Widlansky Wins Batting Title
September 8, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release
Frederick, MD - Frederick Keys infielder/outfielder Robbie Widlansky has won the Carolina League Batting Title becoming the fourth Key in franchise history and the first since 1997 to lead the circuit in batting.
Widlansky was named batting champion today via rule 10.22 (a) after finishing 15 plate appearances short of the 378 needed to qualify for the total. The Keys slugger batted .340 on the season. Rule 10.22 (a) can be read below.
The individual batting, slugging or on-base percentage champion shall be the player with the highest batting average, slugging percentage or on-base percentage, as the case may be, provided the player is credited with as many or more total appearances at the plate in league championship games as the number of games scheduled for each club in his club's league that season, multiplied by 3.1 in the case of a Major League player and by 2.7 in the case of a National Association player. Total appearances at the plate shall include official times at bat, plus bases on balls, times hit by pitcher, sacrifice hits, sacrifice flies and times awarded first base because of interference or obstruction. Notwithstanding the foregoing requirement of minimum appearances at the plate, any player with fewer than the required number of plate appearances whose average would be the highest, if he were charged with the required number of plate appearances shall be awarded the batting, slugging or on-base percentage championship, as the case may be.
With the bolded portion of the rule invoked Widlansky's batting average is .326, 28 points higher than runner-up Clint Robinson of Wilmington.
Widlansky, an 11th round pick in 2007 out of Florida Atlantic, was a three-time Carolina League Player of the Week during the 2009 season after joining the Keys on May 19th from extended spring training. Playing both first base and right and left field, Widlansky led the league in batting in two of his three full months with the team (June and August). His .340 average is the second best in franchise history.
Luis Mercedes led the Carolina League in batting in Frederick's inaugural 1989 season. Harry Berrios put forth the highest average in Keys history (.348) to win the crown in 1994. Rick Short was the last Key to lead the league in batting when he did so in 1997.
Carolina League Stories from September 8, 2009
- Boston Pitcher Daisuke Matsusaka to Pitch for Salem in Game 1 - Salem Red Sox
- Blue Rocks Honor Heroes On 9/11 Playoff Opener - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Dash to Face Salem Red Sox in First Round of Playoffs - Winston-Salem Dash
- Widlansky Wins Batting Title - Frederick Keys
- Boleska Joins Great Britain For World Cup - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Daisuke Matsuzaka to Make Rehab Start for Salem on Wednesday - Salem Red Sox
- Montgomery Wins Pitcher of the Week Honors - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Kinston's Ole Sheldon is the Carolina League Player of the Week - Kinston Indians
- Hillcats Announce Team Award Winners - Lynchburg Hillcats
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