Salt River 3B Nolan Arenado Named AFL MVP
Published on November 19, 2011 under Arizona Fall League (AzFL) News Release
Phoenix, Arizona - Salt River Rafters third baseman Nolan Arenado (Rockies) has been named winner of the Arizona Fall League's 2011 Joe Black MVP Award.
The 20-year-old Arenado, who hit safely in 26 of 29 games, led the Fall League in hits (47) and doubles (12), tied for the lead in extra-base hits (18) and ranked second in total bases (77), third in average (.388), tied for third in home runs (6) and fifth in slugging percentage (.636).
After leading the minor leagues with 122 RBI at High-A Modesto in 2011, Arenado finished second in the Fall League with 33 RBI. He registered RBI in 18 of his first 23 games and posted RBI streaks of three, four, five and six games.
The Newport Beach, California native was the only Fall Leaguer to register multiple hit streaks of 10 or more games (11 and 10). He hit .408 (20-for-49) with 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 19 RBI and 7 runs scored during his 11-game hitting streak from October 4-20, then followed by hitting .439 (18-for-41) with 6 doubles, 1 home run, 9 RBI, 11 runs and 6 walks during a 10-game hitting streak from November 1-16.
The week four player-of-the-week after batting .429 with 3 doubles, 3 home runs, 5 RBI and 4 runs scored in five games, Arenado was the only Fall League player with multiple four-hit games (2). He logged 13 multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games.
He also homered in three consecutive games from October 25-27 and hit .452 with 28 RBI with runners in scoring position.
In early November, he was a member of the East Division squad in the sixth annual Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game and a key cog in Salt River's run to the East Division title and an appearance in today's championship game.
The 6-1, 205-pounder was the Rockies' second-round (59th overall) selection in the 2009 draft. He spent 2011 at High-A Modesto where he hit .298 with 20 home runs and led the minor leagues with 122 RBI.
Other Nominees - Other players receiving votes were third baseman Jedd Gyorko (Peoria/Padres), center fielder Kevin Mattison (Surprise/Marlins), outfielder Wil Myers (Surprise/Royals) and third baseman Mike Olt (Surprise/Rangers).
Joe Black MVP Award - The Arizona Fall League did not select an MVP during its first 10 seasons. In 2002, the league created the Joe Black Most Valuable Player Award, named after former big league pitcher Joe Black, the 1952 National League rookie-of-the-year.
Arizona Fall League Joe Black MVP Award Recipients
2011: Nolan Arenado (Rockies), 3B, Salt River Rafters
2010: Dustin Ackley (Mariners), 2B, Peoria Javelinas
2009: Grant Desme (Athletics), OF, Phoenix Desert Dogs
2008: Tommy Hanson (Braves), RHP, Mesa Solar Sox
2007: Sam Fuld (Cubs), OF, Mesa Solar Sox
2006: Chip Cannon (Blue Jays), 1B, Phoenix Desert Dogs
2005: Eric Duncan (Yankees), 3B, Grand Canyon Rafters
2004: Chris Shelton (Tigers), DH, Grand Canyon Rafters
2003: Jason Dubois (Cubs), OF, Mesa Solar Sox
2002: Ken Harvey (Royals), 1B, Scottsdale Scorpions
Arizona Fall League Stories from November 19, 2011
- Arizona Fall League Announces Top Prospects Team - AzFL
- Surprise OF Kevin Mattison Wins Stenson Award - AzFL
- Salt River 3B Nolan Arenado Named AFL MVP - AzFL
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