PL Missoula PaddleHeads

Powerful Palka Promoted

Published on August 22, 2013 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


MISSOULA, MONT. - It was only a matter of time before the Missoula Osprey's Daniel Palka moved up the Arizona Diamondbacks' minor league system. That time came Wednesday, when the D-backs reassigned the first baseman to the Hillsboro Hops of the Short-Season Class A Northwest League. The Diamondbacks' 3rd Round pick in this year's draft, Palka emerged as the Osprey's leading power threat. He led the team in home runs (7), RBIs (38), total bases (103), slugging percentage (.502), OPS (.888) and doubles (20). He also had the most at-bats (205) and drew the most walks (29). Palka posted a batting average of .302. Palka topped the Pioneer League with 56 games played, three more than any other player. He was second in doubles, 4th in extra-base hits (27), and fifth in walks, total bases and at-bats. Palka joined Hillsboro in time for their game at Eugene on Wednesday night, going 0-4 in the Hops' 2-1 win over the Emeralds.

The win was the Hops' fifth in a row and moved them into a tie with Salem-Keyzer for 1st place in the Northwest League South Division 2nd Half pennant race. There are 11 games remaining in the regular season. In a corresponding move, the Diamondbacks reassigned first baseman Ryan Kinsella from Hillsboro to Missoula. An 18th Round pick in this year's draft, Kinsella hit .239 in 30 games with the Hops, with a home run, five RBIs and eight doubles. Kinsella played college baseball at Elon University (NC) - he was a teammate of current Osprey Antonio Alvarez - and joined the professional ranks after a stellar junior season. He was second in NCAA Division I in home runs (21) and RBIs (78) while hitting .313. Kinsella also ranked among the national leaders in hits (80), doubles (19), slugging percentage (.656), total bases (168) and runs scored (56). Twenty of his RBIs came after two outs.

Kinsella earned All-America recognition from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Baseball America and Louisville Slugger. The American Baseball Coaches Association named him an All-Atlantic Region 1st Team honoree. Kinsella was the Southern Conference Player of the Year and an All-SoCon 1st Team selection.

Over the course of his junior season, Kinsella had 24 multi-hit games, drove in two or more runs in a game 20 times, and had a streak of reaching base in 37 consecutive games. Elon reached the final of the Charlottesville Regional before falling to the host Virginia Cavaliers, ranked #6 in the country. Kinsella earned a spot on the All-Regional squad. Kinsella has joined the Osprey and will wear jersey number 44.

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Pioneer League Stories from August 22, 2013


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