Lake County Captains outfielder Will Benson swings during this year’s Midwest League Home Run Derby. He finished second in the contest. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)

Lake County Captains outfielder Will Benson and Quad Cities River Bandits RHP Chad Donato respectively were named the Midwest League’s offensive player and pitcher of the week for August 27 to September 3.

During that period, Benson batted .357 (10-for-28) with four homers, one double, six walks, 10 runs batted in, seven runs scored, and one stolen base in seven games. It was a strong finish for the Cleveland Indians prospect, who led the Midwest League with 22 home runs this season, but struggled to hit for average, ending the campaign with a .180 mark in 123 games with the Captains. He drove in 58 runs and stole 12 bases this season.

In his sole start last week, Donato allowed only two hits in six scoreless innings against the Clinton LumberKings. He struck out 11 batters (tying his career high) and walked none. The performance capped a stellar month for Donato, who went 6-0 with a 1.23 ERA, 46 strikeouts and seven walks in 36.2 innings in August. That earned him the Midwest League Player of the Month Award for August.

The Houston Astros prospect went 6-0 with a 2.04 ERA, 77 strikeouts, 19 walks, and two saves in 61.2 innings (12 games/10 starts) for the River Bandits this season. He also made two starts and one relief appearance for the Tri-City ValleyCats of the short-season New York-Penn League this year, going 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 21 strikeouts and three walks in 16 innings.

Quad Cities River Bandits RHP Chad Donato (Photo by Rich Guill)

LC, QC renew PDCs

The Lake County Captains and the Quad Cities River Bandits have renewed the player development contracts with their MLB clubs, the teams announced in press releases this past week.

The Captains have been affiliated with the Cleveland Indians for their entire 16-year existence, and that will continue at least through the 2020 season after a two-year extension of their PDC was announced Friday.

The River Bandits have been affiliated with the Houston Astros for the past eight seasons, and their relationship will continue for at least two more years after their PDC was renewed through the 2020 season on Sunday.