Valentine Named To Baseball America All-Indy Team
Published on October 24, 2009 under Golden Baseball League (GBL)
St. George RoadRunners News Release
ST. GEORGE, UTAH - The St. George RoadRunners announced today that 1B A.J. Valentine was one of the prestigious Baseball America All-Independent selections for 2009.
Named to the First Team were St. George Roadrunners' 1B A.J. Valentine and Calgary shortstop, also named GBL 2009 MVP, Nelson Castro. Named to the Second Team were two players from the Victoria Seals: second baseman Wilver Perez and outfielder Sergio Pedroza who was also the GBL Championship Series MVP this year. With four selections the GBL trailed just the veteran-laden Atlantic Leaguethat had six players named and the Can-Am League that had five players selected. Both the GBL and Frontier League had four players selected, the American Association Leagueand Northern League had three players recognized apiece, the United League had two players named, and the Continental League had none.
Valentine, 26, 6-6, 220, went undrafted out of Cal State Stanislaus after putting up extraordinary power numbers. He has been a prolific slugger in the GBL for two years as he was signed by the Yuma Scorpions part way through 2007 and hit 22 home runs and drove in 106 runs in 129 games in Yuma over the last two seasons. Joining St. George this year, his power numbers continue to climb and his batting average has soared as well. He led the league in RBIs with 82, was third in home runs with 17 and posted a .359 batting average as well. In addition, he is considered one of the top defensive first basemen in the league and was key to his Roadrunners' winning the first half South Division title and advancing to the playoffs for the first time.
XnE, Inc. (parent company of the RoadRunners) CEO Michael Cummings stated, "This is a very exciting honor for A.J. and the entire organization would like to congratulate him on a great year and a very exciting future."
"It's exciting to see the recognition of the Golden Baseball League players in these yearend awards," said GBL Commissioner Kevin Outcalt. "It reflects the continually increasing attractiveness of GBL teams for top players to showcase their skills. I expect most of these players named to be signed by MLB organizations during the off-season and join the 16 players who were acquired by big league clubs during the year from the GBL as they advance their careers."
Golden Baseball League Stories from October 24, 2009
- Valentine Named To Baseball America All-Indy Team - St. George RoadRunners
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