The Macalester baseball program announced its 2008 team awards and sophomore right-handed pitcher
James Murrey (Western Springs, Ill. / Lyons Township) has been named the team’s Most Valuable Player.
Offensive MVP honors for the ’08 season go to third baseman
Devin English (So., Annapolis, Md. / DeMatha), who was also selected as Defensive MVP for the Scots. Murrey is the team’s Pitching MVP, as well.
Most Improved Player honors go to outfielder
Michael Kennedy (So., Chicago, Ill. / Northside Prep) and the Macalester Team Award goes to infielder / outfielder
Jeremy Velasquez (Sr., Ft. Stockton, Tex.).
Murrey finished second in the MIAC in strikeouts for the second year in a row and overall was 7-2 with a 2.29 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched. Opponents hit just .216 off him this year. In two seasons as Macalester’s ace, Murrey is 13-6 with a 2.55 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 116 2/3 innings pitched.
English gave the Scots outstanding punch from the leadoff position in the order and his play at the hot corner also brought him team defensive MVP honors. English batted .354 with a team-leading 37 runs scored, 27 RBI, 11 doubles, four homers, a .531 slugging percentage, and an on-base average of .423.
After not getting a varsity at-bat as a frosh, Kennedy’s hard work and hustle gave him an opportunity as a sophomore, and he responded by collecting 25 hits in 75 at-bats for a .333 batting average and .444 on-base percentage. Valasquez has been a key utility player and late-inning sub for the Scots the past four seasons and has played every position but catcher for the Scots. He played in 28 of the team’s 37 games and started 15 of them in ’08.
Macalester’s team captains for the ’09 campaign have also been announced. They are English, Murrey and shortstop
Nate Wilson-Traisman (So., Eugene, Ore. / South Eugene).