BEAU TORBERT NAMED PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Sioux Falls, SD – Sioux Falls Canaries Outfielder Beau Torbert has been selected as the 2008 American Association Player of the Year in a vote by league managers and media members. Torbert is the first Canaries player in team history to earn the honor.

“Beau is very deserving of this honor,” said Canaries Manager Steve Shirley. “He has been a leader both on and off the field for our team, and has defined everything that it means to be Player of the Year with his season.”

Beau leads the Canaries with 19 home runs this season and is second on the club with 70 RBI. In the final week of the first half, Torbert played through a wrist injury to help lead the Canaries to clinching the First Half North Division Championship. His season is highlighted by a July 7 game in Wichita where he hit for the cycle, becoming the first Canaries player to do so since Juan Thomas in 2005. Torbert is the league’s top slugger, a true triple crown threat who is fourth in the league in batting average, third in the league in home runs, and fourth in the league in RBI.

Torbert and the Canaries will begin the American Association Playoffs by hosting the Sioux City Explorers at the Birdcage for Game One of the Best-of-Five American Association North Division Playoff Series on Monday night at 7:05 p.m.
*Courtesy: Sioux Falls Canaries