The Los Angeles Dodgers were represented in Minor League weekly honors to begin the 2018 season, as Justin DeFratus of Double-A Tulsa was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Week for games played April 5-15.
The Drillers hurler had a very successful first week, not giving up an earned run in either of his two starts. DeFratus’ his outing start of the season came on April 7, when he tossed six shutout innings against the Frisco RoughRiders.
He gave up up just three hits while striking out four and walking one. DeFratus then allowed two unearned runs in a second outing against the RoughRiders, giving up four hits while striking out five and walking two in 5.1 innings.
In his two outings combined, DeFratus has only yielded seven hits in 11.1 innings, striking out three times as many batters as he has walked.
DeFratus signed a Minor League contract with the Dodgers this past offseason. The 30-year-old was an 11th-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007 out of Ventura College.
In parts of five Major League seasons with the Phillies from 2011-15, he sported a 4.08 ERA, 3.83 FIP and 1.38 WHIP, with 170 strikeouts and 77 walks in 194 innings pitched.
The Drillers got off to a hot start to the season and currently sit at 7-5, which leads their division.
