Carlos Pimentel named PCL Pitcher of the Year

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Iowa right-hander Carlos Pimentel has been named 2015 Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year, the league announced Wednesday.      

 

The Santiago, Dominican Republic native received the award after a balloting of the PCL field managers and media representatives from across the league. He becomes the first I-Cub pitcher, as well as the first Dominican-born player, to ever obtain the league's top pitching honor.

 

Pimentel, 25, is 12-6 with a 2.99 ERA (46ER/138.1IP) and 113 strikeouts in 26 games, including 25 starts, for Iowa this season. He leads the league in ERA, is tied first first in wins and is second in strikeouts as he tries to become just the third pitcher in the PCL's modern era to win the pitcher's triple crown. He is also first in the league in opponents batting average (.221), and is one of only seven pitchers in the league with two complete games.

Pimentel was named the right-handed pitcher on the 2015 All-PCL Team earlier this week. He was also elected to the 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game and was selected as the starting pitcher for the PCL. He tossed 2.0 innings and allowed one run on two hits with four strikeouts, an I-Cubs All-Star Game record.

He has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 19 of 25 starts this season, and has only allowed a total of 23 earned runs in his last 14 starts over 82.0 innings (2.52 ERA). His 12 wins are the most for an I-Cubs pitcher since J.R. Mathes won 12 in 2009.

Pimentel was named Chicago Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Month for the month of June. He was also named PCL Player of the Month in June. Overall, the righty recorded a league-best 0.95 ERA (3ER/28.1IP) in five June starts. He went 4-1 in that span with 22 strikeouts and 1.16 WHIP. Opponents hit .192 against him, the fourth best mark in the PCL.

The 2015 season marks his second in the Chicago Cubs' organization, having signed a minor league contract with them on Nov. 19, 2013. Pimentel began his professional career in the Texas Rangers' farm system in 2007 and stayed with the organization for seven seasons. He has pitched at the Triple- A level the past three years, beginning with the Round Rock Express in 2013 and then joining the Iowa Cubs the following season.

Among the others to receive votes for PCL Pitcher of the Year were Adam Conley (New Orleans), Dan Straily (Fresno), Steven Matz (Las Vegas), and Zach Lee (Oklahoma City).