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Elk Grove Citizen

Dominant May Leads Bivens to PCL Pitcher of Month Honor

Jun 11, 2024 10:07AM ● By Sacramento River Cats News Release
Bivens was as sharp as they come working out of the bullpen for the River Cats in May. Photo by Ralph Thompson Photo


WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Following a month in which he was 2-0 with a trio of saves and a 0.49 ERA, right-handed pitcher Spencer Bivens has been selected as the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month for the month of May, as announced by the MiLB on Wednesday.

Bivens was as sharp as they come working out of the bullpen, making a total of nine appearances while allowing a single run on nine hits over the span of 18.1 innings of work with 17 strikeouts to only nine walks. Following his first outing in which he allowed a single run in 2.2 frames, the tall righty did not allow another in the rest of his eight appearances, a stretch that spanned 14.2 innings.

Of those eight scoreless outings, Bivens started the stretch by not allowing a hit in the first four games (8.1 innings), and three times struck out three opposing hitters. He faced only two batters over the minimum in those four games, which were a pair of walks with one reaching intentionally. Additionally, two of his three saves were converted in those four contests, and for the month he pitched more than one inning a total of seven times.

This is the first PCL Pitcher of the Month honor for Bivens, and it is the first monthly honor in his career. Previously, he was named an AFL Rising Star while a member of the Scottsdale Scorpions in 2022.

It is also the first monthly honor this season for the River Cats, who have not had a PCL Pitcher or Player of the Month since Austin Slater was named the PCL Player of the Month in August 2016. It is the third honor they have earned in total this season, as Mason Black was named the PCL Pitcher of the Week on April 14 while Tyler Fitzgerald was tabbed as the PCL Player of the Week on May 26.