McClain named PCL MVP

After 17 seasons in professional baseball, Scott McClain of the Sacramento River Cats has won his first Most Valuable Player award.

McClain was honored by the Pacific Coast League on Thursday after ranking second in the circuit in RBIs (104), third in homers (26) and total bases (243) and ninth in runs scored (82).

"It's exciting," McClain said. "When you've been in the game as long as I have, it's nice to continue to put up good numbers and be recognized for it."

The 34-year-old third baseman also has used his veteran leadership and solid defensive skills to lead the River Cats to the PCL's fourth-best record.

Although McClain is batting just .252, he's belted three grand slams, including one during a two-homer, six-RBI performance against Fresno on July 6. Earlier this week, he was elected to the 2006 All-PCL Team.

The Simi Valley, California, native made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1998. He spent three seasons in Japan, where he hit 67 homers for the Seibu Lions, and enjoyed another brief stint in the Majors with the Chicago Cubs in 2005.

Other notable MVP winners in PCL history include Paul Konerko (1997), Bobby Valentine (1970), Tony Perez (1964), Steve Bilko (1955, '56, '57) and Joe DiMaggio (1935).