IL honors Janish, Cloyd for openers

The International League announced today that Louisville shortstop Paul Janish and Lehigh Valley pitcher Tyler Cloyd have been named the League's first Batter and Pitcher of the Week for 2012.

The period covers the first four days of the season from April 5-8.

Over the first four days of the 2012 season, Louisville shortstop Paul Janish hit .429 (6-for-14) and led the International League with two home runs, 14 total bases and a 1.000 slugging percentage. Janish was the hero on Opening Day in Columbus, homering twice including a two-out, ninth-inning solo shot that gave the Bats a 5-4 victory.

Janish, from Houston, Texas, went on to collect four more hits over the next three games, including two doubles. All four of his extra-base hits during the week came in the sixth inning or later.

Janish, 29, is in his ninth season of professional baseball, having spent his entire career within the Cincinnati organization. Janish has seen significant time in the Major Leagues during each of the past four seasons, including 114 games with the Reds in 2011.

Right-handed pitcher Tyler Cloyd had never pitched at the Triple-A level prior to his Opening Day start for Lehigh Valley. In fact, Cloyd was slated to open the 2012 season with Double-A Reading, but was summoned to Lehigh Valley for the IronPigs' first game to replace suspended pitcher Dave Bush.

The young prospect delivered six perfect innings en route to the IronPigs' 3-0 victory over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He is the first pitcher in club history to toss six perfect frames in a game.

Cloyd, a native of Bellevue, Neb., struck out eight Yankees hitters, a number he reached just twice in 22 starts last season. The 24-year-old is in his fifth season of professional baseball, having spent his entire career in the Philadelphia organization. Last season he combined to go 9-7 with a 2.77 ERA between Class A and Double-A.