The International League announced today that Louisville outfielder Deion Sanders and Durham pitcher Mickey Callaway have been named the League’s Batter and Pitcher-of-the-Week for the period of April 16-22. Sanders and Callaway are the first members of their respective clubs to receive one of the IL’s weekly awards this season.
By stringing together five multi-hit games, Louisville’s DEION SANDERS helped the RiverBats to a 4-2 record during the week and into first place in the West Division. Last Monday, the 33-year-old Sanders had three hits (two singles and a double), a stolen base, an RBI and scored a run in Louisville’s 8-7 loss at Norfolk. After a postponement Tuesday in Indianapolis, the Bats returned to action on Wednesday, sweeping the Tribe in a double-header to take over the West lead. Sanders was a catalyst in the two victories, going 3-4 with a triple in each game. Thursday was a scheduled off day but on Friday night the left-hander again posted three hits, including a double, in four at-bats but it was not enough as Louisville fell to Norfolk 3-2. Deion’s production dropped off a little Saturday night as he only had two hits in four at-bats, but he scored two runs and stole a base in the 11-3 victory over the Tides. Sanders sat out the RiverBats’ Sunday victory against Norfolk. With 14 hits in 20 at-bats this week, the Fort Myers, FL native, moved atop the IL leaderboard with a .453 average and four triples. He also places among the circuit’s best in stolen bases (6 - T2 nd ), hits (24 - T2 nd ), on-base percentage (.491 - 3 rd ), and slugging percentage (.679 - 5 th ). Sanders is currently riding an eight-game hitting streak (all multi-hit games), during which he is batting at a .636 clip (21-33).
Sanders is currently in his fifth season with the Cincinnati organization after signing with the club as a free agent during the off-season. Last year, in a return to baseball after a two-year hiatus, he was limited to 25 games for the ‘Bats due to a toe injury. The former Florida State standout has played in the Major Leagues for the Yankees, Braves, Giants, and Reds during his 10 previous professional campaigns, batting .266 in 609 ML games. Sanders is also known for his exploits on the football field where he is an eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback, currently on the roster of the Washington Redskins