Three former Valley Leaguers performed so well in the week ending August 17 in the minor leagues that they were all named the player of the week in their respective league.

Let’s take a look at each of the three, shall we?

Scott Copeland
Scott Copeland

First, Scott Copeland (Staunton 2007) was named the pitcher of the week in the Triple-A International League! This is what John Parker had to say about Scott on milb.com:

(2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 14 IP, 10 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 4 BB, 10 K)
After allowing four earned runs over 28 innings in his previous four starts for Double-A New Hampshire, Copeland got the call to Triple-A on Monday and promptly held visiting Norfolk scoreless over seven innings. Five days later he did the same to host Lehigh Valley, earning a pair of wins in his first two International League outings. Though the 26-year-old was reassigned to New Hampshire on Sunday, he’s more than proved he can play at the Triple-A level.

Over the two levels this season, Scott is a combined 10-8, 3.40, with a 1.31 WHIP and 52 walks and 99 strikeouts in 153 2/3 innings pitched.

Second, Ian Dickson (Rockbridge 2010) was named the pitcher of the week for the High-A Carolina League. Again, we turn to John Parker:

(1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 8 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 2 BB, 8 K)
Dickson’s season got off to a rough start — he gave up four runs in two-thirds of an inning on Opening Day for a 54.00 ERA — and he’s been fighting his way back ever since. On Saturday he won his third consecutive decision with eight one-hit innings against the same Carolina team that torched him back in April. Dickson, a 35th-round pick in 2011, said the game was the best of his pro career. It’s hard to disagree.

For the season so far, Ian is 4-8, 4.78, with a 1.38 WHIP, 3 saves, and 42 walks and 88 strikeouts in 111 innings pitched.

Third, Sherman Johnson (Covington 2009-10) was named the hitter of the week in the High-A California League. This is what Sam

Sherman Johnson
Sherman Johnson

Dykstra wrote about Sherman:

(.652/.750/1.087, 6 G, 15-for-23, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 13 R, 8 BB, 2 K, 2 SB)
After Sunday night’s record-tying offensive explosion by the 66ers, you’d have to figure it’d be an Inland Empire slugger that would get the nod here. Indeed, Johnson, who hit one of five homers during a 10-run first inning Sunday, is the one to take the honor, although he might have had it sewn up before then. Johnson had at least two hits in each of his six games last week and was retired only eight times in 32 plate appearances. In one week’s time, his season slash line went from .247/.352/.404 to .266/.375/.438. In addition, with a triple on Thursday, he extended his Cal League-leading total in the category to 12.

Johnson has been having an excellent season at Inland Empire. He’s hitting 264/374/431 in 489 at-bats, with 22 doubles, 12 triples (tied for the most by any VBL alumni since the 2006 draft), 12 home runs, and an excellent 83/94 BB/K ratio. (The 83 walks are the second most in a season since 2006!)

Congratulations to all three players!