Peacock garners Eastern League Player of Week honors

Double-A Harrisburg Right-hander Brad Peacock was named Player of the Week in the Eastern League for May 9-15 after a scintillating performance at the Richmond Squirrels Friday night. Peacock threw seven innings, scattering five hits, allowing one earned run with one walk and a career-high 14 strikeouts. Peacock said he had never struck out more than 10 hitters in the past. "I am pretty sure that was my best outing of my career," Peacock said. "I was definitely in a zone. Derek Norris did a great job behind the plate. It was a good time." "I gave up a run in the third inning, so I didn't think it was going to go as good as it did." Peacock said he didn't know he had struck out so many hitters until a reporter told him after the game. Peacock said his fast ball hit 95 mph. He has consistently been hitting the mid-90s. Peacock told me a couple of starts ago he was told his fastball reached 97 mph. The 23-year old from Palm Beach, Fla., is 5-1 with a 2.13 ERA in seven games (six starts) this season. He has 56 strikeouts and only seven walks, both tied for the high water mark in the Eastern League. Peacock says consistency on most of his pitches has helped him excel early on. "My knuckle curveball is good, it is almost has the 12-to-6 movement right now. My changeup could get a little better and on my two-seam fastball I am hiding the ball well." Even with such an incredible start, Peacock still would like to fine tune his changeup. "My changeup is running around 82, 83 mph, but it is not as consistent as it once was. It used to be my best pitch. I think I am trying to do too much with it. But Sunday, it was much better in my bullpen session with (Senators pitching coach) Randy (Tomlin)." Peacock says all of his breaking stuff is working so well that he can start an at-bat with, for example, his knuckle curve. He would throw it 0-2. Now he throws it 1-0 or even first pitch. Peacock says this is the best he has felt in his young career, which began in the Gulf Coast League in 2007 and with Single-A Hagerstown in 2008. "I feel great," Peacock said. "Right now, I am pitching with a lot of confidence." Peacock makes his seventh start Thursday, going for his sixth win, which would be another career high.