Carolina League\'s Leading Hitter Promoted to Altoona
Published on July 28, 2003 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
(ALTOONA, PA)â Chris Shelton, the Carolina League's leading hitter with Single-A Lynchburg, has been promoted to the Altoona Curve, the club announced today. To make room on the Curve's active roster, catcher Ronny Paulino has been sent to Lynchburg.
The 23-year old Shelton, a catcher and first baseman, was batting .358 average with 21 HR and 69 RBI in 94 games for the Hillcats this season. His .358 average and 21 homers led the Carolina League, while his RBI total ranked just one behind the league leader. The right-handed hitter also was leading the circuit in hits (112), slugging (.639), on-base percentage (.478) and extra-base hits (45). He was named the Carolina League's Player of the Month in May after he hit .395 (34-for-86) with 7 HR, 19 RBI and 17 runs scored and was well on his way to the league's Player of the Month award this month, batting .429 (33-for-77) with 7 HR and 24 RBI in his final 24 games in a Lynchburg uniform.
A 33rd round pick of the Pirates' in the 2001 June draft out of the University of Utah, Shelton is in his third professional season. Last season with Hickory (A), the Salt Lake City native finished second in the South Atlantic League with a .340 average to go along with 17 HR and 65 RBI. In 2001 with short-season Williamsport (A), he batted .305 with 2 HR and 33 RBI.
Despite having an opportunity to make the Kansas City Royals' major league roster as a Rule 5 draft selection this spring, the 22-year old Paulino stuggled in his first season at the Double-A level, batting just .226 with 6 HR and 19 RBI in 46 games. He had been splitting the Curve's catching duties with veteran Chris Heintz.
In another roster move announced Monday, OF Shawn Garrett has been activated from the Temporary Inactive List and C Chris Snusz has been de-activated. Garrett has been away from the team for the last four days to celebrate the birth of his first child, daughter Sydney Alexis.
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