WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. 1 Minor League Baseball announced on June 4 that Sacramento River Cats pitcher Carson Whisenhunt was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month for May 2026. Whisenhunt recorded a 2-0 record with a 2.81 earned run average in six starts, striking out 32 batters over 32 innings while allowing 10 earned runs, 28 hits, and 11 walks. He led the league in strikeouts and had the lowest hits allowed per nine innings (7.88), ranking second in ERA and WHIP. Notably, he was one of only two pitchers in the league with over 18 innings pitched who did not allow a home run in May.
Joe Whitman of the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels received the Eastern League Pitcher of the Month award for May. Whitman achieved a 3-0 record with a 0.96 ERA in five starts, striking out 37 over 28 innings while giving up three earned runs, 14 hits, and five walks. He led the Eastern League in ERA, strikeouts, WHIP, batting average against, hits allowed per nine innings, and strikeouts per nine innings. Whitman started May with a 23-inning scoreless streak before allowing three runs in his final start of the month.
Whitman was promoted to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats on June 2 and made his Triple-A debut on June 5 against Tacoma. Both Whisenhunt, selected by the San Francisco Giants in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of East Carolina University, and Whitman, a 2023 second-round pick from Kent State University, are top pitching prospects in the Giants organization.
CSB Take
The recognition of Carson Whisenhunt and Joe Whitman as Pitchers of the Month underscores the San Francisco Giants’ strong pitching depth across their minor league system. Whisenhunt’s ability to dominate at the Triple-A level demonstrates his potential to contribute significantly to the major league rotation soon. Whitman’s dominant performance at Double-A and rapid promotion to Triple-A signal his readiness to face tougher competition. These awards highlight promising pitching talents advancing through California’s Minor League Baseball ranks.
Source: Original report
