Saarloos Named Texas League Player of the Month June 4, 2002 – Fullerton, Calif.
Just one week after being named the Texas League Pitcher of the Week,
former Cal State Fullerton pitcher Kirk Saarloos’ 2002 season just
keeps getting better.
Saarloos, who plays for the Round Rock Express, a Double-A affiliate of
the Houston Astros, was named the Topps Texas League Player of the Month
for May, beating out two players that hit over .400 for the month and
another that had over 20 extra-base hits.
The Express right-hander gave up only one earned run in the month, going
4-0 with a 0.26 ERA in 34 innings, striking out 30 and walking nine. He
currently leads the league in ERA (1.59), wins (8) and strikeouts (69).
Saarloos has started June with the same success he had in May. He spun
his first career shutout to help the Express blank the Shreveport Swamp
Dragons, 11- 0, in the first game of a doubleheader last Saturday. Saarloos
(8-1) yielded six hits, struck out five, issued a pair of walks and only
allowed four balls out of the infield.
Saarloos is the featured player in the latest issue of Baseball America,
which has tabbed him as a Minor League Player of the Year candidate.
Saarloos, who pitched four seasons for the Titans, was a unanimous All-America
in 2001, when he went 15-2 with a 2.18 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 153.0
innings.
