Sam Fuld wins AFL's Stinson Award
November 16, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
PEORIA, IL- Former Peoria Chiefs centerfielder Sam Fuld is having a breakout Arizona Fall League campaign and was awarded the prestigious Stenson Award on Wednesday. Though Fuld is a AFL MVP candidate, the Arizona Fall League's Dernell Stenson Award for Leadership is given specifically for character and work ethic and Fuld was nominated by his AFL manager Dave Clark and chose by league executives.
The award was established in 2004 after Stenson was killed in a November 2003 carjacking while playing in the AFL for Scottsdale. Stenson, a former Reds prospect was known among teammates for his work ethic and character and the award is given to the player who best exemplifies unselfishness, hard work and leadership. Past winners include Kansas City's Mark Teahen, LA's Andre Ethier and San Francisco's Kevin Frandsen.
Fuld made his pro debut in Peoria in 2005 hitting .300 with 32 doubles, 5 homers, 6 triples, 82 runs scored, 37 RBI and 18 stolen bases as the Chiefs lead off man and table setter for Eric Patterson and Ryan Harvey. He also collected a 17-game hit streak in 2005 and turned in 7 outfield assists from centerfield. Fuld spent all of 2006 in Daytona and split time between Double-A and Triple-A this season. He was called up to make his Major League debut in early September and saw action in 14 games for the Cubs down the stretch, mostly as a defensive replacement or pinch runner. His crashing into the Ivy catch on September 22nd against Pittsburgh earned Play of the Day honors from ESPN and Sam scored three runs and drew three walks while going 0-for-6 at the plate. With this week's trade of Jacque Jones to Detroit, Fuld is expected to compete for a spot in the Cubs outfield rotation during Spring Training.
Playing with the Mesa Solar Sox in the AFL, Fuld leads the league batting .406 (41-for-101) in 27 games with 3 homers, 10 doubles, 10 runs scored, 14 RBI and 9 stolen bases. He has led off every game while mostly playing CF and is hitting .517 (15-for-29) against left handed pitching. He leads the league in Batting Average, Hits, Doubles, On-Base Percentage and Slugging Percentage and is a strong candidate for the MVP Award which will be presented at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville, TN in early December. Mesa's last scheduled game is Thursday.
Fuld is joined on the Mesa roster by 10 other former Chiefs players: Josh Lansford (2007), Rocky Roquet (2007), Joe Simokaitis (2005), Justin Berg (2005), Matt Avery (2006), Jarret Hoffpauir (2004), Joe Mather (2004), Kyle McClellan (2004), Jason Motte (2004) and Stuart Pomeranz (2004).
Midwest League Stories from November 16, 2007
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- Sam Fuld wins AFL's Stinson Award - Peoria Chiefs
- Joe DePastino Named New 'Caps Manager - West Michigan Whitecaps
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