Whitecaps earn League honors
Midwest League MVP: For the third time in history, a member of the West Michigan Whitecaps was named Midwest League Most Valuable Player, in Wynton Bernard. The 23 yr-old outfielder leads the league with a .328 average, first in run scored with 89, hits with 159. He’s second in the league in total bases with 217 and on-base percentage with .401. Bernards’ 159 sets a Whitecaps’ franchise record, which he set on Sunday at South Bend.
“It feels so amazing,” Bernard told MLive.com. “Just thinking about all that I’ve been through the past year…it’s pretty special.”
What’s amazing, is that he was released by the San Diego Padres in January, and joined the Tigers via an open tryout in March in Lakeland. Now, he joins Robert Fick (1997) and Gorkys Hernandez (2007) as Whitecaps named league MVP.
Post-season All-Stars: Joining Bernard in the MWL post-season All-Star Team, are pitchers Buck Farmer and Kevin Ziomek. Farmer, who’s made two appearances with the Tigers this season, went 10-5 during his time in West Michigan. He posted a 2.60 ERA with 116 strikeouts, which lead the league at the time. Ziomek is currently 10-6 with a league-leading 145 strikeouts. He leads the league with a rate of 11.15 strikeouts per nine innings, that could also be a franchise record when the season is done.
Pitcher of the Week: Although he didn’t make the post-season All-Star squad, pitcher Jon Maciel was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for August 18-24. Maciel was brilliant during the ‘Caps’ 5-0 win over Dayton on Thursday, giving up one hit in seven shut-out innings. The 21 yr-old hurler struck out a career high 10 batters, including six straight. Maciel was an 18-round pick in the 2013 draft out of Cal State-Long Beach. So far this season he’s 6-6 with a 3.97 ERA and 85 strikeouts. He joins Austin Kubitza (x2) and Jonathon Crawford as recipients of the award this season.
Photos property of Minoring in Baseball
Minoring In Baseball 
Hi gang: My neighbor’s son, Ross Kivett, was recently promoted to the whitecaps from Connecticut. Ross was an MVP at Kansas State in 2013 and is a great kid. Not many can say they played on a state championship team in the same year in two sports – hockey and baseball for ST. Edwards in Lakewood OH in 2009. I know his parents would enjoy your web site. Their e-mail is mkmk0829@aol.com or should I tell them of another way to receive regular e-mails from you? thanks, Mike soinski
Mike-thank you for stopping by! Unfortunately, I haven’t been back down to West Michigan since Ross was promoted, so I didn’t get a chance to see him play yet. From what I’ve read, they’re very happy to have him playing for the Whitecaps. You can put you’re neighbors’ email in the space to the right, and then they’ll be able to receive an e-mail any time I post a new entry. I’m hoping to make it too a playoff game, and hope that Ross does well, also.
-Mike