Walters named IL Batter of the Week

The International League announced today that Syracuse shortstop Zach Walters and Durham pitcher J.D. Martin have been named the League's Batter and Pitcher of the Week for the period from June 10-16. Walters is the first member of the Chiefs to win an IL weekly award this season, while Martin is the League-best fifth Durham player to be so honored in 2013 (Vince Belnome, April 22-28; Jake Odorizzi, April 29-May 5; Alex Colome, May 13-19; Wil Myers, May 27-June 2). 

Syracuse shortstop Zach Walters entered the week with a .204 batting average on the season, but over the past seven days he led the International League with a .579 average and a 1.211 slugging percentage. He was also near the top of the League with 11 hits (T-2nd), 3 home runs (T-2nd), 7 RBI (T-3rd), and a .600 on-base percentage (2nd). His breakout game came on Friday night against Toledo, when Walters set season-highs with three hits, three runs scored, and two home runs. He now has 14 long balls this year, tied for 4th in the IL. 

Walters, 23, is in his fourth professional season and first full campaign at the Triple-A level. Last season he played in 29 games for the Chiefs. Walters is a native of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Right-hander J.D. Martin of Durham won twice last week, defeating Louisville on Monday before knocking off Indianapolis yesterday to pick up his League-leading ninth victory of the season. Martin worked his first scoreless outing of 2013 against the Bats, tossing 6.2 innings of shutout baseball as Durham cruised to a 5-2 win. 5-2 was also the score in Sunday's tilt as Martin avenged a June 5 loss to the Tribe in Indianapolis. A two-run 2nd inning homer by Andrew Lambo was Martin's only blemish during a 7.0 inning, four-hit, six-strikeout performance. Martin is now 4th in the International League with 84.0 innings pitched this season. 

Martin, 30, is in his first season in the Tampa Bay organization after signing as a free agent this January. He is a veteran of 24 starts in the Major Leagues, all with the Nationals between 2009 and 2010. Martin, a native of Ridgecrest, California, was 13-12 with a 3.38 ERA for the Chiefs from 2009-2011.