ROUND ROCK, Texas – Round Rock Express LHP Dalton Pence was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for August 3-9, as announced by Minor League Baseball on Monday afternoon. Pence is the second Express pitcher to earn the weekly award this year after RHP Cal Quantrill took home the honor from April 6-12.
In his lone start for the week on Friday, August 7, Pence delivered 5.0 scoreless innings in just his second Triple-A start against the Sacramento River Cats (San Francisco affiliate) at Sutter Health Park. He allowed only two hits, with one walk and six strikeouts on just 63 pitches to earn his first Triple-A victory as the E-Train earned a 7-1 win. Pence allowed singles in the first and fourth innings with his lone walk issued in the second. He ended the night by retiring the side in the fifth frame while striking out two.
The left-hander was promoted from Double-A Frisco on August 1. He has gone 5.0 innings or more in 12 of his 17 starts this year and his 63 pitches on Saturday were the fewest he has needed in an outing that has gone at least 5.0 innings. Saturday also marked the ninth time Pence has struck out six or more in a start this year.
This season between High-A (5 GS), Double-A (11 G/10 GS) and Triple-A (2 GS), Pence is 3-3 with a 2.71 ERA (26 ER/86.1 IP) with 31 walks and 98 strikeouts while posting a 1.15 WHIP. Among minor league pitchers to post 80.0 innings or more this season, Pence is eighth in ERA. Among Rangers full-season minor league pitchers to toss at least 50.0 innings, he is first in ERA and third in WHIP and strikeouts.
The Gastonia, North Carolina native is listed as the No. 8 (MLB.com) and No. 13 prospect (Baseball America) in the Rangers system. He was an 11th round selection by the Rangers in the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of North Carolina. In his redshirt sophomore season with the Tar Heels in 2024, he notched a team-high eight saves and earned Second Team All-America selections from Baseball America, College Baseball Foundation, D1 Baseball and Perfect Game.
Pence is scheduled to start next on Thursday, August 13 at Dell Diamond. The Express return home for a six-game series against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston Astros affiliate) from August 11-16 in a pivotal series between the top two teams in the PCL Second Half standings. The series opener is set for Tuesday night at 6:45 p.m. For more information on the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and X!