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Trout named Midwest League MVP

Timber Rattlers place three on Postseason All-Star team
August 24, 2010
Mike Trout, who batted .362 before earning a promotion in early July, on Tuesday was named Midwest League MVP and Prospect of the Year.

The former first-round Draft pick added 45 stolen bases, six homers and 39 RBIs in 81 games for the Cedar Rapids Kernels. He moved up to the California League after collecting two hits at the XM Futures Game during All-Star Weekend in Anaheim.

Trout was the only member of the Kernels on the league's Postseason All-Star team. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers led the way by placing three players on the team, which was selected by the league's 16 field managers.

Wisconsin second baseman Scooter Gennett is second in the league behind Trout with a .321 average, ranks second with 144 hits and 83 runs scored and third with 37 doubles. Outfielder Khris Davis (.284, 19 homers, 65 RBIs) and left-handed pitcher Jon Pokorny (4-6, 16 saves, 3.32 ERA) are the Timber Rattlers' other All-Stars.

The Great Lakes Loons, South Bend Silver Hawks and Clinton LumberKings each boast a pair of All-Stars.

Outfielders Blake Smith and Brian Cavazos-Galvez represent the Loons, who own the league's best overall record at 82-44 and wrapped up a first-half playoff berth. Smith ranks fourth in the MWL with 18 homers and a .509 slugging percentage while hitting .288 with 72 RBIs. Cavazos-Galvez is second in the circuit in extra-base hits (55), doubles (39) and total bases (227) while ranking third in batting (.315) and hits (143).

South Bend's Matt Davidson got the nod as third baseman and designated hitter. Since promoted to Class A Advanced Visalia, the former first-rounder still ranks second in the league with 79 RBIs after hitting .289 with 16 homers in 113 games. Right-handed reliever Yonata Ortega (3-3, 4.10) also has moved on to the Cal League but remains the MWL leader with 22 saves.

Rounding out the pitching staff are starters Erasmo Ramirez (10-4, one save, 2.75) of the LumberKings and Ian Krol (9-4, 2.65) of the Kane County Cougars.

Clinton's Nick Franklin, the first player in the Minor Leagues with 20 homers and 20 steals this season, got the nod at shortstop. The former No. 1 pick is batting .284 in 115 games and ranks fourth in the circuit with 224 total bases.

Matt Adams of the Quad Cities River Bandits is the All-Star first baseman. He's the league leader with 21 homers, 86 RBIs, 61 extra-base hits, 40 doubles, 244 total bases and a .545 slugging percentage, all while batting .315.

Rounding out the squad is Fort Wayne TinCaps catcher Jason Hagerty, who's batting .393 since the end of June. The former fifth-round pick is hitting .313 overall with a .427 on-base percentage that ranks second in the league. He's also slugging .520 with 52 extra-base hits and 78 walks.

Great Lakes' Juan Bustabad was tabbed Manager of the Year.

"It's exciting anytime you can get that award," he said. "It's a big accomplishment and it's by far the biggest award that I've received as a manager."

2010 Midwest League Postseason All-Star Team
POS PLAYER TEAM AVG HR RBI
C Jason Hagerty Fort Wayne .302 14 74
1B Matt Adams Quad Cities .310 22 88
2B Ryan "Scooter" Gennett Wisconsin .309 9 55
SS Nick Franklin Clinton .281 23 65
3B/DH Matt Davidson South Bend .289 16 79
OF Blake Smith Great Lakes .281 19 76
OF Brian Cavazos-Galvez Great Lakes .318 16 77
OF Khris Davis Wisconsin .280 22 72
OF Mike Trout Cedar Rapids .362 6 39
POS PLAYER TEAM W L ERA S
SP Erasmo Ramirez Clinton 10 4 2.97 1
SP Ian Krol Kane County 9 4 2.65
RP Jon Pokorny Wisconsin 4 6 3.43 17
RP Yonata Ortega South Bend 3 3 4.10 22

Most Valuable Player/Prospect of the Year: Mike Trout, Cedar Rapids
Manager of the Year: Juan Bustabad, Great Lakes

Daren Smith is an editor for MLB.com.