Topps Southern League Player of the Month Award
Published on July 3, 2007 under Southern League (SL1) News Release
MARIETTA, GA - Tennessee Smokies righthander Kevin Hart has been named the Topps Player of the Month for June, as selected by the Southern League field managers. The Topps Company of New York, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, presents the award each month to the top performer in each of the 10 full-season leagues. Hart was the only Southern League pitcher to win as many as four games without taking a loss in June. Making six starts during the month, he ranked second in the circuit with 38 strikeouts and 10th with a 2.54 ERA.
On the heels of a month during which he went 0-4 with a 7.58 ERA in six starts, the 24-year-old Hart opened June by allowing two runs in seven innings of a 10-3 win against Birmingham. He put forth a clutch performance 11 days later, limiting West Tenn to three runs and five hits in seven innings of a 6-3 victory that moved Tennessee within one-half game of first place in the North Division with three days remaining in the first half.
Although the Smokies fell one game short of a first-half title, Hart got the team headed in the right direction in the second half with a 4-2 win against the Stars on June 20. The Plano, TX resident allowed just a pair of unearned runs and five hits in six innings, giving Tennessee its first victory of the second half and triggering a three-game winning streak.
Hart allowed only an unearned run in six innings on June 25, but the Smokies were dealt a 2-1, 11-inning defeat at Carolina. The 6-4, 215-pounder struck out seven batters, including All-Star third baseman Lee Mitchell three times.
Helping the Smokies conclude June on a positive note, Hart allowed four runs and five hits in seven innings of a 5-4 win against Mississippi on June 30. Hart issued just one walk and recorded nine strikeouts, his most since registering a career-high 11 strikeouts for advanced Class-A Frederick of the Carolina League on April 30, 2006.
Baltimore's 11th-round pick in the 2004 draft, Hart went 20-19 with a 4.51 ERA in three seasons in the Orioles system before being traded to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Freddie Bynum in December. Hart already has matched his win total from last year (6) and needs just three more to tie the career high he established while with Class-A Delmarva in 2005.
W-L ERA IP H R ER BB SO HR
Hart 4-0 2.54 39 35 15 11 8 38 2
Southern League Stories from July 3, 2007
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- Topps Southern League Player of the Month Award - SL1
- Former Atlanta Brave Greg McMichael Special Guest Speaker - Mississippi Braves
- Diamond Jaxx Roster Moves - Jackson Generals
- South Division Lineup Announced for 2007 All-Star Game - SL1
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