Former 'Jacket Named AL Rookie of the Year
Second Straight GreenJacket Alum to win Award
Augusta, GA – For the second consecutive year, a former Augusta GreenJacket has been named Rookie of the Year. Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia was named the American League Rookie of the Year on Monday. Pedroia earned 24 first place votes to beat out Tampa Bay’s Delmon Young and Kansas City’s Brian Bannister.
Pedroia is the sixth Red Sox player to win the Rookie of the Year Award and was ranked 10th in the AL with a .317 batting average. Drafted in the second round of the 2004 draft and 65th overall, Pedroia finished first among all Major League rookies in doubles (39), second in on-base percentage (.380) and third in runs scored (86).
“I think it just goes to show you the type of players and talent that comes through Augusta as these guys work to make it to the Major Leagues,” GreenJackets General Manager Nick Brown said. “It’s amazing to have two alumni named Rookie of the Year in back-to-back season.”
Former GreenJacket Hanley Ramirez, now playing for the Florida Marlins, was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 2006. Ramirez played in Augusta in the 2003 season and Pedroia a year later in 2004.
While Pedroia stayed in the Red Sox organization, eventually making it to Boston, Ramirez was traded to the Florida Marlins in November of 2005, having played in just two games for Boston. Ramirez was part of a six player deal that also involved pitcher Anibal Sanchez going to Florida for pitcher Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell.
Pedroia probably would not have been the favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award after the first month of the season. The 24 year old struggled out of the gate compiling a .182 batting average over 20 games in April. However, May was a different story as Pedroia batted .415 in 21 games. Pedroia’s batting average hit .302 on May 29 and he never dropped below the .300 mark for the rest of the season, a stretch of 100 games.
“That’s the great thing about Minor League Baseball, you get to say, I saw that guy play before anyone knew who he was,” Brown said. “I’m sure it will only be a matter of time before some guys that have come through in the Giants organization start making an impact at the Major League level.”
The GreenJackets have won more games over the last two seasons than any other Minor League team having compiled a record of 181-98. Since becoming an affiliate of the Giants in 2005, the GreenJackets have had three straight seasons in which they finished above .500. The GreenJackets have also appeared in the post season two straight years and have won one South Atlantic League Southern Division Title.
The GreenJackets 2008 schedule is available now and season seat packages start as low as $55.00 per seat. For more information on season seats call the GreenJackets at 706-736-7889 or visit www.greenjacketsbaseball.com.