Naquin, Purke take AFL awards

Indians outfielder, Nationals southpaw are players of week

October 29, 2013

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Surprise Saguaros OF Tyler Naquin (Indians) and Mesa Solar Sox LHP Matt Purke (Nationals) are the week three Arizona Fall League player and pitcher of the week, respectively.

Naquin: The 22-year-old center fielder hit .400 last week while extending his league-leading hitting streak to 13 games. He also led the league in hits (eight), RBIs (seven), and tied for the lead in games (five).

Through the first three weeks of the Fall League season, the Spring, Texas native was hitting .370 and led the league in hits (20).

Naquin, 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, was a 2012 first-round (15th overall) Draft choice by Cleveland out of Texas A&M University where he was a teammate of RHP Michael Wacha, the St. Louis Cardinals' postseason ace.

In two professional seasons, Naquin is a .269 hitter. He split his 2013 campaign between Class A Advanced Carolina and Double-A Akron.

Naquin has been named to the West Division roster for Saturday's 5:10 p.m. MST nationally-televised (MLB Network, MLB.com) Fall Stars Game at Surprise Stadium.

Purke: The 23-year-old lefty has been dominant throughout the Fall League's first three weeks of play.

Last week, he hurled five one-hit innings in his only start, a no-decision.

He sports a 2-0 record in three starts overall with a 0.00 ERA. The only run he has allowed was unearned. He owns 12 strikeouts and has allowed only three hits in 12 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting .079 against the former TCU Horned Frog.

Purke, a two-time Fall Leaguer who pitched for the Scottsdale Scorpions in 2011, was a third-round Draft choice (96th overall) the same year.

In two injury-shortened seasons, Purke, 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, is 6-6 with a 4.10 ERA in 21 appearances. He divided his 2013 season between Class A Hagerstown and Class A Advanced Potomac.

Other Nominees: Others nominated for the week three awards were Mesa 3B Kris Bryant (Cubs), Surprise OF Jason Rogers (Brewers), Salt River RHP Aaron Sanchez (Blue Jays), Salt River RHP Bo Schultz (D-backs) and Scottsdale C Andrew Susac (Giants).