PCL1 Salt Lake Bees

Bourjos Named PCL Rookie of the Year

Published on August 31, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Salt Lake Bees News Release


SALT LAKE CITY (August 31, 2010) - The Pacific Coast League announced today that center fielder Peter Bourjos, currently a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, has been named the Pacific Coast League's Rookie of the Year for the 2010 season. This is the third such award for a Salt Lake player (2006 - Howard Kendrick, 2002 - Robb Quinlan).

Bourjos, 23, hit .314 (130-for-414) for the Bees this season, collecting 13 home runs, 13 doubles and 12 triples in 102 games played. He was successful in 27-of-32 stolen base attempts, scored 85 runs and was widely considered one of the finest defensive outfielders in the PCL. Despite his early August call-up to the Angels, Bourjos remains the league's co-leader in triples and is one of three players with double digit totals in each of the three extra-base hit categories.

"Peter is one of the most exciting players that you'll ever see primarily because of his speed and his ability to put a lot of pressure on the defense," said Bees manager Bobby Mitchell. "He made a lot of improvement from start to finish this year because of his dedication and hard work and is very deserving of this award."

The 6-1, 180-pound right-handed hitter finished his first Triple-A season setting modern PCL records with 56 hits and 37 runs scored in July. Over the course of that record-setting month, Bourjos batted .438, tallied 92 total bases and generated an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.193 in 28 games played. The 56 hits were three more than any professional player has recorded in any month since Major League Baseball Advanced Media began tracking statistics in 2005.

"We are excited to see Peter's development and ascension to the Majors," said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. "We have high expectations for him and look forward to his future as an Angel."

Drafted in the 10th round of the 2005 draft out of Notre Dame Prep High School in Scottsdale, Ariz., Bourjos has ascended the ranks of the Angels minor league system over the course of his five professional seasons. He earned midseason All-Star selections in the California League in 2008 and Texas League in 2009, after which he was named the No. 97 prospect in the game by Baseball America.

The PCL postseason awards are given based on the voting of the league's field managers, general managers, broadcasters and media. The field manager and general manager from each of the 16 PCL clubs submit one ballot, while the broadcasters and media from each of the 16 markets submit a second ballot, for a total of 32 ballots.

Bourjos received 10 votes among the 32 ballots, with Russ Mitchell of Albuquerque coming in second with five votes. Other players receiving votes included Mark Trumbo of Salt Lake, Michael Kirkman of Oklahoma City, Chris Carter of Sacramento, Greg Halman of Tacoma, Ernesto Frieri of Portland and Darwin Barney and Jay Jackson of Iowa.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 31, 2010


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