SAL1 Lexington Legends

10th season includes best mark since '06 and Martinez' MVP award

Published on September 8, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


The 2010 Lexington Legends posted the team's best record since 2006, and also claimed the South Atlantic League's Most Valuable Player as well as the league leaders in doubles, runs scored and saves.

Four Legends made the SAL's mid-season Southern Division All-Star team, and two were selected for the league's post-season All-Star team. Four Legends players won a total of five SAL Player of the Week Awards, and new individual Legends records were set for runs batted in, doubles and saves.

The Legends posted an overall mark of 71 wins and 68 losses, the best record since the 2006 team went 75-63. The 2010 Legends were at or near the .500 mark all season long - never more than four games over (10-6 April 23) or five games under (12-17 May 7). They finished the first half of the season at 35-35, fourth in the Southern Division, and compiled a 36-33 mark in the second half, good for another fourth-place finish.

Outfielder J.D. Martinez had a memorable season for the Legends before his promotion to AA Corpus Christi July 15. He was chosen as the league's MVP after winning the batting championship with a .362 average. He also led the league in on-base percentage at .433 and slugging percentage at .598. In addition to those categories, at the time of his promotion, Martinez led the league in hits, doubles, extra-base hits, runs scored and total bases.

Outfielder Jake Goebbert drove in 98 runs, breaking the Legends' single-season RBI mark of 96 set by John Topolski in 2001. Goebbert also led the league in doubles with 48, and runs scored with 91. The 48 doubles set a new Legends season record. The old mark was 42, set by Felix Escalona in 2001.

First baseman-designated hitter Kody Hinze tied for fourth in the league in home runs with 19 and finished one RBI behind Goebbert at 97.

Closer Kirk Clark led the South Atlantic League in saves with 28, and broke the Legends' season and career record of 21 set by Daniel Freeman in 2003.

Martinez, Clark, Hinze and second baseman Jose Altuve were selected to the mid-season Southern Division All-Star team. Altuve batted .308 with 11 homers, 45 RBI and 39 stolen bases before his promotion to advanced-A Lancaster July 30. Martinez and Altuve were chosen for the league's post-season All-Star team.

Hinze, Altuve, Martinez and Goebbert were all chosen as South Atlantic League Players of the Week, and Hinze won the award in two consecutive weeks (May 10-16, May 17-23), the first time that had been done since Rome's Freddie Freeman won in consecutive weeks in July 2008.

Second baseman Jimmy Paredes, who came to the Legends from Charleston (SAL) July 31 as part of a trade between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, had 158 hits for the full season, second in the league, and was third in the league with 50 stolen bases. In 34 games with Lexington, he batted .299 with 10 doubles, one triple, three homers and 17 RBI, and stole 14 bases.

Jose Cisnero (8-6) and Luis Cruz (8-5) tied for the team lead in pitching victories. Cisnero led the staff in strikeouts with 126, and Arcenio Leon compiled a 2.33 ERA in 26 games.

The Legends drew 336,168 fans to Applebee's Park, an average of 4,872 fans per home date. The total attendance was up by 3,580 from 2009.

"Our 10th season was a great one," said Legends General Manager Andy Shea. "We had the opportunity to see some exciting baseball, including some outstanding individual performances on the field. And, as always, there was a lot of great fun and entertainment at Applebee's Park. We certainly want to thank all of our fans and our advertising partners for their great support, and we're already looking forward to 2011."

Check out the Lexington Legends Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from September 8, 2010


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