LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Former Kentucky pitcher Zach Dials has been named Minor League Pitcher of the Month for the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League Class A club, the Toronto Blue Jays announced.

The former Kentucky right-hander has been performing well for the Auburn Doubledays, earning a 1.24 ERA and a 3-2 record in eight games thus far this season, with an excellent .93 WHIP. Dials, a 6-foot 190 pound pitcher from Wabash, Ind., has seen action for two minor league clubs since being drafted by the Blue Jays in June.

Since Dials has joined the Doubledays, he has hurled 28 innings, striking out 17 batters and earned two saves out of the bullpen. Dials has also started five games for the Doubledays, proving he can be effective both as a starter and in relief.

Dials, a 28th round draft pick in 2006, performed excellent for the Wildcats as a transfer from John A. Logan College. Dials complied a 3.97 ERA in 34 innings of work during Kentucky?s 2006 Southeastern Conference Championship campaign.

Arguably Dials best game in a Wildcat uniform came in UK?s final game of the season against College of Charleston in the NCAA Lexington Regional. Dials entered in the first inning of that game in relief of senior Aaron Tennyson and pitched eight innings while allowing just one run in a 7-4 loss.

Dials was selected as the Auburn pitcher of the month but was not selected from a class of 12 other Blue Jays Minor League prospects as organizational star of the month.