By: Portland Sea Dogs
Portland, Maine- Portland Sea Dogs' outfielder Aaron Bates has been named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the week of May 4th through May 10th.
Bates hit .520 (13-for-25) with four doubles, one home run, 10 RBI, seven runs scored, two walks and a .800 slugging percentage in six games during the week. Bates, who is a native of Manhattan, New York, reached base at least once in each of the six games he played in last week and has reached base in 19 straight games for the Sea Dogs, which ties him for the second longest streak in the league this season. He also had multiple hits in five of the six games he played in during the week, including a 4-for-5 performance with one double, two RBI and one run scored in a 9-7 loss at Binghamton last Thursday. With his performance last week the 25-year old raised his batting average over 50 points to .359, which ranks third in the league. He is also tied for second in the league in hits (37), tied for third in runs scored (21) and ranked 10th in total bases (51). Aaron, who batted .276 with 26 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 68 RBI and 61 runs scored in 124 games with the Sea Dogs last season, was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 3rd round of the 2006 draft out of North Carolina State University.
Bates is the second Sea Dog player to take home Eastern League Player of the Week honors this year. Sea Dogs' third baseman Jorge Jimenez earned the honor for the opening week of the season.
The Portland Sea Dogs begin a seven game road trip on Monday with a 7:05 PM game with the Trenton Thunder from Waterfront Park in Trenton, New Jersey. The Sea Dogs return to Portland on Tuesday, May 19th for seven game homestand beginning with 6:00 PM game against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Tickets are available for all remaining 2009 Sea Dogs' home games. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com.
