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Smolinski is Minor League Player of the Month

July 13, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1) - Greensboro Grasshoppers News Release


GREENSBORO, NC-The Florida Marlins recently announced Grasshoppers' third basemen Jake Smolinski as June's minor league Player of the Month, making him the second Grasshopper infielder to receive the honor during the 2009 season.

Smolinski joins Ben Lasater as the only other Grasshopper to garner the title this season, and adds his praise to the Grasshoppers' growing list of season accolades. Lasater grabbed the award for April, and was one of five Hoppers selected to participate in the league's annual All-Star game in Charleston, W. Va.

Although Smolinski was not present at the All-Star shindig, he has quietly made a splash in the Marlins organization since his arrival this past off-season. Smolinski began his professional career as a second round selection by the Washington Nationals in 2007, and was a highly touted Nationals' farm hand after being tabbed the best hitter for average in the Washington system.

Since coming to the Marlins in a 2008 trade highlighted by big-league names such as Emilio Bonaficio and Josh Willingham, Smolinski has answered the call at the plate, putting on an impressive display in June to snag the Marlins' month-long hitters' award.

In 22 games with the Grasshoppers in June, Smolinski posted a .299 batting average, scoring 17 runs on 23 hits, including four doubles and three home runs to go along with 12 RBIs and two steals. He registered seven multi-hit games during the month, including a two-home run contest against West Virginia, and was held without a base hit in just nine games.

Smolinski, a tough out from the middle of the Grasshoppers' lineup, has continued his June success into July, where his .294 average falls just five points shy of his June standard. On the year, Smolinski is second to only Lasater in on-base percentage, at .371, and averages a meager one strike out per one and a half games. He has also maintained a consistent average as the season has progressed, ranking third only to heavy-hitters Lasater and Jeremy Synan, while breaking the mold as an exclusive average hitter to crack six home runs thus far, good for sixth in the team.

The Grasshoppers finished the 2008 season with an attendance of 440,787 and have welcomed over 1,715,000 fans to NewBridge Bank Park, drawing over 400,000 fans in each of its first four years at the new downtown ballpark. The team is the proud recipient of both the South Atlantic League's Club Merit Award and the General Manager of the Year Award for the past four years.

Tickets and group packages are now on sale for the 2009 season. For more information, please contact the Grasshoppers office at 336.268.BALL or visit www.gsohoppers.com.


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