Chris Rahl named IL Batter of the Week

The International League announced today that Syracuse outfielder Chris Rahl and Rochester pitcher Vance Worley have been named the League's Batter and Pitcher of the Week for the period from June 17-23. Worley's award is the third weekly honor won by a member of the Red Wings this season (Chris Colabello, April 4-7 and May 13-19) while Rahl is the second Chiefs player to be so honored (Zach Walters, June 10-16). The last time a team collected consecutive IL Batter of the Week awards was when Gwinnett's Mauro Gomez won back-to-back honors the final two weeks of the 2011 season. 

Syracuse outfielder Chris Rahl hit safely in seven straight games this week and led the International League in batting average (.579), hits (16), on-base percentage (.571), and slugging (.893). Six of Rahl's hits went for extra-bases, including four doubles, a triple, and his sixth home run of the season. Over the course of the week Rahl hit in four different slots in the Syracuse batting order, raising his average on the season from .257 to .299 along the way. 

Rahl, 29, is in his ninth professional season and his second at the Triple-A level. He played 87 games for Reno of the Pacific Coast League in 2010 while with the Arizona organization, hitting .291. Rahl is a native of Morristown, New Jersey. 

Right-hander Vance Worley entered the week having lost three consecutive starts, but the former Twins Opening Day starter rebounded with back-to-back complete game victories over Scranton/WB and Louisville. The first win came Monday in Game 1 of a doubleheader in Moosic, Pennsylvania. While the Red Wings cruised to a 10-1 victory, Worley scattered nine hits over 7.0 innings. Saturday night in Louisville Worley was on top of his game, tossing 9.0 innings of two-hit baseball while allowing just one walk and one unearned run. He struck out five in the 2-1 Red Wings victory, bringing his record to an even 3-3 since joining Rochester last month. 

Worley, 25, is in his sixth professional season and first with the Minnesota organization after being acquired in a December trade. He is a veteran of 63 games in the Major Leagues, including 53 with the Phillies between 2010 and 2012. Worley is a native of Sacramento, California.