ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.
— Minor League Baseball today announced the Player of the Month Award
winners for each of the 10 full season leagues for the month of May. Each
winner will receive an award from Minor League Baseball in recognition of the
honor.
Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers) third baseman Ronny
Rodriguez led the International League batting average (.383), hits
(44) and RBI (24) before being promoted to Detroit on May 31, where he promptly
doubled and tripled in his major league debut. Rodriguez hit safely in 25 of 28
games in May and hit in 18 straight games from May 4–22. He hit for the cycle
May 30 against Syracuse. Rodriguez, 26, was originally signed by Cleveland out
of Santiago, Dominican Republic, on Oct. 5, 2010.
Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies) outfielder Mike
Tauchman led the Pacific Coast League in hits (44), runs (31) and total
bases (81), while finishing second in average (.379), extra-base hits (19),
slugging (698), OPS (1.125) and RBI (24). His eight home runs were tied for
third in the league and Tauchman posted 12 multi-hit games in May. Tauchman, 27,
was selected by Colorado in the 10th round of the 2013 draft out of Bradley
University.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays) third baseman Vladimir
Guerrero Jr. led the Eastern League in average (.438), hits (49), extra-base
hits (19), total bases (86), runs (29), RBI (28), slugging (.768), OPS (1.248)
and tied for first in home runs (nine). Guerrero posted 16 multi-hit games in
May and had separate hitting streaks of seven, eight and 10 games as he reached
base in 28 of his 29 games. Guerrero, 19, signed with Toronto on July 2, 2015.
Birmingham Barons (White Sox) right fielder Eloy
Jimenez led the Southern League in hits (40), total bases (71),
extra-base hits (18), doubles (11), slugging (.664) and OPS (1.082). He
finished second in average (.374), RBI (25) and tied for third in home runs
(six). He began the month with eight consecutive multi-hit games (part of a
streak of nine straight) and posted 14 multi-hit games in the month. Jimenez,
21, was originally signed by the Chicago Cubs out of Santo Domingo Centro,
Dominican Republic, on Aug. 1, 2013.
San Antonio Missions (Padres) shortstop Fernando
Tatis Jr. batted .336 in May and led the Texas League in doubles (12),
runs (30), extrabase hits (21) and total bases (78). He finished second in
slugging (.639) and third in hits (41), home runs (seven) and OPS (1.054).
Tatis, 19, was originally signed by the Chicago White Sox out of San Pedro de
Macoris, Dominican Republic, on July 2, 2015.
Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies) first baseman Roberto
Ramos batted .345 in May and led the California League in home runs
(nine), RBI (23), extra-base hits (17), total bases (64) and slugging (.762).
Ramos finished the month second in OPS (1.201). Ramos, 23, was selected by
Colorado in the 16th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of the
College of the Canyons Junior College in Santa Clarita, California.
Carolina Mudcats (Brewers) second baseman Keston
Hiura led the Carolina League in hits (46), runs (29), extra-base hits
(21), total bases (81), doubles (13), slugging (.664) and OPS (1.101). He was
second in home runs (six) and third in average (.377) and on-base percentage
(.437). Hiura, 21, was selected by Milwaukee in the first round of the 2017
First-Year Player Draft out of the University of California-Irvine.
Charlotte Stone Crabs (Rays) first baseman Nate
Lowe is a repeat winner in the Florida State League as he led the
league in hits (32), extra-base hits (13) and OPS (1.053) and was second in
runs (21), total bases (55), doubles (eight), home runs (five), RBI (19) and
slugging (.611). He finished third in the league in average (.356) and on-base
percentage (.442) and walked as many times as he struck out (14). Lowe, 22, was
selected by Tampa Bay in the 13th round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out
of Mississippi State University.
Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins) outfielder Alex
Kirilloff batted .360 in 31 games in May and led the Midwest League in
hits (41), RBI (25) and total bases (73), was second in extra-base hits (19)
and triples (three). Kirilloff finished third in the league in doubles (11),
slugging (.640) and OPS (1.063). Kirilloff, 20, was selected by Minnesota in
the first round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Plum High School in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Augusta GreenJackets (Giants) shortstop Manuel
Geraldo led the South Atlantic League in average (.384), hits (38) and
runs (23), and was second in total bases (62) and RBI (20). Geraldo finished
the month third in slugging percentage (.626) and OPS (1.040). Geraldo, 21, was
signed by San Francisco out of Azua, Dominican Republic, on July 2, 2013.
About Minor League
Baseball
Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg,
Florida, is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the
United States, Canada and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major
League Baseball® clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in
unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found
at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2017, Minor League Baseball attracted
41.8 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone
their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the
field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly
entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. For more
information visit MiLB.com.
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