PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Gordon Named PCL Batter of the Week

Published on May 17, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


OMAHA, NE - Alex Gordon has been a big winner on the Omaha Royals' trip to Reno and Las Vegas. Gordon today was named the Pacific Coast League's Batter of the Week for the week that ended yesterday.

In the first six games of Omaha's swing through Nevada, Gordon has hit .500 (11-for-22) with three doubles, three home runs, ten RBI and seven runs scored. Not bad for a player who also has to concentrate on switching from third base to left field since being sent down by Kansas City two weeks ago to make that conversion.

Kansas City announced that move on May 2, when infielder Mike Aviles was recalled by the parent club. Gordon missed the first ten games of Kansas City's season due to a broken right thumb. He had an eight-game rehab assignment in the Minor Leagues in April, including one contest with Omaha, before being recalled by Kansas City.

The former Husker All-American struggled in 12 big league games, batting .194 (6-for-31) with one home run and one RBI. In 12 games with Omaha, including his rehab assignment tilt, Gordon is hitting .364 (16-for-44) with four doubles, five homers and 12 RBI.

Gordon is the first Omaha player to receive the weekly honor from the PCL office since Brian Buchanan was named Batter of the Week on August 23, 2009.

Memphis starter P.J. Walters is a compelling story as the recipient of PCL Pitcher of the Week honors. The 25-year old right-hander was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two outings last week. Walters and his wife lost their prematurely-born daughter a couple days before the season began. After sitting out the month of April, he owns a 0.48 ERA in three starts this month, racking up 23 strikeouts compared to three walks in 18-and-two-thirds innings.

Tonight's scheduled starter for Omaha, Bryan Bullington, had his contract purchased yesterday by Kansas City. To make room for him on the roster, the Royals optioned first baseman Kila Ka'aihue back to Triple-A. Bullington, a 29-year old right-hander, was 2-0 for the O-Royals and posted a 1.71 ERA - fourth-best in the PCL - in seven games, including five starts. He'll be used as a reliever by Kansas City.

Since being recalled by the parent club on May 5, Ka'aihue played in only two big league games, getting one hit in four at-bats. In 23 Triple-A games to begin the season, the former University of Nebraska recruit batted .304, smacking seven homers and collecting 20 RBI. Ka'aihue will rejoin the Royals in Omaha on Thursday, when the team opens a 12-game homestand at Rosenblatt Stadium with a 6:35 p.m. game vs. the Salt Lake Bees.

For tickets, call (402) 738-5100, or print tickets online at www.oroyals.com.

ABOUT THE ROYALS: For the second year in a row, readers of Omaha Magazine voted the Omaha Royals as Best Omaha Sports Team in the magazine's 18th annual Best of Omaha Awards, published in its January/February 2010 edition. 371,046 fans attended Omaha Royals games in 2009, making the Royals the largest-drawing sports team or event in the metro area last year. The team's total attendance, as well as the average of 5,457 fans per game, marked its largest figures since the 2000 season. Omaha's Triple-A franchise has drawn over 300,000 fans a year to Rosenblatt Stadium for 22 consecutive seasons, dating back to 1988.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 17, 2010


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