Week 1 Players of the Week presented by Are You Really Winning?

Peru, Ill. - The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp are proud to announce the Players of the Week for Week 1 of the 2026 season presented by Are You Really Winning?

The Week 1 Hitter of the Week is Chris Danko from Illinois State University!

Danko played in four games, hitting .308 (4-for-13) with four hits, including three home runs, six runs batted in, six runs, five walks and four stolen bases. The Elmhurst, Ill. native's three home runs are tied with two other hitters for the Prospect League lead.

The Week 1 Pitcher of the Week is Max Bryant from Southwestern Illinois College!

In two appearances, Bryant pitched five innings and recorded a 0.00 ERA with one hit, two walks and nine strikeouts. The Ladd, Ill. native earned the save in the Pistol Shrimp's Opening Night victory at Clinton on May 26. 

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About Pistol Shrimp Baseball: The 2024 Prospect League Champion Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp are an amateur wood-bat summer league baseball team, made up of top college players from around the country who aspire to a career in professional baseball! Established in 2019, the Pistol Shrimp are part of the Prospect League, a 20-team league that spans across the midwest from Iowa to Tennessee to Pennsylvania. The Pistol Shrimp play their home games at Schwieckert Stadium in Peru, Illinois from late May to early August each year, and pride themselves on providing fun, affordable, family-friendly entertainment to the communities of Peru and the towns throughout the entire Illinois Valley region!