Marte Wins Curve MVP Award, McPherson Named Team's Pitcher of the Year
Published on September 4, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release
CURVE, Pa. - The Altoona Curve handed out their 2011 season-ending awards prior to Sunday night's game with the Richmond Flying Squirrels at Blair County Ballpark. Eastern League Rookie of the Year Starling Marte was selected as the Curve's Most Valuable Player while rising star Kyle McPherson was named the Pitcher of the Year. Hard-throwing reliever Bryan Morris was tabbed as the Fireman of the Year, infielder Brock Holt as the Iron Man and starting pitcher Mike Colla as the team's Unsung Hero. In addition to the on-field awards, pitcher Aaron Pribanic was announced as the Curve's winner of the Pirates' Community Commitment Award for his community service efforts this season.
Marte, 22, has had a banner year for the Curve and quite arguably could go down as the best centerfielder to come through Altoona in team history. Throughout the course of the season, Marte has been named an Eastern League mid-season and post-season All-Star, selected to the XM Futures Game, the Eastern League Player of the Week from August 8-14th and also the Eastern League Rookie of the Year. He has also set a new franchise record for hits in a season and could become the first player in club history to win an Eastern League batting title while playing a complete season for Altoona. (NOTE: Former Curve second baseman Jeff Keppinger won the Eastern League batting title in 2004 - but he played the final month of the season for Binghamton after being traded to the Mets' organization.)
The Santo Domingo native also leads the league in hits and doubles while checking in amongst the Top-5 in at bats (3rd, 528), extra-base hits (3rd, 58), runs scored (2nd, 90) and total bases (2nd, 267).
McPherson, 23, joined the Curve in early June after spending the first two months of the season with the Bradenton Marauders and compiling a 4-1 record with a 2.89 ERA in 12 starts before his promotion to Altoona. Since joining the Curve, McPherson has gone 8-5 with a 3.20 ERA in 15 starts and enjoyed his best month with Altoona in July when he went 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA across six starts.
The Mobile, Ala. native has 12 wins entering his start tonight against Richmond, which is second-most in the Pirates' minor league system this season behind Phil Irwin's 13.
Morris, 24, returned to Altoona in 2011 after ending the season with the Curve in 2010. However, he played a vastly different role this season coming out of the bullpen. After early season injuries limited Morris' role as a starter he was placed in the bullpen where he has enjoyed tremendous success throughout the season. In his 29 games as a reliever, the Woodbury, Tenn. product is 2-1 with three saves and a 2.05 ERA.
Opponents have hit .234 off Morris in his time out of the 'pen and he's struck out 47 batters in 52.2 innings pitched as a reliever.
Holt, 23, had a solid season for the Curve in his first Double-A season after excelling for the Bradenton Marauders in 2010. The Fort Worth, Texas native stayed healthy throughout all of 2011 and went on to post a batting average of .286 heading into tonight's contest with Richmond. The mid-season Eastern League All-Star was also named the game's MVP after going 1-for-2 with a two-run homer. He began the season as the team's leadoff man and second baseman but has moved back to short for most of the second half of the year.
He enjoyed his best month of the season in August, batting .323 with 11 RBI and eight doubles. His 131 games played leads the team.
Colla, 24, began the 2011 campaign in the Altoona bullpen but was asked to make a few spot starts in late April when Morris hit the disabled list and it sent his season on a whole new path as a starter. The California native started 23 of his final 24 appearances in 2011 and it was his first time in pro ball as a starter. He acclimated well to the role right out of the gate, going 3-0 with a 1.41 ERA in six May starts.
After struggling in June and July, he regained his form and posted a 2.63 ERA across five August starts. He finished the year with a career-high 133.2 innings pitched and his 3.70 ERA is ninth best in the Eastern League.
The University of Arizona product ranks amongst the league leaders in WHIP (4th, 1.17), batting average against (3rd, .229), batting average against for a starter (3rd, .226) and fewest baserunners/9IP for a starter (2nd).
Pribanic, 24, spent all of 2011 with the Curve in his first season in Double-A and led the team in wins with 10. The Fairfax, Va. native also earned mid-season All-Star honors and was the winner in this year's Eastern League All-Star game. The Pirates Community Commitment Program Award is given to player that best exemplifies the characteristics of the PCCP program and contributed the most to this program in each affiliate city.
As the winner of the award, Pribanic will be honored on the field prior to the Pirates' game on Wednesday, September 14th at PNC Park.
Eastern League Stories from September 4, 2011
- Altoona Prevails Amongst the Raindrops for Walk-Off Win - Altoona Curve
- Altoona Prevails Amongst the Raindrops for Walk-Off Win - Altoona Curve
- Squirrels Shutout of Playoffs, 1-0 - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Late Homer Hands B-Mets Third-Straight Loss, 5-4 - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Altoona's Marte Named Rookie of the Year - EL1
- Marte Wins Curve MVP Award, McPherson Named Team's Pitcher of the Year - Altoona Curve
- Altoona's Marte Nabs E.L. Rookie of the Year Honors - Altoona Curve
- Baysox Beat Erie, Keep Playoffs Alive - Chesapeake Baysox
- SeaWolves Squashed by Baysox 10-2 - Erie SeaWolves
- Aeros Rally Late, Down Senators 6-4 - Akron RubberDucks
- Rock Cats Stay in Race by Topping Trenton - New Britain Rock Cats
- Fisher Cats Create Nightmare for the Sea Dogs - Portland Sea Dogs
- Richmond Flying Squirrels Game Notes - Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Four New Hampshire Pitchers Combine on Two-Hitter - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- R-Phils Can Clinch Playoff Berth Tonight - Reading Fightin Phils
- 1B Chris Davis Joins Baysox - Chesapeake Baysox
- Curve Drop a Heartbreaker in Extras, 6-3 - Altoona Curve
- Aeros Eliminated From Postseason Contention Despite Beating Harrisburg - Akron RubberDucks
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