Virgin Islander Jharel L. Cotton was named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week on Monday August 15, 2016. Photo: Provided

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI -The A's may have been wondering what type of pitcher they were getting when they acquired Virgin Islander Jharel L. Cotton, but the No. 16 A's prospect was named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week on Monday August 15, 2016, after he flirted with a perfect game in his second start for Triple-A Nashville the previous week.

It's his fourth career Pitcher of the Week honour and second in the PCL this season after winning the award May 30, 2016 while with Oklahoma City in the Dodgers' system.

Facing Round Rock, Cotton took his potential perfect game as far as possible without actually achieving the feat. The 24-year-old right-hander retired the first 26 batters before giving up a triple to Doug Bernier with two outs in the ninth. By striking out Drew Robinson to end the 3-0 Sounds win, Cotton finished with a career-high 12 K's in his first nine-inning shutout since July 29, 2014 with Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga.

"I've calmed down a little bit, but in the moment, it was crazy to be a part of that, especially when I'm the one on the mound doing it," he said after the gem. "It was kind of fun, having all my teammates behind me -- that's just the best."

The final inning posed quite a challenge, in fact. Cotton's 26th out came with some controversy as Round Rock's Kyle Kubitza, who had just fanned for out No. 26, took several minutes to head back to the clubhouse after being ejected for arguing balls and strikes. That delay may not have led directly to Bernier's triple in the next at-bat, but it certainly didn't help matters.

"I feel like it messes with anyone's rhythm. You're on a steady pace and you're blocked right there and have to start over," Cotton said. "But I should have made a better pitch [to Bernier]."

The outing helped the 2012 20th-rounder improve to 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA, 17 strikeouts and only one walk in his first two starts (15 innings) with the Sounds. A small sample, but the early returns are promising, especially considering Cotton posted a 4.90 ERA in 97 1/3 innings with Oklahoma City before the trade. Some adjustments might provide an explanation for the improved results.

Taking good advice

"Between starts in a bullpen [session], my new pitching coach [Rick Rodriguez] told me something I could do with my mechanics. That same day, I was back in the hotel working on it and I was working on it the next day in the ballpark," Cotton said. "I was going too fast, not giving myself enough time to catch up, and he told me something that led to more deception and the hitters not being able to pick the ball up out of my hand."

The jury remains out on Cotton's future role in Oakland. He owns two plus pitches in his fastball and changeup, but given his size at 5-foot-11, his high-effort delivery and a lack of a solid third pitch, he may be tailor-made for an eventual move to the bullpen. Then again, Cotton is hoping he's doing enough for the A's early on to prove he's capable of sticking as a starter.

"It means a lot," he stated "They got me for a reason, so I don't want to disappoint them. I wanted to go out and show them that what I've got is playable, and I can pitch."