brother, Nicholas, introduced the grip to me," Szapucki said of his curveball. "I stuck with the grip all throughout high school, started getting better at throwing it. It turned out to be a very good pitch for me."
Szapucki is the second Firefly this season to garner a league award. Merandy Gonzalez was named South Atlantic League Player of the Month for April.
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About the Columbia Fireflies
The Columbia Fireflies are the South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets. Winners of Ballpark Digest's Best New Branding and Logo Award in 2016, the Fireflies play games across the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, including against in-state rivals in Charleston and Greenville. The team partnered with the city of Columbia and Hughes Development to construct Spirit Communications Park, a multi-use outdoor sports and entertainment venue at the center of the BullStreet development. The Columbia Fireflies are owned by Hardball Capital, owners of the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League and the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League. For more information, visit ColumbiaFireflies.com, or follow the Fireflies on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About Spirit Communications Park
Spirit Communications Park, the 2016 Ballpark Digest Ballpark of the Year, is a 365-day per year multi-use sports and entertainment venue located in the heart of downtown Columbia, SC. Spirit Communications Park is the home ballpark for the Columbia Fireflies, the South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets. Designed for baseball, concerts, football, soccer and a host of other activities, the venue seats approximately 9,000 for sporting events and up to 15,000 for major outdoor concerts. With 16 luxury suites and a 7,000 square-foot Club Level Lounge, Spirit Communications Park can also host everything from business meetings to wedding receptions, and everything in between. The venue is open 365 days a year and serves as a public park with the wrap-around concourse representing 1/3 of a mile for walkers and joggers. For more information, visit SpiritCommunicationsPark.com.