Buchanan Named PCL Player of the Week
August 24, 2009 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA, NE - Omaha Royals outfielder Brian Buchanan was named today by the Pacific Coast League as the PCL Player of the Week for the week of August 17-23. Portland lefty Wade LeBlanc, who faced and beat the Royals last week, earned the PCL Pitcher of the Week award.
In just four games last week, Buchanan drove in 12 runs for the Royals, hitting .333 (6-for-18) and smacking two home runs. Buchanan had been on the disabled list for nearly a month before being activated on August 14th. He did not get back into Omaha's lineup until six days later, when the Royals visited Tacoma last Thursday. As the designated hitter in that game, he went 2-for-5 with a double, a grand slam and a season-high five RBI.
Buchanan also homered on Friday at Tacoma. That gave the 36-year old slugger home runs in three consecutive contests, as the streak had started on July 12th at New Orleans in his last game prior to his stint on the D.L. He had three RBI on Friday and while his home run streak ended Saturday night at Rosenblatt Stadium, Buchanan drove in two more runs in the Royals' 5-4 victory over Oklahoma City. He completed his memorable week with a two-run single in the opener of Sunday's doubleheader, capping a three-run first inning that sent Omaha on its way to an 8-3 win over the RedHawks.
Prior to his 12-RBI explosion last week, Buchanan had driven in 14 runs in his first 28 games with Omaha. On the year, his second with Omaha, he's hitting .252 with seven home runs and 26 RBI in 32 tilts. Buchanan is in his 15th professional season. He has played in parts or all of five seasons (2000-2004) with the Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres and New York Mets. The Miami native was the New York Yankees' first round selection (24th overall) in the 1994 draft out of the University of Virginia.
Buchanan is the first Royals batter to win PCL Player of the Week honors since outfielder Damon Hollins earned the award on June 8th, 2008. Earlier this year, Luke Hochevar (May 3rd) and Kyle Davies (June 28th) were tabbed for the league's Pitcher of the Week award. Buchanan also made his third relief appearance of this season last Monday at Portland, mopping up in a 7-1 loss by tossing two innings and allowing one run on a home run.
In that game, LeBlanc got the win, limiting the Royals to one run on three hits over six innings. He picked up a second "W" on Saturday at Sacramento, hurling seven scoreless, three-hit stanzas in the Beavers' 5-2 triumph. For the week, the 25-year old southpaw was 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA, allowing six hits and two walks in 13 innings, striking out 13 batters. Selected by the Padres in the second round of the 2006 draft out of the University of Alabama, LeBlanc is in his second season with Portland. He was twice named PCL Pitcher of the Week in 2008.
For more information, contact Kevin McNabb, Director of Media Relations, at (402) 738-5103.
ABOUT THE ROYALS: Omaha's Triple-A franchise has drawn over 300,000 fans to Rosenblatt Stadium again in 2009, marking the 22nd consecutive season that has happened, dating back to 1988. Readers of Omaha Magazine voted the Omaha Royals as Best Omaha Sports Team in the magazine's 17th annual Best of Omaha Awards, published in its January/February 2009 edition. In 2008, 349,376 fans attended Omaha Royals home games, making the Royals the largest-drawing sports team or event in the metro area last year. It also marked the team's largest season attendance total since 2001, while the average of 5,375 fans per game last season was the club's highest figure since 2000.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 24, 2009
- Sounds pound 'Topes, 11-5 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Sounds top Isotopes, 11-5 - Nashville Sounds
- Benitez allows four straight homers in loss - Round Rock Express
- Sky Sox lose third straight to Aces, 5-4 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Aces squeak past SkySox, 5-4 - Reno Aces
- Cubs get by Zephyrs, 7-1 - Iowa Cubs
- Z's lose to Iowa - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Beavers' Wade LeBlanc Named PCL Pitcher of the Week - Portland Beavers
- OKC RedHawks Game Notes August 24th - Oklahoma City Comets
- Rockies Agree To Terms On Minor League Contract With Jason Giambi - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Fans at Raley Field when Cats Clinch Division Crown Eligible for Half-Price Playoff Tickets - Sacramento River Cats
- Buchanan Named PCL Player of the Week - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Pacific Coast League Players of the Week - PCL1
- Sounds Slosh Past Isotopes 6-5 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Almonte Powers Sounds To 6-5 Win - Nashville Sounds
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
