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IL1 Gwinnett Stripers

Mallex Smith Named IL August Player of the Month

September 1, 2015 - International League (IL1)
Gwinnett Stripers News Release


LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - In an announcement made today by the International League, Gwinnett Braves' center fielder Mallex Smith has been named the league's Player of the Month for August.

Smith, 22, led the league with 13 stolen bases, 41 hits, 24 runs scored and tied for the IL lead with three triples in 29 games during the month. He batted .336 (41-for-122) with five doubles and five RBIs. He also had a season-high nine-game hitting streak that lasted from August 21-30. Smith batted .333 (11-for-33) during the streak with a triple, eight runs scored and two stolen bases.

He began the season with Double-A Mississippi and batted .340 (70-for-206) with 23 stolen bases in 57 games for the M-Braves before his promotion on June 24 to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Overall, Smith is tied for ninth in all of Minor League Baseball with 50 stolen bases this season through 118 games combined between Mississippi and Gwinnett. His 27 steals in his 61 games for the G-Braves are tied for seventh in the IL, as are his six triples. He is the fifth G-Brave to win the IL Player of the Month award dating back to 2009 when the team moved from Richmond to Gwinnett, and he is the first since outfielder Stefan Gartrell in May 2012.

Smith led all minor leaguers with 88 stolen bases in 120 games combined between Class-A Fort Wayne and Advanced-A Lake Elsinore in the San Diego Padres' organization. A fifth-round pick of the Padres in the 2012 June free agent draft, Smith was acquired by the Atlanta Braves on December 19, 2014 as part of a five-player trade that sent outfielder Justin Upton to San Diego.

A native of Tallahassee, FL, Smith entered the Braves' system rated as the club's No. 18 prospect by Baseball America and the "Fastest Baserunner" among Atlanta farmhands. MLB.com currently ranks him as the Braves' No. 13 prospect.

This is Smith's first career league Player of the Month award. He was named a Midwest League Midseason All-Star in 2014 with Fort Wayne and received Midseason All-Star honors again this year in the Southern League with Mississippi. He was also a MiLB.com Organization All-Star in 2014, as well as the MiLB.com Fans' Choice for Best Offensive Player while with Lake Elsinore. Smith is the only G-Brave to win an IL monthly award this season.

Gwinnett will play the finale of its two-game road series against the Durham Bulls at 7:05 p.m. tonight at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Right-handed pitcher Victor Mateo (3-2, 5.52 ERA) is scheduled to start for the G-Braves, and left-handed starter Scott Diamond (10-5, 3.74 ERA) will go for the Bulls. Tony Schiavone has the play-by-play call on 97.7 FM and WSBRadio.com beginning at 6:30 p.m.

After a four-game road series vs. the Norfolk Tides from Wednesday through Friday, the G-Braves will complete the regular-season schedule with a three-game series against the Charlotte Knights from Saturday through Monday at Coolray Field. The first 2,000 fans through the gates for the 7:05 p.m. game on Saturday will receive a bobblehead of legendary Atlanta Braves pitcher and 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Greg Maddux. To purchase tickets, call the Coolray Field Ticket Office at 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.

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International League Stories from September 1, 2015


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