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Montgomery's Desmond Jennings Named Southern League Most Valuable Player

August 31, 2009 - Southern League (SL1) News Release


MARIETTA, GA - The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs is pleased to announce that Montgomery Biscuits center fielder Desmond Jennings has been named its Most Valuable Player as voted upon by the league's field managers, radio broadcasters and print media.

Jennings, who entered the season as Tampa Bay's best outfield prospect, has long been on the radar of scouts and talent evaluators. But after being named the top prospect in the South Atlantic League in 2007, Jennings was hampered by injuries in 2008 and played only 24 games. With something to prove in 2009, he showed no ill effects from the shoulder surgery that ended his season a year ago and was one of the league's most dynamic and electric players until his promotion to Triple-A Durham on August 1.

He came out of the gates on fire, batting .349 with three homers and 16 RBI in April. Jennings played even better in May, improving his average to .359 with six home runs, 29 RBI and 17 steals through the season's first two months. The dangerous leadoff hitter accomplished this while playing on the league's worst team in terms of batting average. Without Jennings, the Biscuits' team average would have dipped eight points to a .231 mark.

The 22-year-old Jennings excelled in every facet of the game and led the league in hits (121), triples (8) and stolen bases (37) at the time of his promotion. He was also second in runs (69) and fourth in extra-base hits (42). Jennings paced the Biscuits in virtually every offensive category and still leads the club in batting average (.316), runs, hits, doubles, triples, walks (48), stolen bases and on-base percentage (.395) nearly a full month after his promotion.

Jennings was named the Rays' organizational player of the month in April and won the Southern League Hitter of the Week Award for July 13-19. He was selected to the South Division All-Star Team but did not play due to his participation in the XM All-Star Futures Game. Jennings started the Futures Game for the U.S. Team and his elite athleticism was on full display as he stole three bases, including two swipes of third base.


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