ALTOONA — On Sunday right-handed pitching prospect Kyle McPherson was named the Altoona Curve’s Pitcher of the Year.
“It’s special,” McPherson said. “Definitely so. A lot of hard work. I’m very appreciative of it. But at the same time, there’s a lot of good pitchers on this staff and I would have been just as happy if one of them had got it. All and all, very appreciative of it.”
The 23-year-old is having his best season since being drafted in 14th round of the 2007 draft, posting a 12-6 record and a 2.96 ERA combined with High-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona.
“Obviously this organization’s got big plans for him,” Curve manager P.J. Forbes said. “I don’t think he disappointed at all this year. What he did down in Bradenton and how he’s performed here, I like our chances with him being a big asset in Pittsburgh sooner rather than later.”
In his final start of the season, McPherson held the Richmond Flying Squirrels to just two hits over five shutout innings. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out five.
“I felt good,” McPherson said. “I felt stronger this outing than the previous outing. It’s been kind of an up and down year, especially coming into this month of August. I felt the best I’ve felt in a while tonight.”
The Curve committed back-to-back errors in the 1st and 2nd innings, but McPherson had no trouble escaping each frame unscathed. After a 43 minute rain delay, McPherson came back out to pitch 3.1 scoreless innings in the 1-0 win in extra innings.
“I was really skeptical about the rain delay and it being postponed to a certain point that I wouldn’t be able to return to the game,” McPherson said. “I was really skeptical that they were going to let me back out, but I’m glad they did and it turned out well for us.”
McPherson joined the Curve after spending the first two months of the season with the Bradenton Marauders. He compiled a 4-1 record with a 2.89 ERA in 12 starts before being promoted to Altoona. Since joining the Curve, McPherson has gone 8-5 with a 3.02 ERA in 16 starts and enjoyed his best month in July where he posted a 4-1 record with a 2.60 ERA across six starts.
McPherson’s 12 wins (combined with High-A and Double-A) are second-most in the Pirates Minor League system behind the Curve’s Phil Irwin’s 13.
“It’s been up and down,“ McPherson said on his season. “I definitely tried to focus on learning something every start and I’ve been able to do that. I stick to my strengths and its paid off in the long run.”
The Curve handed out their 2011 season-ending awards prior to Sunday night’s game against the Flying Squirrels.
Eastern League Rookie of the Year’s Outfielder Starling Marte was also selected as the Curve’s Most Valuable Player, Righty Kyle McPherson was named the Pitcher of the Year, right-handed reliever was named the Fireman of the Year, Infielder Brock Holt was named the Iron Man and right-hander Mike Colla was selected as the team’s Unsung Hero.
Photo credit: MILB
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