Rock Cats Named for Twins Awards

Published on September 24, 2012 under Eastern League (EL1)
New Britain Rock Cats News Release


New Britain, CT-   The New Britain Rock Cats Baseball Club, the Double-A Eastern League Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, had two of its players named as Twins Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year.   Outfielder Oswaldo Arcia was chosen as the Sherry Robertson Award winner as the Twins Minor League Player of the Year.  Right-handed pitcher, B.J. Hermsen was selected as the Jim Rantz Award winner as the organizations' top pitcher.  Both Arcia and Hermsen played at New Britain for the first time in their careers and helped the Rock Cats to a 75 win season. 

 

Arcia, 21, batted .328 with 20 doubles, five triples, 10 home runs and 67 RBI in just 69 games at New Britain.  He provided fans with highlights all season long, including three grand slam home runs as well as three walk-off hits at New Britain Stadium.  He was named the Eastern League Player of the Week twice, and EL Player of the month in July, batting .354 with six doubles, two triples, four home runs, 25 RBI, 23 runs scored, a .426 on-base percentage and a .583 slugging percentage in 26 games.  Arcia, who is on the Twins 40-man Major League roster, hit two grandslam home runs in a span of just 18 games (August 7 @ Binghamton, July 19 @ Harrisburg) and also smashed a game-winning walk-off home run in B-9th, July 16 vs New Hampshire, the first walk-off HR for a Rock Cats player in exactly 2 years (Jair Fernandez).  The Cantaura-Anzoategui, VZ native had an eleven game hit streak, June 23-July 3.  Arcia joined the Rock Cats on June 18 after beginning the season at Class-A Ft. Myers where he hit .309 with seven home runs and 31 RBI in 55 games with the Miracle (FSL).    

 

Hermsen, 22, went 11-6 with a 3.22 ERA in 22 starts for the Rock Cats.  The Eastern League All-Star selection ranked 7th in the E.L. with a 3.22 ERA and also led the New Britain club in wins and starters in ERA.  He became just the second (tied with Logan Darnell) pitcher to record 11 wins since 2004 (Ryan Mullins).  Hermsen won five straight starts, July 20-August 10, one shy of tying franchise record (Boof Bonser August 2-30, 2004).  The Rock Cats won 15 of his 22 starts and he enjoyed his best month in July, going 4-1 with a 2.30 ERA in five starts.  The Masonville, IA native, hurled a 9-inning complete game with 94 pitches August 10 vs Reading and defeated former Yankee Dellin Betances, July 5 @ Trenton.  Hermsen, the Baseball America #27 prospect, began the season at Ft. Myers and joined the Rock Cats on April 30, after going 1-0 with a 0.78 ERA in 4 starts for the Miracle.     

 

(Totals combined between New Britain/Ft. Myers) Arcia: .320-17-98/ Hermsen: 12-6, 2.88 26GS

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Eastern League Stories from September 24, 2012


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