Three P-Nats Named Carolina League All Stars

THREE P-NATS NAMED CAROLINA LEAGUE ALL STARS

Hood, Kobernus and Leon Recognized

September 1, 2011

(WOODBRIDGE, VA) Destin Hood, Jeff Kobernus and Sandy Leon were named to the Carolina League’s year-end All Star Team, the League announced on Thursday. Potomac, which clinched a playoff berth and a chance to repeat as Carolina League Champions on Wednesday night, is the only club with three All Stars.

Hood, who was named to the mid-season All Star team, has registered a remarkable season. The Mobile, Alabama native and the Washington Nationals second round pick in 2008, Hood is near the top of the League in a host of offensive categories. His 82 RBIs are the third most in the league; a .279 batting average places him seventh in the circuit and Hood’s .364 on-base percentage is fourth best in the Carolina League. In 125 games, Hood has hit a club-leading 13 home runs, 29 doubles, and has walked 56 times. Hood has stolen 20 bases and registered 126 hits.

Kobernus represented the Nationals in the All Star Game in Modesto and has been recognized at the season’s close as the league’s best second baseman. The league leader with 47 stolen bases, Kobernus has been a remarkably consistent hitter in the top third of the Potomac order. A .274 hitter, Kobernus batted .271 before the MidSummer Classic, and .278 since. Kobernus has seven homers, 50 RBIs, 20 doubles and four triples. He is also the circuit’s leading defensive second baseman: in 102 games he has made only 11 errors and has a league best .975 fielding percentage.

Leon, meanwhile, has set the gold standard for defensive catching in all of Minor League Baseball. Leon has thrown out 58 of 100 base stealers, a .527 rate which is the best in all of the minors. In 103 games, Sandy has batted .249 with six homers, 39 RBIs and 20 doubles. Leon has heated up since the break, hitting .278 since the All Star Game.

Other notable all stars in the Carolina League: Ian Gac was named the League MVP, Robbie Ross the Outstanding Starting Pitcher, Preston Guilmet the Outstanding Relief Pitcher, and Aaron Holbert of the Kinston Indians was named the Manager of the Year.

The P-Nats return to Woodbridge on Saturday for the final regular season series of the year, a four-game set with Holbert’s Indians. On Saturday the Nationals will raffle off a new car to a lucky fan and fire off the last Fireworks extravaganza of the year. Monday is Fan Appreciation Day, and the P-Nats will have exciting prizes and giveaways for all those in attendance. To get your tickets and to reserve your playoff package now, call the ticket office at 703-590-2311 or visit the club online at www.potomacnationals.com.