Pro Honors To Cantu, Hearne
Published on January 25, 2010 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Florida Marlins corner infielder Jorge Cantu and St. Louis Cardinals minor league pitcher Trey Hearne are this year's professional honorees at the Sixth Annual South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet, scheduled for Thursday, February 4 at the Omni Bayfront Hotel in Corpus Christi.
Cantu, a McAllen native and Texas resident, was very productive in his second season with the Marlins. He batted.289 with 42 doubles, 16 home runs and 100 RBIs in 149 games. Cantu tied All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez for the team lead in doubles and finished second only to Ramirez in Marlins RBIs. Cantu's total of 42 doubles is a new career single-season best during six years in the majors and ranked fifth last year in the National League.
Cantu was also selected as the National League's Player of the Week for April 27 through May 3. During a three-game series against the Mets in New York and a four-game set against the Cubs in Chicago, he batted.346 with three walks, four home runs and 14 RBIs. Cantu highlighted the week by going 3-for-3 with two homers and five RBIs to lead the Marlins in a 7-4 win over the Mets April 28.
Hearne, a native of Lufkin and former Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islander, had an outstanding year with the top two affiliates in the Cardinals organization. Overall, Hearne was 14-4 with a 2.92 ERA, leading all St. Louis farmhands in wins and finishing second in earned run average. With Springfield in the Texas League, Hearne went 12-3 with a 2.82 ERA in 24 games and 18 starts. He was the winning pitcher for the North in the Texas League All-Star Game and an end-of-season TL All-Star.
The 2006 South Texas Professional Pitcher of the Year, Hearne went over two months without a loss, posting a 9-0 record and a 2.42 ERA in 12 starts for Springfield from May 8 through July 12. Included in that stretch was a 5-4 win over the Hooks at Whataburger Field May 30 in which Hearne belted a three-run home run.
In late July Hearne received the call to Triple-A Memphis, where he went 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in four starts for the Redbirds. He tossed seven innings of three-hit, shutout ball in an 8-0 victory August 8 at Salt Lake. Returning to Springfield in late August, Hearne finished the regular season with 15 innings of shutout work over his final two starts, posting wins at Arkansas and at home against Tulsa.
The accomplishments of Cantu and Hearne will be recognized at next week's banquet, which gets under way at 6:30 p.m. For ticket and sponsorship information, call the Corpus Christi Hooks at (361) 561-HOOK. Proceeds benefit the club's Field of Dreams program.
Texas League Stories from January 25, 2010
- Drillers Finalize 2010 Schedule - Tulsa Drillers
- Pro Honors To Cantu, Hearne - Corpus Christi Hooks
- More Seats Made Available For Razorback Game - Arkansas Travelers
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