The Dodgers just announced their
April Dodger Pride Award Winners. This award celebrates the franchises
best performers in the Minor Leagues for the month of May.
Check them out below.
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Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Pitcher – RHP Yimi Garcia posted a 1.50 ERA (2 ER/12.0 IP) in May, striking out 13 batters against a single walk in 10 games for the Isotopes. The right-handed reliever held opposing batters to a .217 batting average (10-for-46), without allowing a home run. On the season, the Dominican Republic native is 3-1 with a 3.94 ERA (13 ER/29.2 IP), has struck out 32 and walked five, and has held right-handed batters to a .214 batting average (15-for-70). The 23-year-old signed with the Dodgers in 2009 as a non-drafted free agent and was added to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2013.
Player – INF/OF Jamie Romak batted .303 (27-for-89) with a PCL-leading 10 homers, six doubles and 18 RBI in 25 May games before his contract was selected by the Dodgers on May 28. Overall at Albuquerque this season, Romak was batting .272 with 13 homers and 30 RBI in 48 games for the Isotopes, appearing in 27 games at third base, 10 at first base and eight in the outfield. Romak made his Major League debut on May 28 vs. Cincinnati and collected his first hit and RBI on June 8 at Colorado. The 28-year-old was signed by the Dodgers on November 19, 2013 and was originally selected by the Braves in the fourth round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.
Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts
Player – LHP Chris Reed led all Southern League pitchers with 38 strikeouts in May, posting a 3.97 ERA (15 ER/ 34.0 IP) in six starts for the Lookouts. In the month, the Southern California native limited opponents to a .203 batting average (26-for-128) and on the year, he has posted a 3-4 record with a 3.01 ERA (26 ER/ 77.2 IP). The left-hander’s performance in the first two-plus months of the season has earned him a spot on the 2014 Southern League Mid-Season All-Star team. The 24-year-old was selected by Los Angeles in the first round (16th overall) of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.
Player - INF Darnell Sweeney posted a .325 (37-for-114) batting average in May, powering 13 extra-base hits, while knocking in 18 RBI in 30 games for the Lookouts, tying for the third-most doubles (10) among the Southern League hitters. On the season, the 23-year-old has a .301 batting average (72-for-239) along with four home runs, 18 doubles, a triple and 26 RBI in 64 games. Sweeney was selected by the Dodgers in the 13th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Central Florida.
Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Pitcher – RHP Blake Smith went 1-1 with five saves in six chances, posting a 3.77 ERA (6 ER/ 14.1 IP), while striking out 13 and walking four in 11 May games. On the season, the Northern California native is 1-3 with nine saves and a 3.54 ERA (11 ER/ 28.0 IP), limiting opposing hitters to a .221 batting average (23-for- 104). The former University of California, Berkeley pitcher was promoted to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts on June 7 and was selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.
Player – INF Corey Seager led the California League in batting average (.400), doubles (15), on-base percentage (.455), slugging percentage (.700) and ranked among league leaders with 44 hits (T-4th), six home runs (T-4th) and 24 RBI (T-5th) in 27 May games. The 20-year-old is batting .345 on the season (82-for-238), with 12 homers, two triples, 24 doubles and 49 RBI, and has come up clutch with runners on base by posting a .400 (46-for-115) clip with runners on and a .364 (16-for-44) average with runners on and two outs. Seager was named California League Player of the Week for the period ending May 26 and was selected as a California League Mid-Season All-Star. The North Carolina native was selected in the first round (18th overall) in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft.
Single-A Great Lakes Loons
Player - RHP Mark Pope went a perfect 5-for-5 in save opportunities and did not allow a run in 10 games (11.0 IP) in May, allowing only seven hits in the month. On the season, the former Georgia Tech star strung together a scoreless innings streak of 20.1 innings and has posted a 0.69 ERA (2 ER/ 26.0 IP) in 21 appearances on his way to a Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star selection. Pope was originally drafted by San Diego in the fifth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft and was signed by the Dodgers as a free agent on January 16, 2014.
Player – C Kyle Farmer posted a .288 batting average (23-for-80) in 22 May games, powering a homer, a triple, seven doubles and nine RBI. The former University of Georgia shortstop is hitting .308 (65-for-211) on the season with two homers, three triples, 16 doubles and 34 RBI and has eight three-hit performances for Great Lakes, earning him a spot on the Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star team. The 23-year-old was selected by Los Angeles in the eighth round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft.
