Bees' Blash Tabbed PCL's April Best

Published on May 3, 2018 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1) News Release

ROUND ROCK, Texas - Following a vote of Pacific Coast League field managers, Salt Lake Bees outfielder Jabari Blash has been elected the League's April Player of the Month. Blash, along with winners from other leagues, will be presented with an award from Minor League Baseball in recognition of his performance last month.

Blash posted the best slugging percentage (.884) and OPS (1.347) in professional baseball (Minor and Major League players); he also hit nine home runs, which tied him with teammate Chris Carter for the most in Minor League Baseball. In 20 games, Blash hit .362 (25-for-69) with 22 RBI, scored 20 runs and recorded 17 extra-base hits, the latter of which was most among Triple-A players.

The Virgin Islands native reached base safely in 19-of-20 contests, helping Salt Lake score a PCL-best 174 runs in the month. He led the Bees to an Opening Night win against Albuquerque by hitting a home run and scoring a season-high three times. Blash blasted four home runs over a three-day span, from April 19-21 in games against Sacramento and Albuquerque. In total, the Bees hit 47 April home runs, the most in a calendar month in the franchise's 25-year history. The 28-year-old had nine multi-RBI games, driving in a season-high three on three occasions. Blash drew four walks in an April 13 win over Albuquerque, becoming one of only four PCL players to accomplish that feat last month.

Blash's nine-year career started in the Mariners organization after getting selected by Seattle in the eighth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Miami-Dade College (FL). He since has been in four other organizations (Athletics, Padres, Yankees, Angels), thrice getting acquired in off-season trades. He has spent parts of the last five seasons in the PCL, with Tacoma, El Paso and Salt Lake, hitting .267 (225-for-844) with 75 home runs and 200 RBI. Blash has also appeared in 99 career Major League contests, all with the Padres, hitting eight home runs. This is the second time in Blash's career he has been the recipient of this award, previously being honored as a member of Tacoma for his performance in August 2015.

Salt Lake Bees outfielder Jabari Blash awaits a pitch (Asay Photography)

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