Pellegrini leaves mark on Legends' record book
Pellegrini now holds the Legends' single-season and career records for home runs and the career record for runs batted in. And while he is ready to step up to a higher level in professional baseball, he will look back on a great experience in Lexington.
"I will miss this place," Pellegrini said before the Legends final home game. "The people have been great - the staff, the fans - I've never had a complaint about playing here."
Pellegrini, after joining the Legends May 15, 2008 from extended spring training, led the club with 21 home runs and 69 RBI. He moved up to Lancaster in advanced-A to start the 2009 season, but was assigned to Lexington almost exactly one year after his 2008 Legends debut. Though he did not make his first 2009 appearance in the Legends lineup until May 16, his 27 home runs led the South Atlantic League. In addition, he was second in the league in slugging percentage at .578 and third in on-base percentage at. 396. He also led the Legends in batting average (.291), RBI (74) and walks (58). And the 6-1, 240-pound Pellegrini stole 10 bases while being caught just four times.
His 27 home runs in 2009 set a new Legends single-season record, breaking the old mark of 25 set by Beau Hearod (2004) and Hunter Pence (2005). Pellegrini's total of 48 home runs as a Legend shattered the previous record of 28 set by Tommy Whiteman (2001-02) and Justin Humphries (2003-04-05).
Pellegrini's 74 RBI in 2009 brought his Legends career total to 143, one more than the old record set by Ramon German (2001-02).
With his 2009 total of 34 home runs (27 for Lexington, seven for Lancaster), Pellegrini was in contention for the Joe Bauman Award, which goes to the player who leads all of minor league baseball in homers. His teammate at Lancaster, Jon Gaston, won the award with 35 home runs.
Pellegrini's name will also be remembered by fans of the rival Bowling Green Hot Rods. In 16 games against Bowling Green in 2009, Pellegrini batted .475 with six home runs and 21 RBI.
"It'll be tough to leave Lexington," Pellegrini said, "But I have to move on. I have to move forward with my career."
Following a few weeks to relax and recover from the demands of the season, Pellegrini will begin that move forward with off-season workouts in preparation for 2010. But the knowledge that his achievements in Lexington will be an important part of Legends history is meaningful.
"It's a very cool thing," he said. "It will always be nice to come back to this place."