FRESNO, CA - Fresno Grizzlies first-baseman Jesus Guzman has been named the Pacific Coast League's Hitter of the Week for the week ending May 3rd, the League announced on Monday. Guzman, in his first season in the Giants organization, is the first Grizzly to win the honor since Scott McClain in July of 2007.
Due to a rainout, and a scheduled off-day, Guzman and the Grizzlies played just five games from Monday, April 27th to Sunday, May 3rd, but that didn't stop the Venezuelan native from posting a staggering statistical week. In five contests against the Reno Aces and Tacoma Rainiers, Guzman went 8-for-19 (.421) with four home runs, 13 RBI, two doubles, and five runs scored, and most importantly helped lead Fresno to four wins.
The 24-year old Venezuelan native is coming off a strong winter where he was named Venezuelan Winter League MVP and broke a 35-year old VWL record with 67 RBI. He spent the 2008 with the Oakland Athletics organization and signed as a Minor League free agent with the San Francisco Giants in December of 2008.
The last five games are just the latest in a two-week offensive surge for Guzman and the Grizzlies. Since April 19th, the first-baseman has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games, and has now homered in five of his last six games. He currently ranks among the Grizzlies leaders in home runs (1st), RBI (1st), extra-base hits (1st), runs scored (2nd), and batting average (3rd). Over their last ten games Fresno is batting .294 as a team, and averaging 5.6 runs per game.
Guzman is the first Grizzly to receive a weekly Pacific Coast League honor since RHP Matt Palmer in May of last season. Omaha right-hander Luke Hochevar was named the PCL's Pitcher of the Week today, after throwing a complete-game shutout to earn his League-leading fifth win on Saturday.
The Grizzlies, who have won four of their last five, and seven of their last 11, return to Chukchansi Park tonight to open a four-game series with division rival Las Vegas. For information regarding Monday Madness, tickets, or the 2009 promotional calendar, call 559.320.HITS or visit the new-and-improved FresnoGrizzlies.com
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