Jimmy Crooks Named Minor League Player of the Week

 
The Cardinal Chronicle
Jimmy Crooks Named Minor League Player of the Week
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

Jimmy Crooks gave Memphis the kind of power production that earns attention, and this week it earns him The Cardinal Chronicle’s Minor League Player of the Week honors.

The Redbirds catcher/designated hitter delivered one of the stronger offensive stretches in the Cardinals’ system during the May 4-11 reporting window, homering twice and continuing to provide middle-of-the-order impact at Triple-A.

Crooks connected for his 11th home run of the season during Memphis’ four-homer night against Toledo, then followed with his 12th home run the next game, a two-run shot in the fourth inning of a 13-6 loss to the Mud Hens. He also finished that game with two hits, giving Memphis one of its few steady offensive answers on a difficult night.

That combination — power, repeated production and doing it at the highest level of the minor leagues — separated Crooks from the rest of the field this week.

There were other worthy names in the conversation. Trevor Haskins delivered one of the loudest single-game moments of the week for Palm Beach, driving in the first Cardinals run before turning the game with a grand slam. Rainiel Rodriguez remained one of the biggest organizational stories after earning a promotion from High-A Peoria to Double-A Springfield at just 19 years old. Leo Bernal also had a productive stretch for Memphis and was part of the Redbirds’ offensive push.

But this award is about the week on the field, and Crooks had the strongest combination of level, power and consistent impact.

For a Memphis lineup that has needed production, Crooks supplied it with authority. His home runs were not empty numbers, either. They came during a stretch in which the Redbirds were trying to keep pace in a road series at Toledo, and his bat gave Memphis a legitimate threat in the middle of the order.

There is also something to be said for doing it at Triple-A. The jump from Double-A to Triple-A can expose hitters quickly, especially those being asked to handle catching duties while still producing enough offense to stay in the lineup. Crooks has continued to answer that challenge.

Power gets noticed. Production keeps you in the conversation. Crooks gave Memphis both.

The Cardinal Chronicle’s Minor League Player of the Week for May 4-11 is Jimmy Crooks.

The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports
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