PCL Names Players of the Week
August 5, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1) News Release
ROUND ROCK, Texas - The Pacific Coast League announced today that Ben Broussard of the Omaha Storm Chasers and Brad Hand of the New Orleans Zephyrs have been named the winners of the Player and Pitcher of the Week awards for the period of July 29th through August 4th.
Broussard hit .464 with 13 hits and 19 total bases in seven games last week for the Storm Chasers. He had at least one hit in every game and added three doubles and a home run to go along with five RBI. Broussard's hot week at the plate helped Omaha to a 6-1 record, giving them a 3-game lead over Albuquerque in the American Southern Division with a month remaining in the regular season. The left-handed hitting first baseman is currently riding a 12-game hitting streak that dates back to July 24th and is batting .299 with two home runs and 15 RBI in 27 games with the Storm Chasers this season. Born in Beaumont, Texas, Broussard was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 1999 draft out of McNeese State University. He made his Major League debut on June 22nd, 2002 as a member of the Cleveland Indians and has played parts of seven seasons in the Major Leagues for three different teams (Cleveland/Seattle/Texas). Broussard last appeared in the Majors with the Rangers in 2008 and has since been battling his way back through the minor league ranks. He signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals back in July after having spent the first part of the 2013 season with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico of the Mexican League.
Hand did not surrender a run in two solid starts last week and led the league with 16 strikeouts in 11 innings of work. On Tuesday against Colorado Springs, the left-hander tossed five scoreless innings and only allowed three hits and two walks while striking out five in a no-decision. Hand bested himself on Sunday against Reno, this time pitching six scoreless innings to go along with 11 strikeouts while only giving up one hit and two walks in the win. Zephyrs' pitchers have accounted for back-to-back Pitcher of the Week awards as Brian Flynn took home the honor last week. Hand, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was drafted in the second round of the 2008 draft by the Miami Marlins. He made his Major League debut on June 7, 2011 against the Atlanta Braves at just 21 years of age. He has made appearances with the Marlins in each of the last three seasons. In 12 games with the Zephyrs this season, Hand is 3-4 with a 2.35 ERA and 72 strikeouts.
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 5, 2013
- Padres Walked off at Nashville - Tucson Padres
- Dyson Does It All in Win over Reno - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Sounds Walk off against Tucson, 5-4 - Nashville Sounds
- Five-Run Rally Sinks Memphis on Monday, 5-2 - Memphis Redbirds
- Martinez Drives in Three Runs in 6-2 Win - Oklahoma City Comets
- Aces Avoid Shutout, 7-3 - Reno Aces
- Outfielders Engel Beltre, Joey Butler to Join Rangers - Round Rock Express
- Dodgers Recall INF Dee Gordon From Albuquerque - Albuquerque Isotopes
- RedHawks vs. Sky Sox - Game Notes - August 5, 2013 - Oklahoma City Comets
- LHP Brad Hand Earns Pitcher of the Week Honors - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Ben Broussard Named Pacific Coast League Hitter of the Week - Omaha Storm Chasers
- PCL Names Players of the Week - PCL1
- Isotopes Preview Homestand - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Express Fall to River Cats 3-1 - Round Rock Express
- Surkamp Strikes out 8 over 7 Innings, Grizzlies Beat Isotopes 2-1 - Fresno Grizzlies
- Isotopes Edged out by Grizzlies - Albuquerque Isotopes
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