Today in Knights History — June 23, 2014
June 23, 2014
Eric Surkamp Named IL Pitcher of the Week
(UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC) — Eric Surkamp, who posted a 1–0 mark with a 0.64 ERA over two starts last week, has been named as the International League’s Pitcher of the Week for the period of June 16 to June 22, as announced this morning by the International League of Professional Baseball Clubs Inc. Surkamp is the third Knights pitcher to earn the honor this season. Scott Carroll was named IL Pitcher of the Week in April, while Charlie Leesman earned the achievement in May.
A member of Chicago’s 40-man roster, Surkamp beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on June 16 in Allentown, PA with seven shutout innings. On that day, the North Carolina State product allowed just three hits and recorded eight strikeouts. It was his first of two seven-inning starts during the week.
On Saturday, the lefty allowed just one run on five hits over seven innings, but did not factor in the team’s 5–2 win over Toledo. The Cincinnati, OH native struck-out seven batters and propelled to the top of the IL leaderboard in strikeouts. Surkamp’s 84 strikeouts this season are tops in the IL.
For the season, Surkamp owns a 3–4 record with a 4.54 ERA in 73.1 innings pitched (14 games, 11 starts). June has been his finest month of the season. He’s compiled a 1–0 record with a 3.00 ERA in three June starts (18 IP, 15 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 19 SO).
Surkamp, 26, was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2008 draft by the San Francisco Giants. He made his Major League debut on August 27, 2011 for the Giants and allowed one run over six innings pitched in a start against the Houston Astros. He appeared in six games that season with the Giants and posted a 2–2 record. Surkamp missed the entire 2012 season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery.
