Swing of the Quad Cities relief pitcher Kevin Ool was named the Topps Player of the Month for May in the Midwest League, Minor League Baseball announced Wednesday. The 24-year-old out of Middletown, New York was one of ten award recipients - one for each affiliated minor league - and took home the honor as his circuit's top performer.
The 5-11 southpaw was lights out in May, logging 13 appearances and checking in at 6-0 with two saves and an ERA of 2.76. During a nine-appearance stretch from May 6 through May 23, Ool picked up all six wins and both of his saves on the month. On the season, he has compiled a 9-1, 1.87 mark to go along with 21 strikeouts and six walks. Opponents are batting only .188 against him.
Ool, a lefty out of Marist College, was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 16th round of the 2003 draft. In 54 games through two years with Boston, he went 6-3, 3.71 with 74 strikeouts and 18 walks over 89.2 innings. As he prepared to relieve Curt Schilling in a Triple-A game late in spring training, Ool was acquired from the Boston Red Sox with another minor leaguer in exchange for big league veteran Mike Myers.