Baseball Southern Conference

Ex-Bulldog Named Minor League Player of the Year

Anaheim, CA - Former Bulldog third baseman Dallas McPherson, who picked up his first Major League hit as an Anaheim Angel on Monday, September 20th, was named the Minor League Player of the Year by the Sporting News in their latest issue that was released on the 20th.

Before being called up to the Angels' big league club on September 6, McPherson split time between Class AA Arkansas and Class AAA Salt Lake. He hit .317 with 40 home runs and 126 runs batted in, while posting 36 doubles, 14 triples and 12 stolen bases combined between both leagues.

McPherson, who was on the Angels' 40-man roster during spring training, did not make the big league club in March, but he batted .321 with 20 home runs and 69 RBI in 68 games at Double-A Arkansas, numbers that earned him a promotion to Salt Lake.

In almost as many games at Triple-A, McPherson slugged another 20 homers and drove-in 57 runs, while batting .318. He tallied a whopping .690 slugging percentage while at Salt Lake and also maintained a solid .375 on-base percentage.

"Dallas has worked very hard and deserves this great opportunity." Bulldog skipper Fred Jordan stated. "Baseball is about production and his numbers speak for themselves."

With big numbers in 2004, The Sporting News believes McPherson will supplant Troy Glaus as the Angels everyday third baseman in the 2005 lineup, and will contend for the American League Rookie of the Year award this time next season. He is also the early favorite to be the Sporting News' top-rated prospect in the preseason.