News
Weeks, Veal win weekly AFL honor
A's, Bucs prospects named Players of the Week
Scottsdale starter Donnie Veal is 3-1 with a 1.89 ERA in six AFL outings. (Bill Mitchell/Four Seam Images)
By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com
11/02/09 12:50 PM EST
Infielder Jemile Weeks of the A's organization and left-hander Donnie Veal of the Pirates were named Arizona Fall League hitter and pitcher of the week on Monday. Weeks, playing for the Phoenix Desert Dogs, went 8-for-15 (.533) for the week with three doubles, two triples, three RBIs and four runs scored to continue a strong start to the prospect-laden league. He entered week four of AFL play riding a seven-game hitting streak during which he has batted .379 and scored eight times. The 22-year-old Orlando native is the younger brother of Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks. Jemile was Oakland's first-round Draft pick in 2008 out of the University of Miami and he topped out in 2009 at Double-A Midland. Veal, playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions, didn't allow a run in two starts last week, allowing only five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings. He leads Fall League starters with a 0.71 ERA and is tied for the league lead with two wins. He ranks second in opponent batting average (.159) and third in walks plus hits per inning pitched (0.71). The 25-year-old former Cubs prospect made his Major League debut with the Pirates in 2009 with 19 relied appearances. He also pitched for Double-A Altoona (0-0, 1.35 ERA in seven games) and Triple-A Indianapolis (0-1, 6.43 ERA in nine games) last season. Other hitters receiving Player of the Week consideration were Weeks' fellow A's prospects Grant Desme and Corey Brown and Peoria Saguaros outfielder Jonathan Gaston, an Astros farmhand. In the pitching category, Peoria Javelinas right-handers Justin Cassel (White Sox) and Robbie Weinhardt (Tigers) also received consideration for the weekly honor.Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
