Richmond's Canizares, Louisville's Lehr Off To Hot Starts As First Players Of The Week For 2008
April 14, 2008 - International League (IL1) News Release
The International League announced today that Richmond first baseman Barbaro Canizares and Louisville pitcher Justin Lehr have been named the League's first Batter and Pitcher-of-the-Week for 2008. The period covers the first eleven days of the season, from April 3-13.
BARBARO CANIZARES, Richmond Braves IL BATTER OF THE WEEK
Barbaro Canizares established himself as one of the International League's top hitters to begin the 2008 season, posting a .400 average (14-35) with two homers and 10 RBI to lead the defending Governors' Cup champions to the best record in the League so far (8-2). Canizares started things off the right way on Opening Day against Rochester, going 3-5 with 3 RBI. It was one of five multi-hit efforts for Canizares in his first eight starts, placing him among the IL leaders in several categories. He is in the top ten in RBI (T-2nd), hits (T-3rd), average (6th), and home runs (T-6th). Canizares went deep in each of Richmond's games over the weekend at Lehigh Valley, and yesterday added a RBI single in the 7th that put the Braves in front for good. It was his third 3-RBI game already this season. Canizares, who has been used as both a first baseman and designated hitter for Richmond, has failed to get a hit in only one game so far - Friday, April 11 when he was used as a pinch hitter in the 9th inning.
28-year-old Barbaro Canizares is in his third season in U.S. professional baseball. The 6'3", 210-pound player defected from his native Cuba before the 2005 season. Last year he hit .344 with
34 RBI in 49 games with Richmond, but he missed three months of the season while experiencing immigration paperwork issues. He played in six playoff games for the Braves as Richmond stormed to the 2007 Governors' Cup championship. Canizares is a native of Havana.
G AVG H AB R 2B 3B HR RBI SLUG BB SB
Week: 9 .400 14 35 5 2 0 2 10 .629 2 0
Season: 9 .400 14 35 5 2 0 2 10 .629 2 0
JUSTIN LEHR, Louisville Bats IL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Louisville right hander Justin Lehr turned in a pair of dominant outings for the Bats this week to earn IL Pitcher-of-the-Week honors. Lehr, a veteran of Pacific Coast League baseball, made a great first impression in his first International League start on Monday at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Lehr took a perfect game bid into the 8th inning before finally giving up his first hit, a home run by Jason Lane. The homer was the only hit Lehr surrendered in 8.0 innings of work, striking out five with no walks as the Bats rolled to a 9-2 victory. Lehr was nearly as impressive five days later in his Louisville Slugger Field debut, shutting out the PawSox over 7.0 innings and winning his second game in as many starts for the Bats. Lehr walked only one while scattering five hits and striking out five. The victory gave Lehr a perfect 2-0 record with a miniscule 0.60 ERA in 15.0 innings of work. He has 10 strikeouts and only one walk so far, and opponents are hitting just .125 against him. His 15.0 IP is the most of any pitcher in the League with only two appearances thus far, and his ERA is 4th-best in the IL.
30-year-old Justin Lehr is no stranger to Triple-A Baseball. After pitching in one game with Sacramento in 2000, Lehr returned to Triple-A in 2003, ultimately pitching 158 games over the next five seasons with Sacramento, Nashville, and Tacoma. He also went 4-3 with a 5.31 ERA in 66 games over that timeframe in the Major Leagues with Oakland and Milwaukee. The 6'2", 205-pound right hander was signed by the Reds to a Minor League contract this past November. Lehr is a native of Orange, CA.
G GS CG SHO W-L ERA IP H R ER BB K SV
Week: 2 2 0 0 2-0 0.60 15.0 6 1 1 1 10 0
Season: 2 2 0 0 2-0 0.60 15.0 6 1 1 1 10 0
• Discuss this story on the International League message board...
International League Stories from April 14, 2008
- The Indians Record Their First Four-Game Sweep Since April 16-19, 2007 - Indianapolis Indians
- Clippers Avoid Sweep - Charlotte Knights
- Braves winning streak ends at six - Gwinnett Stripers
- Bats Split Doubleheader With Pawtucket - Louisville Bats
- Wings Break Out of Slump, Top Chiefs - Rochester Red Wings
- Bulls Drop Final Game Of Series To Yankees - Durham Bulls
- Richmond's Canizares, Louisville's Lehr Off To Hot Starts As First Players Of The Week For 2008 - IL1
- Bisons Announce Schedule For "Robert E. Rich High School Baseball Classic" - Buffalo Bisons
- Canizares IL Hitter of the Week - Gwinnett Stripers
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo Bisons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
