Sampson Named TL Pitcher of the Week
San Antonio - The San Antonio Missions are proud to announce that right-hander Keyvius Sampson was named Texas League Pitcher of the Week for July 15-21.
Sampson put together another dominant display in his only start of the week on July 20 vs. Midland, allowing just one hit and two walks, while striking out a career-high, tying 12 batters in a career-high, tying seven shutout innings.
The 22-year-old hurler has been one of the top pitchers in all of Minor League Baseball over the past two months. Since May 16, Sampson is 7-1 with a 2.27 ERA and has an incredible K:BB ratio of 83:24 in 71.1 innings pitched. During that stretch, he's second in MiLB in strikeouts and tied for seventh in wins. Over that same 13-game period, Sampson is ranked first in the Texas League in wins, strikeouts and opponents' batting average at .185. Sampson also ranks third in both innings pitched and WHIP (1.00) and is fourth in ERA. He has racked up double digit strikeout totals in three of his last five starts.
It is not the first award this season for Sampson, who was also named the San Diego Padres' Minor League Pitcher of the Month for June after going 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA in six games (five starts). Sampson becomes the third Mission to win the TL's top pitching honor, joining Burch Smith (April 4-14) and current teammate Matt Wisler (July 1-7).
San Diego selected Sampson in the 4th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Forest High School in Ocala, FL. He entered the season as the Padres' 13th ranked prospect according to Baseball America.