Fernandez Named WCL's Top Prospect
September 23, 2014 - West Coast League (WCL)
Yakima Valley Pippins News Release
YAKIMA, Wash. - The Yakima Valley Pippins and the Walla Walla Sweets, both owned by Pacific Baseball Ventures, had the top two prospects in the West Coast League this summer, as Vince Fernandez (Yakima Valley) and Sean Bouchard (Walla Walla) were honored by Perfect Game USA for their outstanding performances this summer.
Fernandez, who was named the league's MVP recently, hit .359 this summer with new single-season league records in home runs (10) and RBI (51). He will be a sophomore at UC Riverside this fall.
Bouchard, a rising freshman at UCLA, hit .283 with three home runs and 26 RBI in 35 games over the course of the summer. Bouchard was also listed as the 58th best draft prospect in the nation by Perfect Game last year.
Both Fernandez and Bouchard were selected to represent their respective teams at the 2014 West Coast League All-Star Game in Klamath Falls, Oregon.
Pitchers Nick Kern (Yakima Valley) and Jay Flaa (Walla Walla) also made Perfect Game's top 20 prospect list, placing 7th and 13th, respectively.
"We are very proud of these players and know that they are honored to be named among the most elite players in this league," said Sweets general manager Katie Baxter. "They were great representatives of the Sweets and their colleges this season, and we look forward to seeing where their careers take them in the future."
Pippins general manager Danny Tetzlaff was equally excited to hear the news.
"It is great that the awards and honors keep rolling in for our players," said Tetzlaff. "Vince and Nick were both great stewards of the game and for the Pippins. Being at the top of the West Coast League is a lofty honor and the future looks bright for both of them!"
The Walla Walla Sweets and the Yakima Valley Pippins are gearing up for the 2015 season of West Coast League play slated to begin in June of 2015. Season tickets are on sale now as well as the Sweets and Pippins complete line of retail merchandise.
• Discuss this story on the West Coast League message board...
West Coast League Stories from September 23, 2014
- Fernandez Named WCL's Top Prospect - Yakima Valley Pippins
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
