Bakersfield's Tyler O'Neill 3rd in Minor League Baseball in Homers
August 11, 2015 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - With just under one month to play in the 2015 Minor League Baseball season, players from four different leagues are making a push for the annual Joe Bauman Home Run Award, presented by Musco Sports Lighting. The top regular season home run hitter in the domestic-based leagues wins the Joe Bauman Trophy, which is presented at the Baseball Winter Meetings, as well as a check representing $200 for each home run he hits.
Louisville INF/OF Adam Duvall and Corpus Christi first baseman A.J. Reed are tied for the Minor League Baseball lead with 29 home runs, while Bakersfield outfielder Tyler O'Neill and Chattanooga outfielder Adam Brett Walker are tied for third place with 26 homers.
Duvall, 26, hit 26 home runs for Sacramento (Giants) in the Pacific Coast League, including a three-homer game July 11. After being traded to the Cincinnati Reds July 31, Duvall joined Louisville in the International League and homered in three of his first four games with the Bats. Duvall was originally selected by San Francisco in the 11th round of the 2010 draft out of the University of Louisville.
Reed, 22, began the season with Lancaster (Astros) in the California League where he belted 23 homers before a July 12 promotion to Corpus Christi in the Texas League, where he added six more longballs to his season total. Reed is attempting to be the third consecutive player under the age of 23 to win the award, following Kris Bryant (22) in 2014 and Joey Gallo (19) in 2013. Reed was selected by the Astros in the second round of the 2014 draft out of the University of Kentucky.
O'Neill, 20, has spent the entire season in the Bakersfield (Mariners) outfield, where he leads the Advanced Class-A California League by three homers. The Canadian-born slugger was selected by the Mariners in the third round of the 2013 draft out of Garibaldi Secondary School in Maple Ridge, British Columbia.
Walker, 23, has established himself as one of the premier home run hitters in the minor leagues since being drafted in 2012 and is running away with the Southern League home run crown, as he leads the field by 10 home runs with 26 for Chattanooga (Twins). Walker has led his league in home runs in all four of his professional seasons. In 2012, Walker led the Appalachian League with 14 homers before leading the Midwest League with 27 in 2013 and the Florida State League with 25 in 2014. Walker was drafted by the Twins in the third round of the 2012 draft out of Jacksonville University.
Walker's 11 homers in June are the most in one month by any minor leaguer and are tied for the sixth-most in professional baseball in a month behind Bryce Harper (13 homers in May), Albert Pujols (13 in June), Nolan Arenado (12 in June), Giancarlo Stanton (12 in June) and Mike Trout (12 in July).
Classification leaders, provided they are not the overall winner, receive a $500 cash award. Duvall's 29 homers lead the Triple-A leagues, with Reno's Jamie Romak seven homers off the pace with 22. Walker leads the Double-A leagues with 26, nine ahead of Frisco's Drew Robinson (17). O'Neill leads the Single-A ranks with 26, but has Rancho Cucamonga's Cody Bellinger and Stockton's Matt Chapman in pursuit with 23 each.
Billings (Reds) right fielder Reydel Medina leads the Short Season-A and Rookie-level leagues with 11 homers, but is followed closely by Burlington's Brandon Dulin, Great Falls' Zach Fish and Tri-City's Hector Roa, who each have 10 homers.
Minor League Baseball will announce the 2015 Joe Bauman Home Run Award winner Sept. 9. The recipient will receive his trophy and monetary award Monday, Dec. 7, at the Baseball Winter Meetings Awards Luncheon in Nashville, Tennessee.
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California League Stories from August 11, 2015
- Andrew Susac Scheduled to Begin Rehab Assignment Tonight with San Jose Giants - San Jose Giants
- Bakersfield's Tyler O'Neill 3rd in Minor League Baseball in Homers - Bakersfield Blaze
- San Jose Giants on Deck: Giants Host Visalia to Begin Homestand - San Jose Giants
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