Iowa Cubs’ Carlos Pimentel named PCL Pitcher of the Year

Iowa Cubs’ right-hander Carlos Pimentel was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year on Wednesday afternoon.

The 25-year-old right-hander was targeted in a recent piece I penned on Chicago prospects deserving of a September call-up and this honor only emphasizes his worthiness.

In 25 starts and a lone relief appearance, Pimentel is 12-6 with a 2.99 ERA and .221 opponent batting average, which leads the PCL. He also is one of just seven pitchers in the league with more than one complete game on the season.

The Dominican native has racked up 113 punch-outs in 138 1/3 innings of work this season, leading the league in ERA and wins, ranking second in strikeouts. According to a team release, he’s vying to become just the third PCL player to win the pitching Triple Crown in the modern era, as well.

Pimentel came over to Chicago from the Texas Rangers a few years’ back and, after struggling greatly in 2014 with Iowa, silenced all his critics this season – putting together a month of June that was unrivaled in the Pacific Coast League.

That month, which included five starts, saw Pimentel pitch to a Jake Arrieta-esque 0.95 earned run average, limiting opposing hitters to a minuscule .192 clip in the process.

For his work, the righty was named PCL Pitcher of the Month, as well as the Chicago Cubs’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month in June.

Pimentel is the first Iowa Cubs player ever to win the PCL Pitcher of the Year, as well as the first Dominican-born player to receive the honors.

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