Whittleman Wins Player of the Week Honors

May 16, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Wilmington Blue Rocks News Release

Wilmington, DE - The Carolina League announced on Monday that Wilmington Blue Rocks infielder John Whittleman has been named the CL Player of the Week for the period ranging from May 9-15. It marks the first time a Rock has been honored by the league office in 2011.

Whittleman has been on a tear of late, hitting safely in five of the six games during his award-winning week. He batted .450 (9-for-20) with eight extra-base knocks, five RBIs and four runs scored to earn the award.

On the season, Whittleman ranks among the top five in the loop in homers (6), extra-base hits (19), total bases (66), and HR/AB ratio (1/20.5). More than half of his knocks on the season have gone for extra-bases. The Rocks will need Whittleman to keep hitting after the promotion of fellow slugger Nick Francis over the weekend. Francis and Whittleman had provided the Rocks with a power punch in the middle of manager Brian Rupp's lineup. In the first game after Francis' promotion on Sunday, Whittleman ascended to the clean-up slot in the Blue Crew batting order.

The Houston, TX native, who was acquired by the Royals in a trade for a player to be named later from the Texas Rangers on March 25, 2011, has also provided Wilmington with defensive flexibility. Whittleman has split time almost evenly between first base and third base in the field.

He and the Rocks will look to end a two-game skid tonight on the road when they open a four-game set in Salem. Wilmington returns home on Friday for a six-game homestand against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Frederick Keys. First pitch for the first game of the homestand is slated for 7:05 p.m.

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Carolina League Stories from May 16, 2011

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• Spruill Pitches Complete Game Shutout as Lynchburg Beats Kinston 11-0 - Kinston Indians
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• Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
• Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
• Mark Wagner Called up; Junichi Tazawa to Salem on Rehab - Salem Red Sox
• Arodys Vizcaino Named Pitcher of the Week - Lynchburg Hillcats
• Whittleman Wins Player of the Week Honors - Wilmington Blue Rocks
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