posted August 6, 2008
) Photo by Tim Evearitt (file photo) Gaby Sanchez |
The Topps Company of New York, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, presents the award each month to the top performer in each of the 10 full-season leagues.
Sanchez was the offensive force behind the Mudcats turning a 2 ½-game deficit in the North Division standings entering July into a three-game lead at month's end. He led the league with 29 RBI - the most for a Mudcat in a calendar month since Miguel Cabrera had 32 in April of 2003 - and shared the top spot with 69 total bases. Sanchez also was second in the league with 39 hits and third in both batting average (.379) and homers (7). His home run total was two higher than his output through the first three months of the season.
Sandwiched around the Southern League All-Star Game, which he started in front of his home fans at Five County Stadium, Sanchez batted .488 (21-for-43) during an 11-game hitting streak. The 24-year-old had eight multi-hit efforts and collected four home runs and 13 RBI during the streak. In his first game following the All-Star break, Sanchez belted a pair of homers - including a solo blast against a rehabbing Mike Hampton - in a 9-5 victory at Mississippi. Two nights later, he connected for a three-run homer in the ninth inning to lead the Mudcats to a dramatic 3-2 triumph over the Braves. Those exploits paved the way to his selection as Southern League Hitter of the Week on July 20. Sanchez drove in four runs on July 28 and added two more RBI in each of his final two games of July on his way to another Hitter of the Week selection on August 4. He batted .453 (24-for-53) as the Mudcats won 12 of their final 14 games of July to leapfrog the Tennessee Smokies atop the division standings. Overall, Sanchez produced a .453 on-base percentage and a .670 slugging percentage in 27 games during the month.
A native of Miami, FL who attended the University of Miami before being drafted by the Florida Marlins in the fourth round of the 2005 draft, Sanchez established career highs in RBI (70) and doubles (40) with Jupiter of the Florida State League last season. Through the end of July this season, he already had 70 RBI to go with a .332 average and 33 doubles.
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From The Southern League
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