DeCaster and Walker Named Rawlings Northern League Player and Pitcher of the Month for June
Published on July 1, 2009 under Northern League (NL) News Release
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks third baseman Yurendell DeCaster has been named Rawlings Northern League Player of the Month for June, and Goldeyes pitcher Ace Walker has been selected the Rawlings Pitcher of the Month for June. DeCaster, who had his Northern League contract purchased by the New York Yankees earlier this week, batted .354 (34-for-96) with 12 doubles, 10 home runs, 30 RBI, and 25 runs scored in the month. He also had six stolen bases in seven attempts in that span.
He departs for the Yankees Triple-A affiliate leading the Northern League in multiple categories: home runs (13), RBI (43), hits (54), slugging percentage (.682), and extra base hits (27). He also ranked third in the league in batting (.344) and second in runs scored (36). From June 3rd to June 20th, he strung together a 15-game hitting streak. A native of Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, the 13-year veteran made his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 21, 2006. More recently, he played for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic and drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning in his teams' second game against the Dominican Republic, securing the Netherlands a second-round berth in Pool 2 of the WBC. The 6-1, 200-pounder, was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1996. After four seasons in the Rays farm system, he was selected by the Pirates in the Rule 5 minor league draft in 2000. Over his career, he also spent time in the Nationals and Tigers organizations prior to joining the RedHawks on April 6, 2009.
Walker, who started five games for the Goldeyes in June, posted a 3-1 record with a 0.77 ERA. He only yielded three earned runs over 35 innings in that span. A highlight of the month came in game one of a doubleheader versus Joliet on June 14th when he hurled a complete game shutout. It is currently one of only three shutouts pitched in the league in '09. On the year, he currently leads the Northern League in ERA (1.53) and is tied for second in the league in wins (5).
His only defeat of the season came on June 19th versus Joliet when he allowed only one earned run over eight innings in a 5-0 loss to the JackHammers. Playing in his fifth season of professional baseball, Walker returns to the Goldeyes for the second straight year. In '08, he led the Fish in wins (9), starts (20) and innings pitched (121.1). His starts total tied for second-most in a single season in franchise history while his innings pitched ranked fifth in the league. Walker was originally signed by the Texas Rangers in 2004 as a non-drafted free agent following his junior season at Alabama University (Tuscaloosa, AL). After three years in the Rangers farm system, making it as high as Class AA in â06, he signed with the Goldeyes before the start of the '08 season. Walker was also drafted in the 60th round of the 2002 Amateur Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but did not sign.
Northern League Stories from July 1, 2009
- T-Bones Secure Sixth Straight Victory, 5-2 - Kansas City Monarchs
- RailCats Explode Early, Rout Fargo-Moorhead 13-6 - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- T-Bones Win in Joliet - Joliet JackHammers
- Huge Inning in Key Win - Schaumburg Flyers
- Goldeyes Drop Series Finale - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- DeCaster Named Player of the Month - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
- RailCats Overhaul Pitching Staff, Add Three Arms - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Northern League Newsletter - NL
- RailCats to Collect for Soldiers During Fourth of July Game - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Walker Earns League Honors - Winnipeg Goldeyes
- DeCaster and Walker Named Rawlings Northern League Player and Pitcher of the Month for June - NL
- Goldeyes Lose Long, Activate Metheny - Winnipeg Goldeyes
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