Eaton named PCL Rookie of the Year
Eaton, from Springfield, Ohio, was voted the league's top rookie after a balloting of the 16 PCL field managers, as well as media representatives from across the league. The award was created in 1998 and honors a player's outstanding achievement during his first year at the Triple-A level.
Eaton, 23, has played in 116 games with Reno this season, and leads the league in batting average (.379), on-base percentage (.452), runs scored (117), hits (181), doubles (44), stolen bases (37) and total bases (256). As the center fielder and leadoff hitter for Reno, he has helped take the Aces to first place in the Pacific Northern Division as they seek postseason play.
Selected by Arizona in the 19th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, Eaton has found success at every level he has played at. This year he was selected as the PCL's starting center fielder for the Midseason All-Star Game, going 1-3 with a leadoff hit and a run scored in the 3-0 win over the International League. On Monday, Eaton was also named as an outfielder on the league's Postseason All-Star team.
Eaton becomes the second player in a row from the Reno franchise to be named the PCL's top rookie, after Collin Cowgill won the award last year. He is the third player ever from the Diamondbacks' Triple-A affiliate to earn the award, the first being Josh Whitesell of the Tucson Sidewinders in 2008.
Among the others to receive votes for the Pacific Coast League Rookie of the Year award were Wil Myers (Omaha), Adeiny Hechavarria (Las Vegas), Jedd Gyorko (Tucson), Kole Calhoun (Salt Lake), Jake Elmore (Reno) and Grant Green (Sacramento).
All statistics cited reflect games through Mon, Aug 27.