International League names players of the week
July 31, 2006 - International League (IL1) News Release
The International League announced today that Durham Bulls outfielder Delmon Young and Columbus pitcher Jeff Karstens have been named the League's Batter and Pitcher-of-the-Week for the period from July 24-30. Young becomes the third member of the Bulls to win an IL weekly award in 2006, following Kevin Witt (May 22-28) and Jason Hammel (July 10-16), while Karstens is now the fourth Columbus Clipper to be so honored, along with Russ Johnson (April 6-16), Melky Cabrera (May 1-7), and Kris Wilson (May 22-28).
DELMON YOUNG spent most of the past seven days proving why he's considered by many to be the top prospect in professional baseball. His big week began last Monday as Durham concluded a four-game set in Toledo. Leading his club to a 15-10 victory, Young went 3-5 with a homer, 3 RBI, 3 runs scored and a stolen base. It was the third 3-hit affair in a five-game stretch for Young. Durham then traveled to Columbus for four games with the Clippers, and Delmon would collect eight hits in the series. His biggest game came Wednesday evening in a 16-10 triumph. This time Young went 4-5 with two home runs, a triple, 4 RBI, and 4 runs scored. He also homered in the series finale Friday night, just his sixth blast of the season but his fourth of the week. Power wasn't the only skill Young displayed from his offensive repertoire last week. He improved his already impressive batting average from .332 to .344 by going 12-28 (.429). Young also showed off his speed, stealing two bases, scoring ten runs, and legging out three doubles and a triple. Young's season batting average of .344 would be 2nd in the International League if he qualified with enough plate appearances. His 19 stolen bases ties him for 10th in the IL (with Charlotte's Josh Fields).
20-year-old Delmon Young was originally the number one overall pick of the 2003 draft by Tampa Bay, and he was the organization's Player of the Year in both 2004 and 2005. He was also honored by Baseball America as the 2005 Minor League Player of the Year, the youngest athlete to win the award since Andruw Jones in 1996. Young made his Triple-A debut last season after a mid-July promotion. He hit .285 for the Bulls last year with 6 HR, 28 RBI, and 7 SB in 52 games.
Right-handed hurler JEFF KARSTENS has turned his season around after a rocky start with the Clippers. The 23-year-old made his Triple-A debut in April for Columbus, but after seven starts his record stood at 0-5. A demotion to Double-A Trenton might have been viewed as a setback, but the San Diego native found his groove in the Eastern League going 6-0 in 11 starts with a 2.31 ERA. Since returning to the Clippers during the All-Star break, Karstens has improved his personal winning streak to nine games, including two victories last week. He tossed a pair of 7-inning, 1-run gems, allowing a total of 10 hits over the 14-inning span. Karstens beat Durham Tuesday night, allowing only a solo home run to B.J. Upton in a 9-1 Columbus victory. Sunday afternoon Jeff returned to the hill, defeating the IL West leading Indianapolis Indians. The only run allowed by Karstens this time was an unearned run in the 5th; he struck out seven Indians while walking three. Jeff has now won nine consecutive decisions since his demotion to Double-A in May, including three victories upon his return to Triple-A. Known as a work horse, Karstens is among the top 15 pitchers in Minor League Baseball this season with 133.2 IP.
Jeff Karstens began his professional career in 2003 after being selected by the Yankees in the 19th round of the June draft. He spent all of last season at Double-A Trenton, going 12-11 with a 4.15 ERA and 147 strikeouts. He finished the year 2nd in the Eastern League in starts (27) and wins (12), and 4th in IP (169.0) - all of which were career highs.
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- International League names players of the week - IL1
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