Position Player of the Month
Hi-A Lancaster JetHawks
OF
Chris Rahl
|
Batting Average |
Runs |
RBI |
Doubles |
BB/K |
|
.355 |
15 |
10 |
10 |
5/17 |
Chris Rahl was not an unknown quantity coming into this season,
but he certainly wasn't the first name that came to mind when you talked about
talented Diamondbacks outfield prospects. He is now. Rahl had a
better April than Carlos Quentin, better than Chris Young, better than his
teammate, Carlos Gonzalez. Playing mostly left, but with significant time
in center field and even some time in right, Rahl has proved defensively
versatile, and offensively dominant.
Four games into the season he was just 2-14, and hadn't had a
hit since opening day. He then went on a 10 game hit streak, lost it, and
then went on to another six game streak. In 22 April games he had 12 multi
hit games in the month, scored 15 runs and drove in 10.
Perhaps the one flaw was his 17 strikeouts in 93 at bats, but as
Rahl adjusts, he figures to start making more consistent contact, and his
despite only hitting three home runs, his 10 doubles show that Rahl does have
power, and it figures to grow. If those doubles start turning into home
runs, the Diamondbacks will worry much less about strikeouts, though with his
speed, the ability to get on should be Rahl's focus for the rest of the season.
Pitcher of the Month
Hi-A Lancaster JetHawks
Left Handed Starting Pitcher
Matt Chico
|
W-L |
ERA |
IP per Start |
Opponents Average |
BB/K |
|
2-1 |
1.53 |
5.82 |
.185 |
6/31 |
Matt Chico apparently likes to make a good first impression. On opening
day the 22 year old left hander threw five innings of no hit ball, walking three
and striking out seven. Though he would not earn the win that day, it was
a statement that Chico, who started last season at Double-A before being moved
back down to Lancaster, would not struggle the same way he did at the start of
'05.
He would also not be satisfied. As strong as Chico started, he finished
nearly as well. In his fifth start of the month Chico went seven innings,
allowing five hits and one run, walking zero and striking out seven for the
second time in the month. Chico struck out more than a batter an inning in
April, and after walking three in the opener he walked just three more over the
next 24.1 innings in the month.
"His control, both inside and outside the strike zone, is light years ahead
of where he was last year," a scout who watched every start Chico made in April
says, "Last year he was a lefty with a lot of movement and great velocity, this
year he's pitching, he's changing speeds, he spotting the ball, he's doing
whatever he wants."
Even Chico's 'bad' games are impressive. His lone loss of the month
featured a total of zero earned runs (the JetHawks gave up two unearned), and in
his worst start statistically, four earned in 5.1 innings, he earned the win.
Chico was the best pitcher in the organization in April, and might have claimed
the top spot among lefty starters organizationally as well.