The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A CAREER-high hitting streak for D’Shawn Knowles and a career-high strikeout performance for Tahnaj Thomas highlighted Bahamian minor league baseball play over the weekend.

Knowles carried an eight-game hit streak into last night’s series finale against the Grand Junction Rockies and continues to deliver standout performances in the Pioneer League for the Orem Owlz.

In Sunday night’s matchup against the Rockies, Knowles went 3-4 and recorded his fourth multi-hit game during the streak which began on June 26. Over the last 10 games, he is hitting .395.

Through 18 games this season with the Owlz, Knowles is hitting .348 with a .434 OBP, .926 OPS with eight RBI, nine runs scored, four stolen bases and two home runs.

Knowles, 18, returned to the Orem Owlz for his first full season with the club in the Pioneer League. He is currently listed as the No.9 prospect in the Los Angeles Angels’ farm system.

After 30 games in the Arizona League last season, Knowles received his first promotion within the Angels franchise. He hit .301 with a .385 OBP, .765 OPS with 14 RBI, 19 runs scored, seven stolen bases and one home run. He was then assigned to the Owlz and continued his production for the remainder of the season.

With the Owlz, he appeared in 28 games and hit .321 with a .398 OBP, .949 OPS with 15 RBI, 27 runs scored, two stolen bases and four home runs.

Thomas made his first home start for the Bristol Pirates in the Appalachian League in a 9-3 win over the Pulaski Yankees.

Thomas allowed two runs on five hits and one walk over 4 2/3 innings against the Yankees. He also set a new career-high with seven strikeouts, as he has now posted a 1.86 ERA over his last two starts.

The win extended the Pirates win streak to five games.

After being limited to 1 2/3 innings over his first two starts, Thomas threw five innings for the Pirates, allowing three unearned runs on four hits with a season-high five strikeouts in a win over the Kingston Mets last week.

Thomas is currently the No.16 ranked player in the Pirates organisation and No.5 among pitchers, according to MLB Pipeline.

Last season, Thomas appeared in eight games (six starts) in the Rookie League, recording a 4.58 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 27 strikeouts in 19.2 innings. He was assigned to the AZL Indians 1 in the Arizona Rookie League.