Moustakas, Poldberg Capture Texas League Awards
Published on August 30, 2010 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA, NE - Omaha Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, who opened this season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas in the Texas League, was named today as the Texas League Player of the Year. Also today, Naturals manager Brian Poldberg, a Carter Lake, Iowa resident who has played and coached for Omaha, was honored as the Texas League's Manager of the Year.
The voting process for the awards included the circuit's managers, beat writers, broadcasters and league personnel.
Moustakas played with Northwest Arkansas until July 17, when he was promoted to Triple-A Omaha. He began the season sidelined with an oblique injury he suffered in Spring Training but began his season on April 22 by hitting home runs in his first two at-bats. The 21-year old top prospect went on to belt 21 home runs and drive in 76 runs in 66 games for the Naturals, leading the league in batting (.347), home runs, RBI and slugging percentage (.687), while ranking second in on-base percentage (.413) prior to his promotion to Omaha.
Since joining the Royals, he is batting .286 with ten homers and 32 RBI in 44 games. He has belted three home runs in his last four contests, entering Monday night's game vs. Round Rock.
Moustakas was named last week as one of five finalists for USA Today's Player of the Year. The winner will be selected in an online vote at www.minorleagueplayer@usatoday.com and be announced in September. He was selected to represent the Royals in the 2010 All-Star Futures Game and was named to the mid-season and postseason Texas League All-Star teams.
Moustakas is in his fourth professional season after being Kansas City's 1st round pick (2nd overall) in the 2007 draft out of Chatsworth High in California. In July, he was ranked by Baseball America as being the 12th-best prospect in Minor League Baseball.
Poldberg has guided Northwest Arkansas to the best record in the Texas League, as the Naturals are 80-52 with eight regular season games remaining. The Naturals have already locked up a spot in the playoffs, having taken the first half title in the Texas League's North division.
Poldberg is in his third season at the helm of Kansas City's Double-A affiliate and in his 22nd season as a coach or manager in the Royals' organization. He has a 232-190 (.550) record with Northwest Arkansas, guiding the club to the playoffs all three years. Poldberg was a coach with Omaha in 1991 and played for the O-Royals 1983-85.
The Omaha Royals open their final regular-season series in the history of Rosenblatt Stadium tonight at 7:05 p.m., facing the Round Rock Express in the lid-lifter of a four-game set.
For tickets, call (402) 738-5100, or print tickets online at www.oroyals.com .
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- RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
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