Projo Sox Blog

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

NEW YORK --Tonight Jeff Bailey (left) will start for the Red Sox and play first base at Yankee Stadium. He'll do so as the International League MVP.

Bailey was named winner of the award this afternoon. His ex-PawSox teammate, Charlie Zink, was named the IL's Most Valuable Pitcher.

Bailey and Zink, along with Pawtucket's Chris Carter and Joe Thurston, were also named to the season-ending IL All-Star team.

Bailey becomes the first PawSox player in 22 years to be named the league's MVP. Former PawSox player Pat Dodson won the award in 1986.

Other PawSox MVPs include Jim Rice (1974), Ted Cox (1977), Gary Allenson (1978) and Dave Stapleton (1979).

Bailey, 29, had a huge season for the PawSox. Even though he's with Boston -- his third stint with the Red Sox this season -- Bailey still leads the IL with 88 runs scored and is second with a .562 slugging percentage. His .405 on-base percentage is third in the league and his 25 home runs also ranks third.

Zink (right), who turns 29 today and made his major-league debut with the Red Sox earlier this month, becomes the first PawSox pitcher to win the award since Bronson Arroyo (2003). Zink, a knuckleball pitcher, is tied for the lead with 14 wins and is second with a 2.92 ERA.

Zink and Bailey become the first teammates to win both awards in the same season since Butch Huskey and Jason Isringhausen of Norfolk (1995).

 Tags  Charlie Zink Jeff Bailey PawSox Red Sox

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