Witt Surges to Round-Tripper Lead
Published on August 1, 2006 under International League (IL1)
Durham Bulls News Release
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.-Durham's Kevin Witt homered seven times in his last nine July games to claim the lead in Minor League Baseball's annual Round-Tripper contest. Witt's power surge gave him eleven homers for the month and 31 for the season.
The International League first baseman is currently two ahead of Arkansas outfielder Terry Evans in the battle for the Joe Bauman Trophy and a check representing $200 for each home run the winner hits during the regular season. Each classification leader, provided he is not the overall winner, will receive a $500 cash prize.
Evans is playing for his third club this season, after being traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for Jeff Weaver on July 5. He began the year with Palm Beach, hitting 15 round-trippers before being promoted to Springfield. Evans remained in the Texas League when the Angels assigned him to Arkansas.
Witt's homer total leads the Triple-A classification by seven over Portland's Jon Knott. Tulsa slugger Joe Koshansky paces the Double-A players with 25 home runs, one better than Corpus Christi outfielder Hunter Pence. Sergio Pedroza of Vero Beach sits first in Class A with 24 homers, just one more than Kala Kaaihue of Myrtle Beach and Mark Reynolds. However, Reynolds was promoted to Double-A Tennessee a few weeks ago. Great Falls 3B Chris Carter leads the Short-Season/Rookie classification with eleven round-trippers. Here are the Top 10 overall leaders in the domestic leagues, through games of July 31:
Name Club(s) HR
Kevin Witt Durham 31
Terry Evans Palm Beach/Springfield/Arkansas 29
Mark Reynolds Lancaster/Tennessee 28
Joe Koshansky Tulsa 25
Jon Knott Portland (OR) 24
Sergio Pedroza Columbus (GA)/Vero Beach 24
Hunter Pence Corpus Christi 24
Nate Gold Frisco 23
Kala Kaaihue Rome/Myrtle Beach 23
Brandon Wood Arkansas 23
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