Miami's Yasmani Grandal Named ACC Player of the Week
April 12, 2010
GREENSBORO, N.C. – University of Miami junior catcher Yasmani Grandal has been named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week, as announced by the league office on Monday. The award is the first for Grandal in his career and the second ACC weekly honor for the Hurricanes this season after Chris Hernandez was named Pitcher of the Week for the week of March 15-21.
Grandal recorded arguably the most productive week of his collegiate career, going 11-for-20 with four home runs, 10 RBI and seven runs scored in five games. He homered in both mid-week games against FAU – hitting a two-run blast in Boca Raton on Tuesday and a three-run shot against the Owls at home on Wednesday – before belting a pair of two-run homers against No. 25 Virginia Tech on Saturday.
The Miami native opened the weekend against the Hokies by recording a hit in each of his first six at-bats, going 4-for-4 with a pair of runs scored on Friday before opening the game Saturday with the homers in his first two at-bats. Grandal recorded multiple hits in four of UM’s five games on the week, added three walks to his 11 hits and reached safely on 14-of-23 plate appearances on the week.
Grandal has been the ACC’s top hitter through the first five conference weekends. He currently leads the ACC with a .492 average (29-for-59) against conference opponents, recording seven more hits than any other hitter in the league. He has hit safely in 11 of UM’s last 12 games, recording double-digit hits nine times in that span. Over those same 12 games, Grandal has six homers and 21 RBI. On the year, Grandal continues to lead Miami in most offensive categories, including hitting (.415), doubles (13), RBI (35), total bases (87), slugging percentage (.707) and on-base percentage (.520).
Boston College’s Mike Dennhardt earned Pitcher of the Week honors after tossing the first complete game shutout of his career in the Eagles’ series opener against Maryland on Saturday.
Miami will remain on the road for a mid-week game at Florida Gulf Coast in Ft. Myers on Wednesday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m. before returning home to host North Carolina in a three-game ACC series at Alex Rodriguez Park beginning Friday, April 16.
For tickets for the UNC series, call 1-800-GO-CANES or visit www.hurricanesports.com.
