IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Jose Constanza Captures International League Batting Title

Published on September 4, 2012 under International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - Gwinnett Braves outfielder Jose Constanza has claimed the International League Batting Title for the 2012 season, confirmed on Tuesday, September 4 by the IL office. Constanza's .314 batting average finished four points higher than the next closest hitter, former G-Brave Mauro Gomez (.310), now of the Pawtucket Red Sox.

Constanza is the second Gwinnett player to win the award in the franchise's four-year history, joining Barbaro Canizares who won in 2010 with a .341 batting average. The scrappy outfielder utilized a Gwinnett franchise record 22-game hitting streak (June 22 to July 19) and league-best 38-game on-base streak (June 20 to August 21) to rise to the top spot in the IL in hitting. He did not play in the final four-game series at Norfolk as he was recalled by the Atlanta Braves on September 1.

The 28-year-old Dominican Republic native hit .314 (108-for-344) in 88 games with the G-Braves this season, including 10 doubles, four triples, a home run, 54 runs scored, 27 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He posted a .375 slugging percentage, .755 OPS and a .380 on-base percentage, the fourth-best mark in the IL. Constanza was named the club's "Most Competitive Player" on August 30.

Constanza hit .396 (38-for-96) on the 22-game hitting streak, the longest in Gwinnett Braves' history and the longest in the IL since Brandon Watson's league record 43-game streak with Columbus in 2007. He hit .346 (53-for-153) with 18 walks and a .416 on-base percentage on his 38-game on-base streak, the league's longest since 2009, when Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Yurendell de Caster (41 games) and Gwinnett's own Wes Timmons (48 games) each reached in 40-plus consecutive games.

Teammate Ernesto Mejia, named the IL's Rookie of the Year and Postseason All-Star first baseman on August 28, finished atop the league in RBIs (92), hits (152), total bases (258) and at-bats (514). Luis Durango ended the year with 46 stolen bases in 62 attempts, leading all of affiliated Triple-A baseball.

Season tickets for the 2013 campaign are on sale now by calling the Coolray Field Box Office at (678) 277-0340. For more information on 2013 packages, visit gwinnettbraves.com/2013.

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