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Justin Lamkin, a former Texas A&M standout, has been making waves in professional baseball, and his latest performance earned him Arizona Fall League Week 3 Pitcher of the Week honors. The left-hander delivered 4 1/3 perfect innings for the Surprise Saguaros in their matchup against the Mesa Solar Sox on Wednesday, retiring all 13 batters he faced.
The 22-year-old struck out four while throwing 40 of his 52 pitches for strikes, helping Surprise carry a no-hitter into the seventh inning. The recognition, announced Monday, highlights Lamkin's strong start in the prestigious fall league.
In three starts for Surprise, Lamkin has compiled a 3.97 ERA, a 0.71 WHIP, and nine strikeouts over 11 1/3 innings. He has surrendered just five hits and held opposing hitters to a .128 batting average. According to MLB.com, over his last 10 innings, the lefty has allowed only two runs on two hits while striking out eight.
Lamkin was selected by the Kansas City Royals with the 71st overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft and is currently ranked as the organization's No. 8 prospect by MLB Pipeline. His recent success is especially encouraging after a left shoulder injury interrupted his first full professional season in May. Before the setback, he posted a 2.04 ERA with 53 strikeouts across 39 2/3 innings between High-A Quad Cities and Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
The Arizona Fall League has provided Lamkin an opportunity to regain momentum and continue refining his pitching arsenal, including a curveball he began using after leaving College Station. For Lamkin, the weekly honor marks another positive step as he works toward reaching the major leagues.
Key Analysis
Lamkin's dominant week in the Arizona Fall League underscores his potential as a rising prospect in the Royals' system. His ability to miss bats and limit hard contact, evidenced by a .128 opponent batting average, suggests he could climb the minor league ranks quickly. The recognition also serves as a testament to his resilience following a mid-season shoulder injury, positioning him as a name to watch in Kansas City's future plans.
Originally reported by yahoo.