Minor league report: Martin earns Carolina League Pitcher of the Week

QUINCY — Riley Martin’s effort out of the bullpen for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans is getting noticed.

It has fans of the Chicago Cubs organization wondering loudly on social media when the former Quincy University All-American left-hander will get called up to either High-A South Bend or Class AA Tennessee.

Martin was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week after striking out 17 in two relief appearances against the Delmarva Shorebirds.

The southpaw worked 4.1 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and just one hit allowed in an 8-3 loss on April 19. Martin entered with two outs in the first inning after starting pitcher Luis Devers allowed six runs.

He entered a tie game in the fifth inning last Saturday and mowed down the Shorebirds, allowing one hit over three scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and no walks. The Pelicans scored twice in the top of the sixth and won 7-4, giving Martin his first victory of the season.

Overall, Martin has made four appearances for the Pelicans with 27 strikeouts in 13.1 innings and a 0.68 ERA.

At Class AAA Buffalo in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, former QU right-hander Graham Spraker had two more scoreless outings in relief. He struck out three over two innings with one hit allowed and no walks in a 6-5 victory over Scranton-Wilkes Barre.

Three days later, Spraker had another two-inning appearance against Scranton-Wilkes Barre in which he allowed one hit and two walks, struck out two and didn’t give up a run.

So far, the righty has made six appearances spanning 8.2 innings with 12 strikeouts and a 2.08 ERA. He has enjoyed three consecutive scoreless appearances.

Pitching in the Carolina League for the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, a Chicago White Sox affiliate, Quincy Notre Dame graduate Johnny Ray suffered his first loss of the season, although his relief appearance was effective and his numbers were solid.

Ray tossed 2.2 innings against the Fredricksburg Nationals, allowing one run and two hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

Overall, Ray has a 1-1 record with a 4.35 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 10.1 innings.