Dodgers Blue Heaven: Joc is Our PCL MVP

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Joc is Our PCL MVP

Joc Pederson is having a season for the ages.

Over the past week, Joc has been named to the All-PCL Team and won the Pacific Coast League Rookie of the Year award. Today we learn that he can also add the Most Valuable Player Award to his mantle. Per a Isotopes press release:

The 22-year-old outfielder received more than half of the votes from the 16 field managers as well as media representatives from across the league to be named the 78th PCL MVP in league history.

Pederson's MVP recognition is just another in his trophy case for the 2014 season. On Tuesday, he was named the PCL's Rookie of the Year, just one day after earning All-PCL Team honors. Last Saturday, Pederson became the first player in 80 years to record a 30-30 season in the PCL.

Ranked the Los Angeles Dodgers' top-overall prospect entering the season according to Baseball America, Pederson leads the PCL in home runs (33), on-base percentage (.434), runs scored (101), total bases (256) and walks (96). His .590 slugging percentage currently ranks second in the league. The outfielder's 96 walks and 101 runs scored are Isotopes single-season records.

Sure, his numbers might be aided a bit by a very hitter-friendly home ballpark, but who cares? That's just a bunch of rabble from hater's who would rather spend their time knocking someone down. Instead, let's cheer and clap our hands for the kid.

Congrats, Joc!

The Isotope season is coming to a rapid close, so Albuquerqueans will have just one final chance to watch their MVP. Their last homestand begins tonight against the Las Vegas 51's and ends on Monday. Pederson is also expected to join the Dodgers for a September call-up.

Oh... And, on Friday one lucky fan will win Joc Pederson's car. Yeah, that's right... Someone out there will drive away in Joc's hooptie - a 1994 Buick Century. It is nicknamed "Little Chucky." Go here for details about this contest.

In celebration of Joc's MVP trophy I made the two two fantasy cards for him (both above and below). The card at the top uses a photo taken by a fan named Wrigley Gilkison (which might be the best name ever) and put up on Pinterest and I used the vintage 1971 Topps Baseball card design (template provided by Alex Markle at Chavez Ravining). I made the below card just because I thought the photo taken by Tyler Maun / MiLB.com was fantastic. BTW, you can check out other fantasy cards I made of Joc here and here.