Power Surge in South Bend: Andy Garriola Named Midwest League Player of the Week

Despite a challenging outing against the Whitecaps, the South Bend Cubs didn’t lack for fireworks in West Michigan last week — one bat in particular caught fire. Andy Garriola was named the Midwest League Player of the Week after a dominant six-game series that saw him blast four home runs, including a stretch of three straight games with a homer over the weekend.

Garriola becomes the second South Bend Cub in as many weeks to earn the honor, following Christian Hernández, who was recognized the week prior for his scorching stretch at the plate. The back-to-back selections mark a rare feat and highlight the early-season firepower coming out of the South Bend lineup.

In his last five games, Garriola is 7-for-20 with 8 RBI, anchoring the middle of the South Bend lineup and supplying critical power in a road set where runs often came at a premium. His most dramatic moment? A towering shot out to right on Saturday night that turned a late deficit into a tied game.

Through his first 13 games of the season, Garriola has launched four home runs, driving in nine while slugging .500 with an .783 OPS. The right-handed slugger has long shown raw power, and though his overall numbers are still climbing, his recent hot streak suggests the bat speed and damage potential remain very real for the middle of the SB Cubs lineup.

Drafted in the 17th round out of Old Dominion in 2022, Garriola broke out last year with 21 home runs across two levels (Myrtle Beach and South Bend). Now at 25, he’s bringing veteran thump to a younger South Bend roster and showing that his bat still demands attention in a system stacked with high-upside infielders.

As the Cubs return home for a six-game set against Beloit, Garriola will look to stay hot at the friendly confines of Four Winds Field. First pitch Tuesday is set for 7:05 PM.

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