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Pitchers of the Week

For games played from April 7 through April 17
April 18, 2011
International League (April 11-17)
Alex Torres, Durham
1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 10.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 17 SO
How has Rays prospect Alex Torres been able to debut with 10 1/3 scoreless innings at Triple-A? Easy. He strikes out almost every-other hitter. Torres, an All-Star in Class A Advanced ball in 2009 and in Double-A last year, has mowed his way through his first two IL starts. He fanned nine while walking one and giving up two hits against Charlotte on April 11, and he punched out eight while going 5 1/3 innings and earning his first victory on Saturday.

Pacific Coast League
Chris Seddon, Tacoma
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 13 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 10 SO
Chris Seddon hasn't won a game yet in 2011, but he's also been pretty much unbeatable in his two starts. Seddon, who was an All-Star in the PCL last year en route to a 10-4, 3.39 campaign, shut down Sacramento in his first outing of the season, giving up four hits and two walks over six innings. Facing Fresno on April 14, the Mariners farmhand gave up a first-inning single and a third-inning double but otherwise held the Grizzlies hitless while he struck out five over seven innings.

Eastern League
Aaron Thompson, Altoona
2-0, 0.75 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 12 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO
Aaron Thompson, claimed by the Pirates off waivers from the Nationals in December, is pitching like his same ol' effective self. The southpaw has a victory to show for each his Double-A starts with his new organization, and he's held opponents to a .079 batting average. He gave up a run on a hit and a walk at Erie in his first 2011 start, and the next time out he held Richmond scoreless over six innings, allowing just two hits and walking one while whiffing five.

Southern League
Bryan Henry, Mobile
2-0, 0.75 ERA, 2 G, 1 GS, 8.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO
Bryan Henry, a D-backs prospect, entered Mobile's second 2011 game, against Carolina, in the third inning and carried his team through the sixth. He struck out three of the first five he faced and worked a 1-2-3 frame in the sixth before being pinch hit for in the next frame. He was even stronger in his start against the Mississippi Braves on April 14. Henry took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and allowed just one single and two walks -- both of which came in the first inning -- while striking out three over five frames.

Texas League
Dallas Keuchel, Corpus Christi
1-0, 1.29 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 14 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO
Dallas Keuchel exhibited excellent control through his first two outings of the year, having tossed 14 innings so far without issuing a free pass. A left-handed Astros prospect, Keuchel went 2-6 with a 4.70 ERA in the Texas League last year, and he's already halfway to that win total after his first two starts of 2011. He took a no decision after giving up a run over six innings against Northwest Arkansas on April 10, but on Saturday he pitched eight solid innings against Tulsa, nearly assuring himself of the victory.

California League
Ryan Doolittle, Stockton
2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 1 GS, 10 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 0 BB, 11 K
If the Modesto Nuts were frustrated the first time they faced A's prospect Ryan Doolittle -- playing at home, they managed just two hits off him over five innings when he started on April 10 -- they were utterly stymied when he came out of the bullpen on April 15. In that outing, he gave up five hits to the Nuts, but he also piled up seven strikeouts over the course of five innings. Working into the 10th inning, he fanned two in a row three separate times. He's yet to give up a walk this season.

Carolina League
Drew Pomeranz, Kinston
0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 2 BB, 17 K
The Indians made Drew Pomeranz the fifth overall pick of last year's Draft, and he made it clear why in his first two professional starts. In his Opening Day debut, Pomeranz fanned four of the first five hitters he faced and didn't allow a hit until fourth, striking out nine without walking anybody over 5 1/3 innings over the outing. He was only moderately less effective in his next start, giving up one hit and two walks while striking out eight and surrendering an unearned run over 5 2/3 innings.

Florida State League
Matt Harvey, St. Lucie
3-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 16 IP, 10 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 6 BB, 20 K
Matt Harvey's first three pro starts could hardly have gone more smoothly. He was the Mets' first-round pick (seventh overall) in the 2010 Draft, and he boasts a perfect ERA through his first 16 professional innings. He scattered five hits and two walks while striking out nine over five innings on Opening Day, gave up three hits and two more walks while picking up eight strikeouts April 12, and he allowed an unearned run but just two hits and two walks over five more innings Sunday.

Midwest League
Keyvius Sampson, Fort Wayne
2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 1 BB, 19 K
Making the first start of his first full season as a pro, Padres prospect Keyvius Sampson struck out the side in the first, fourth and fifth while tallying 10 punchouts during six perfect innings. He allowed two hits and a walk in his second outing, on April 13, but he added nine more strikeouts to his season total and unfurled five more shutout innings. Sampson was picked by the Padres in the fourth round of the 2009 Draft.

South Atlantic League
Jake Petricka, Kannapolis
1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 2 BB, 16 K
A 2010 second-rounder, White Sox prospect Jake Petricka put up a 3.05 ERA over 17 games -- eight starts -- across two levels last season. He's poised for an even better 2011. In his season debut, Petricka fanned nine while throwing six no-hit innings at Lakewood on April 10, a single walk his only flaw. On Friday, he beat the Hickory Crawdads by giving up four hits and a walk while striking out seven over five innings, earning his first win in the Sally League.

Josh Jackson is a contributor to MLB.com.