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06/12/2009 8:51 PM ET
Rodriguez Seizes Bauman Lead
Salt Lake Bees
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 Sean Rodriguez ranked second in the PCL in home runs and slugging percentage and tied for third in RBI.
(Brent Asay / Salt Lake Bees)
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With 21 homeruns, Salt Lake Bees infielder Sean Rodriguez leads a trio of Triple-A sluggers currently atop the standings for The Joe Bauman Home Run Award, presented by Musco Sports Lighting.
Rodriguez sent 12 baseballs screaming out of the ballpark in the month of May, tying Adam Riggs for the best month in Salt Lake franchise history. Rodriguez also drove in 35 runs, which tied for second in club annals with Todd Walker. Heading into tonight's contest at Reno, Rodriguez leads the Pacific Coast League with 60 RBI.
Twice in the month of May, Rodriguez bashed a pair of homeruns in the same game. On May 12, Rodriguez opened the floodgates when he crashed through a 5-5 tie against the Royals with a two-run homer in the fifth inning. The Bees went on to win 15-7.
Four days later against Omaha, Rodriguez scalded the Cubs for five hits and five RBI, including two homeruns. On homerun No. 2, the Miami, Fla. native turned on his wheels for an inside-the-ballpark homerun. Most recently, Rodriguez connected on homerun offerings in three straight games from June 6 to June 8 at Fresno.
Jake Fox was leading the minors with 17 homeruns two weeks ago when the Chicago Cubs brought him up from Iowa on May 27. Albuquerque's Mitch Jones has gone on his own homerun tear of late, as well.
Jones homered in four consecutive games from June 6-9 and is only one behind Rodriguez. Shelley Duncan of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees hit nine homers in both April and May and has added one so far this month for a total of 19.
The overall regular season homerun leader in the domestic-based leagues will be presented the Joe Bauman Trophy and a check representing $200 for each regular season homer he hit at the Baseball Winter Meetings.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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