Young named PCL Rookie of the Year

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The Pacific Coast League today announced Eric Young Jr. of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox as the 2009 PCL Rookie of the Year, an honor annually chosen by the league's managers and media representatives in recognition of a player's outstanding achievements in his first year at the Triple-A level.

Currently with the Colorado Rockies in the Major Leagues, Eric Young hit .299 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs in 119 games with the Sky Sox this season prior to his callup on Aug. 24. Young leads the PCL and Triple-A baseball with 58 stolen bases. His 118 runs scored not only leads the PCL but all of Minor League Baseball. The 24-year-old second baseman was voted a midseason and postseason PCL All-Star by the League's managers and media representatives this season.

Young has 303 stolen bases in his six professional seasons. He was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 30th round of the June 2003 First-Year Player Draft and attended Chandler Gilbert (Ariz.) Community College before signing with the Rockies. Eric is the son of former Rockies player and current ESPN broadcaster, Eric Young, Sr., who played for the Rockies for five seasons from 1993-1997.

The PCL Rookie of the Year award was created in 1998 when the PCL expanded to 16 teams. Previous winners include Bobby Crosby with Sacramento, Felix Hernandez with Tacoma, Howie Kendrick with Salt Lake and last year's winner, Josh Whitesell of Tucson.

Other players receiving votes for the 2009 PCL Rookie of the Year award were Alcides Escobar of Nashville, John Hester of Reno and Bud Norris of Round Rock.

PCL Postseason awards release schedule
Pitcher of the Year: Wed, Sept. 2
Most Valuable Player: Thu, Sept. 3
Manager of the Year: Fri, Sept. 4