Desme, Gutierrez & Lo Arizona Fall League Players of the Week
Published on October 26, 2009 under Arizona Fall League (AzFL) News Release
Phoenix - Phoenix Desert Dogs outfelder Grant Desme (OAK), who launched fve home runs in fve games last week, is the Arizona Fall League's week two player-of-the-week.
He is joined by two co-pitchers-of-the-week, Surprise Rafters right-handed starter Danny Gutierrez (TEX) and Peoria Saguaros right-handed reliever Chia- Jen Lo (HOU).
Desme - The 6-2, 205-pound Desme hit .478 (11-23) for the week with 8 runs, 9 runs batted in, and a 1.174 slugging percentage.
The 23-year-old Bakersfeld, California native leads the Fall League with seven home runs. He is on pace to threaten the league single-season home-run record of 14 (Brandon Wood, 2005).
He also paces the league in hits (17), total bases (40), and slugging percentage (1.026). He is tied for second in runs (11), tied for third in runs batted in (13), and ranks sixth in batting (.436).
A second-round (74th overall) draft choice of Oakland in 2007 out of Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Desme is a .286 hitter in three minor-league seasons with 33 home runs an 97 RBI in 145 games. He split his 2009 campaign between Class-A Kane County (.274, 11 home runs, 38 RBI in 69 games) and High-A Stockton (.304, 20 home runs, 51 RBI).
Gutierrez - One of fve Fall League pitchers who enter week three with two victories, the 22-year-old Los Angeles product also sports a 0.00 earned-run average in his two appearances, both starts. He has allowed 0 runs, 2 hits, and 4 walks with three strikeouts in 6.2 innings.
A four-year professional, the 6-1, 180-pound Gutierrez was drafted in the 33rd round (982nd overall) in 2005 out of Rubidoux (CA) High School. He split 2009 between High-A Wilmington (1-0, 1.65 ERA in eight games), and Double- AA (0-0, 3.60 ERA in one game). His 6-10 career record includes a 3.80 earned- run average in 50 games. He has struck out 198 batters in 206 innings.
Lo - A native of Taiwan, Lo, 23, posted three consecutive scoreless two- inning stints in the frst two weeks of the Fall League season. The reliever owns a 1-0 record and 2.45 earned-run average in 7.1 innings, allowing 2 earned runs, 3 hits, and 1 walk with nine strikeouts in four appearances.
The 5-11, 181-pound Lo, who attended Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, split 2009, his frst season of professional baseball in the United States, between High-A Lancaster (1-0, 1.78 ERA in 12 games) and Double-A Corpus Christi (0-2, 2.31 ERA in 30 games).
Other Nominees - Other hitters receiving player-of-the-week consideration were Peoria Javelinas' outfelder Jordan Danks (CWS) and Phoenix Desert Dogs OF Matt Angle (BAL). Scottsdale Scorpions RHP Joe Martinez (SF) also received consideration for pitcher-of-the-week.
Arizona Fall League Stories from October 26, 2009
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