Panik, Galindo, Krill and Murray named to NWL All-Star Team
Panik is third MVP in team history; Volcanoes lead league with four All-Stars
Joe Panik was named 2011 Northwest League Most Valuable Player and Jesus Galindo, Brett Krill and Mike Murray were named to the postseason All-Star Team, the league announced on Tuesday.
The MVP and postseason All-Star Team were selected by the league's managers. The Volcanoes led all Northwest League clubs with four players selected.
Panik, also a unanimous selection as the All-Star shortstop, has had one of the best seasons in Volcanoes franchise history. Through Tuesday, Panik, the San Francisco Giants first round pick in the 2011 draft, is tied for the league lead with a .332 average and a league-leading 52 RBIs, 49 runs scored and 87 hits in 67 games.
The St. John's University product has drawn 28 walks with only 25 strikeouts, and his .395 on-base percentage is second in the league. His .962 fielding percentage leads all shortstops.
Jesus Galindo leads the league with 43 stolen bases in 51 attempts and is third in the league with 46 runs. The Venezuelan outfielder is hitting .274 with 9 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs and a .349 on-base percentage in 58 games. Galindo, 21, has also played outstanding defense in centerfield.
Krill, a right fielder drafted in 2010 out of UCLA, is tied for seventh in the league in batting (.309) and tied for fourth with 43 RBIs. He has 6 home runs and 16 doubles in 51 games and is third in the league in slugging percentage (.495).
Mike Murray was a unanimous choice as designated hitter, tied with Panik for the league lead in batting (.332) with a league-high .400 on-base percentage. Murray is second in RBIs (48), third in hits (79) and fourth in slugging (.466). In 62 games, the Wake Forest product has six home runs and 14 doubles.
Panik is the third Northwest League MVP in franchise history, joining Drew Biery (2009) and Matt Downs (Co-MVP, 2007).
The four selections match a franchise record set by the 2007 and 2005 clubs. This is the first Volcanoes team with four position player All-Stars.
Freddie Ocasio of Tri-City was named Manager of the Year.