Quad Cities River Bandits RHP Jose Hernandez is the Midwest League pitcher of the week. (Photo by Jeff Cook/Quad-City Times)

Quad Cities River Bandits RHP Jose Hernandez and Cedar Rapids Kernels infielder Zander Wiel respectively were named the Midwest League pitcher and offensive player of the week for the period of July 11-17.

Hernandez made two starts last week, striking out 19 batters while allowing only one unearned run, a walk and six hits in 13 total innings. The Houston Astros prospect picked up two wins to improve to 3-2 with a 2.66 ERA, 84 strikeouts and 15 walks in 81.1 innings (17 games/14 starts) for the River Bandits this season.

This is the fourth time in the last five weeks that a Quad Cities hurler was named the Midwest League pitcher of the week. Hernandez earned the honor for the period of June 13-19; teammates Albert Abreu and Elieser Hernandez won the award for the periods of June 27-July 3 and July 4-10, respectively.

In six games during the past week, Wiel batted .458 (11-for-24) with five homers, four doubles, four walks, 12 runs batted in, and seven runs scored. The Minnesota Twins prospect is the third Kernels player to win a Midwest League weekly award this season; RHP Fernando Romero was named the MWL pitcher of the week for May 16-22, and catcher A.J. Murray was named the MWL offensive player of the week for May 9-15.

Wiel is batting .249 with 10 HR and 52 RBI in 85 games with the Kernels this season.