Josh VanMeter Honored as International League Player of the Month
May 7, 2019 - International League (IL1) News Release
The International League announced today that Louisville infielder Josh VanMeter has been named the League's Player of the Month for April. Along with winners from other leagues, VanMeter will be presented with an award from Minor League Baseball and Uncle Ray's Potato Chips in recognition of his outstanding performance last month.
Through the first month of the 2019 campaign, Louisville's Josh VanMeter was hitting .358 and leading the International League in several offensive categories, including home runs (11), RBI (28), hits (34), runs scored (24), total bases (72), and slugging percenatage (.758). His batting average remained well over .300 all month, but he was particularly hot as April drew to a close. He homered twice as part of a five-hit night April 26 against Norfolk. Then three days later in Toledo, VanMeter went 4-for-5 on a night in which he became just the sixth player in franchise history to homer three times in a game. One of the blasts was a grand slam, helping lead to a franchise-record eight-RBI performance in the 15-4 thumping of the Mud Hens. He's been one of Louisville's most versatile players early on this season, seeing significant time in the field at first, second, and third base while batting in five different spots in the batting order. The eleven dingers he hit in April tied the Louisville franchise high mark for home runs in a calendar month. VanMeter is the first member of the Bats to be named the International League Player of the Month since Scott Schebler was so honored in July of 2016.
24-year-old Josh VanMeter is in his seventh season as a professional player and just his second playing above the Double-A level. He was originally selected by the Padres in the 5th round of the 2013 draft, then traded to Cincinnati prior to the 2017 campaign. He made his Major League debut for the Reds in early May. VanMeter is a native of Ossian, Indiana.
Last Season's International League Players of the Month:
April 2018 - Jose Osuna, 3B (Indianapolis)
May 2018 - Ronny Rodriguez, INF (Toledo)
June 2018 - Donny Roach, P (Charlotte)
July 2018 - Mitch Walding, 3B (Lehigh Valley)
August 2018 - Mike King, P (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre)
International League Stories from May 7, 2019
- Mahtook Slugs and Flashes Leather in Win - Toledo Mud Hens
- Extra, Extra...Extra: Bisons Score Three in 10th to Win - Buffalo Bisons
- Hens Top Wings in Series Opener - Rochester Red Wings
- Gwinnett Falls to Buffalo 9-6 in Extra Innings - Gwinnett Stripers
- Big First Powers Knights Past Clippers 12-5 - Charlotte Knights
- Sims Shines, Leads Bats to 3-1 Win - Louisville Bats
- PawSox Start Series with 5-1 Win - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Gomez Continues Hot Hitting, But Mets Lose to Bats, 3-1 - Syracuse Mets
- Game Information: Indianapolis Indians (15-14) at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (15-12) - Indianapolis Indians
- Game Notes: Syracuse Mets (17-13) at Louisville Bats (13-18) - Louisville Bats
- Louisville Bats Homestand Notes: May 7-12 - Louisville Bats
- Minor League Baseball & Uncle Ray's Players of the Month for April - IL1
- Bisons Game Notes - Buffalo at Gwinnett (7:05 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
- Hustlers Return on May 25 for First Time Since 1918 - Rochester Red Wings
- Josh VanMeter Honored as International League Player of the Month - IL1
- Louisville's Josh VanMeter Named International League Player of the Month - Louisville Bats
- SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
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