Monday, August 31, 2009

Desmond Jennings wins Southern League MVP

Former Biscuits outfielder Desmond Jennings has won the Southern League's most valuable player award.

"It's great," Jennings said Monday afternoon. "I didn't really know (if I would win). I didn't even know they had a league MVP."

It's the third time in five years the Biscuits have had the MVP. Delmon Young won in 2005 and Evan Longoria won in 2007. Montgomery also had the Southern League MVP in 1977 with shortstop Alan Trammell.

Jennings was Tampa Bay's minor-league player of the month for April and played in the All-Star Futures Game in July. Just after the break, he was the Southern League's hitter of the week after reaching base 18 times in 24 plate appearances. Jennings is now at Triple-A Durham.

"I've got to keep producing this year," Jennings said. "I thought I was done after the team MVP. I thought that was it."

Jennings planned to call his mom with the news, but he didn't expect a wild scream or celebration.

"She'll probably say, 'Oh, yeah? That's good,'" Jennings said. "She'll be excited, but she won't get out of hand about it."

Former Carolina Mudcat Travis Wood won the most outstanding pitcher award. Wood recorded a league-record 1.21 ERA before a July promotion.

Birmingham's Ever Magallanes was named the league's top manager. The Barons have an 85-49 overall record.

The postseason All-Star team ...
C: Tyler Flowers, Birmingham
1B: Blake Lalli, Tennessee
2B: C.J. Retherford, Birmingham (unanimous pick)
3B: Juan Francisco, Carolina
SS: Pedro Ciriaco, Mobile
OF: Ezequiel Carrera, West Tenn
OF: David Cook, Birmingham
OF: Stefan Gartrell, Birmingham
OF: Desmond Jennings, Montgomery
DH: Greg Halman, West Tenn
Utility: Todd Frazier, Carolina
Best hustler: Matt Young, Mississippi
Right-handed pitcher: John Ely, Birmingham
Left-handed pitcher: Travis Wood, Carolina
Relief pitcher: Matt Peterson, Jacksonville


The awards are voted on by the league's managers, radio broadcasters and beat writers.

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