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Bankston and Figueroa Named IL Players of the Week

June 15, 2009 - International League (IL)

The International League announced today that Louisville third baseman Wes Bankston and Buffalo pitcher Nelson Figueroa have been named the League's Batter and Pitcher of the Week for the period from June 8-14. This marks the fifth time this year a Louisville player has won an IL weekly award, more than any other team in the League. Figueroa is the first member of the Bisons to be so honored in 2009.

WES BANKSTON, Louisville Bats IL BATTER OF THE WEEK

This week Bats third baseman Wes Bankston led the International League with a .462 batting average and 12 hits. He tied for the League lead with 5 extra-base hits and 8 RBI, and finished 2nd with a .808 slugging percentage. Bankston collected multiple hits five times this week, all games won by Louisville. Two of those hits were home runs, pushing his long ball total on the season to 11 (T-2nd in the IL). Bankston has now driven in runs in 8 of his last 10 games, giving him a team-best 40 RBI this season. Thanks to their 5-1 week, the Bats now lead the IL West Division by 2.5 games.

25-year-old Wes Bankston is in his seventh season as a professional player, and his first in the Cincinnati organization. Bankston spent the majority of the last three years in Triple-A before signing with the Reds as a free agent in December. After two seasons with Durham, Bankston played 97 games for Sacramento in 2008 (.280, 20 HR, 73 RBI) and also made his Major League debut for Oakland, hitting .203 in 17 games. Bankston is a native of Dallas, Texas.

NELSON FIGUEROA, Buffalo Bisons IL PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Right-hander Nelson Figueroa was very impressive in two outings this week, posting a 1.98 ERA and striking out a League-leading 16 batters. Last Monday he won his second game of the season (and second in as many starts) by allowing just 1 run on 4 hits and a walk in 7.0 innings against Indianapolis. He struck out 7, which matched a season-high, but he bettered that number Saturday night against Durham. Against the Bulls, Figueroa collected 9 whiffs and left with the game tied 2-2 with two outs in the 7th inning, receiving no decision. While the Bisons lost, Figueroa still managed to lower his ERA on the year to 2.90, good enough for 12th in the IL. Only twice in ten starts for the Bisons has he allowed more than two runs.

35-year-old Nelson Figueroa is the oldest player to win an IL weekly award since Norfolk's Mike DiFelice did so on May 2, 2005 just weeks before his 36th birthday. Figueroa has started over 230 games in the Minor Leagues and owns a 10-20 record with a 4.64 ERA in 90 Major League contests. He was signed by the Mets as a free agent prior to the 2008 season. Figueroa

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International League Stories from June 15, 2009


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