Poreda Named SL Pitcher of the Week; Retherford Tabbed Hitter of the Week

MARIETTA, Ga.
- The Southern League announced Monday that Birmingham Barons lefthander Aaron Poreda has been named Southern League Pitcher of the Week. In a joint announcement, the Southern League also tabbed fellow Baron CJ Retherford as the Southern League Hitter of the Week. It is the first time this season that a Baron has won either award.

Poreda, the top-pitching prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization, according to Baseball America, had a dominant week. The lefty went 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA, striking out 12 batters in 11 innings. Ultimately though, it was the way he began the week that earned him the nod. The Moraga, Ca. native tossed five, no-hit innings on Monday, May 4 to earn a rain-shortened, no-hitter against Jacksonville. After picking up his second win of the season in Montgomery on Saturday, he now ranks eighth in the league in ERA (2.16) and is tied for third in strikeouts (32).

Fellow Baron, CJ Retherford joined Poreda on the awards ceremony this week as the second baseman was chosen as the Southern League's Hitter of the Week. The 5-10 Retherford doesn't garner the same attention as some of his teammates, but he's put up better numbers than most all of them on the season. The Chandler, Az. native batted .381 on the week while hitting two home runs and knocking in a league-high 11 runs. His .905 slugging percentage on the week was also a league-high, and he now leads the league in that category on the season at .651. He currently has the top average on the Barons at .337 and is second on the team in both home runs (5) and RBI (19).

The first-place Barons return home Monday night to open a five-game series with the Carolina Mudcats. The Barons will put the league's best record on the line when Lucas Harrell (2-1, 3.38) takes on the Mudcats' Misael DeJesus (1-3, 10.18) First pitch from Regions Park is scheduled for 7:05 PM.