State College Spikes right-hander Daniel Padysak was named the Major League Baseball Draft League Pitcher of the Month for June, as announced by the league on Saturday.
Padysak, who joined the Spikes after pitching at Charleston Southern this spring, has posted a 0.57 earned run average, 22 strikeouts and two saves out of the bullpen in eight appearances covering 11 2/3 innings this season. The Prague, Czech Republic native is third in the MLB Draft League in ERA and tied for sixth in strikeouts through June 30, and his 0.77 WHIP is second best in the league at the end of June.
Padysak adds the June Pitcher of the Month honors to the MLB Draft League Pitcher of the Week honor he received for the season's opening weekend June 1-4 after 11 strikeouts over two appearances in four days, tossing five innings without allowing any earned runs during that span.
The righty represented his country as he pitched in two games for the Czech Republic at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He started his team’s opening game March 9, pitching four scoreless innings without giving up a hit in an 8-5 victory of China, and later appeared as a reliever in the Czech Republic’s loss to Australia on March 12.
After returning from the World Baseball Classic, Padysak went on to lead Charleston Southern’s pitching staff with a 3.19 ERA and two saves. Appearing in 16 games, including two starts, Padysak compiled 46 strikeouts against 20 walks in 42.1 innings while limiting the opposition to a .232 average.
Padysak joins Chris Brito of Trenton, who picked up MLB Draft League Player of the Week honors for June, as recipients of the league's inaugural 2023 monthly honors.
Fans can see Padysak and the Spikes back in action on Monday, July 3 as they return home for the first half home finale, with a double feature of fun as the PATRIOTIC FIREWORKS SPIKE-TACULAR presented by the PA Lotterybrings one of the biggest displays ever at a State College Spikes game on July 3rd, and the largest FIREWORKS show in Pennsylvania returns with the Central PA 4th Fest to celebrate Independence Day on July 4th.
The PATRIOTIC FIREWORKS SPIKE-TACULAR show, presented by the PA Lottery in association with the Central PA 4th Fest, is set to last approximately 20 minutes, with streams of light shooting high into the nighttime skies, after the Spikes' 6:35 p.m. game against the Williamsport Crosscutters on the 3rd. That night will also be Military Appreciation Night at the ballpark, featuring half-price tickets for all military members with ID, along with a Penn State Navy ROTC Color Guard and tributes to the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.
Then, the Central PA 4th Fest returns in full force on July 4 as Medlar Field serves as a VIP Viewing Area *_for the *_fully choreographed FIREWORKS display provided by Starfire Corporation. The home of the Spikes opens at 4 p.m. and will host live music from Yachtley Crew and Gabe Stillman, plus Kids Run the Baseson the field, kids activities in the Geisinger Kids Zone, and more during the celebration.
Fans can purchase their tickets now at StateCollegeSpikes.com and CentralPA4thFest.org. Individual Spikes VIP tickets start at just $15, with Spikes VIP 4-Packs starting at just $40, with select packages including VIP Parking in the Porter North lot for the day. Lawn VIP tickets are available for $20, with Lawn VIP 4-Packs available for $80 that include VIP Parking in the south end of the Jordan East lot. Other a la carte parking options are also available. Larger groups can purchase 10-person Pepsi Picnic Pavilion picnic table packages for $100, with limited availability.
