IL1 International League

Durham's Jennings & Lehigh Valley's Figueroa Claim Player Of The Week Honors

Published on June 14, 2010 under International League (IL1) News Release


The International League announced today that Durham outfielder Desmond Jennings and Lehigh Valley pitcher Nelson Figueroa have been named the League's Batter and Pitcher of the Week for the period from June 7-13. This is the fourth time a member of the Bulls has received an IL weekly honor in 2010, but the first time for a hitter. Jennings joins pitchers Jeremy Hellickson (2x) and Aneury Rodriguez. Figueroa is now an IL Pitcher of the Week for the fourth time in his career, something achieved by just nine others since weekly awards began in 1985. Figueroa won the honor twice last season with Buffalo and once in 2001 with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

DESMOND JENNINGS, Durham Bulls IL BATTER OF THE WEEK

Outfielder Desmond Jennings sparked his red-hot Durham club to a 6-1 record this week, extending their lead in the IL South to a whopping 10.5 games. For the week, Jennings led the International League with 14 hits, a .538 batting average, 7 extra-base hits, 3 triples, 9 runs scored, 11 RBI, and a .581 on-base percentage. He collected multiple hits in five of the six games in which he played, and drove in at least one run in all of them. He had three games with three hits, two games with 3 runs and two games with 3 RBI. In the course of a single week, Jennings raised his average on the season from .228 to .286 and increased his RBI total from 7 to 18.

23-year-old Desmond Jennings is in his fifth season as a professional player, all coming within the Tampa Bay farm system. Last year he was named the Rays Minor League Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player of both Double-A Montgomery and the Southern League, despite being promoted to Durham in late July. He is ranked as the #1 prospect in the organization according to Baseball America. Jennings is a native of Birmingham, Alabama.

NELSON FIGUEROA, Lehigh Valley IronPigs IL PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Right-hander Nelson Figueroa took the hill Monday night against Charlotte, making his first pitching appearance in 11 days and his first start in 43 days. The former Phillies starter-turned-reliever had been designated for assignment, but he is making the most of his opportunity with the IronPigs. He was masterful against the Knights Monday in spite of his layoff, surrendering just two hits and two walks over 6.0 innings in a game Lehigh Valley won 1-0. He looked little different Sunday when visiting his old Buffalo teammates. Figueroa earned his second victory in as many tries, scattering five hits and a walk over 6.0 innings while striking out six. By week's end, Figueroa was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, and already owns the IronPigs' longest scoreless inning streak of the season at 12.0 IP and counting.

36-year-old Nelson Figueroa was claimed by the Phillies this April before being designated for assignment on May 31. The veteran owns a 22-10 record in his International League career with a 2.66 ERA. He's played for Scranton/WB (2000-01), Indianapolis (2002), Buffalo (2009), and now Lehigh Valley. Figueroa is a native of Brooklyn, New York.

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International League Stories from June 14, 2010


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