The The Gotham Baseball Magazine Minor League Aawrd winners for this past week are Shelley Duncan (Yankees) and Philip Humber (Mets). Duncan is having a fine season down on the farm in Scranton. He is batting .300 for the season with 45 runs scored, 14 doubles, 19 homers and 56 RBI's. After struggling to begin the year Humber has been much more effective of late. He is carrying a record of 8-5 overall, but is 6-1 in his last seven starts. His ERA is a little high at 4.46, but he is beginning to show more control.
Shelley Duncan is the Yankees Minor league Player of the Week. Duncan is a 27 year-old DH for the Yankees Class AAA affiliate in Scranton. He is a power hitting righty batter from Tucson Arizona. He is 6'5", 215lbs and played college baseball in his hometown where he attended the University of Arizona. Duncan is having a fine season down on the farm in Scranton. He is batting .300 for the season with 45 runs scored, 14 doubles, 19 homers and 56 RBI's. His power numbers have been very good, but as with many sluggers he strikes out often. He has whiffed 66 times and drawn only 36 walks. He will have to improve his plate discipline if he hopes to get a good look as a full-time Major Leaguer. His on base and slugging percentages can improve also. Duncan is carrying a .393 OBP and a .594 SLG, good for a .988 OPS. Duncan has been hot of late. He is batting .343 over the last ten games with 12 hits, four homers and 16 RBI's. He has also improved his plate discipline by drawing eight walks and striking out nine times in that span. He has four multi-hit games in the last ten and went 3-4 with a homer and three RBI's on June 20th against Durham. Shelly Duncan has received several accolades in his time in the Minors. Among the highlights were being named the Topps International League Player of the Month for May, 2007 and the International League Player of the Week 04/16/2007. Duncan was obtained by the Yankees when he was selected by in the second round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft.
Philip Humber is the Mets organization Minor League Player of the Week. Humber is a twenty-four year old righty starting pitcher for the Mets Class AAA affiliate in New Orleans. Humber is 6'4”, 225lbs and was born in Nacogdoches, Texas.
After struggling to begin the year Humber has been much more effective of late. He is carrying a record of 8-5 overall, but is 6-1 in his last seven starts. His ERA is a little high at 4.46, but he is beginning to show more control.
Over 84.2 innings Humber has given up 89 hits, 42 ER and 11 HR. His most impressive number has been his walk to strikeout ratio; he has walked only 20 and struck out 71 batters. On June 25th against Memphis Humber threw seven innings, giving up no runs on three hits and striking out three. Humber was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week 4/23/2007
Humber was acquired by the Mets when he was selected in the first round as the third overall pick of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.
