Ledbetter Named MiLB Player of the Week
The Cardinal Chronicle
Colton Ledbetter Named Cardinals Minor League Player of the Week
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
Colton Ledbetter gave Triple-A Memphis the kind of week that checks every box.
Power. Extra-base damage. Run production. Speed. On-base value.
Ledbetter, the Memphis Redbirds right fielder, is The Cardinal Chronicle’s Cardinals Minor League Player of the Week after putting together the strongest all-around offensive stretch in the system.
Over five games, Ledbetter went 6-for-18 with three doubles, two home runs, five RBIs, seven runs scored, three walks and one stolen base. He hit .333 and posted a 1.262 OPS, finishing with the top weekly value at 26.
That is a complete week at the plate.
The home runs stood out, but the three doubles matter just as much. Ledbetter was not simply running into an occasional mistake. He was driving the baseball consistently, creating extra-base damage and helping fuel the Memphis offense from the middle of the order.
At Triple-A, that carries weight.
This is the level where performance starts to look a little different. Pitchers have a better plan, bullpens are more experienced, and hitters are tested with sequencing that looks much closer to the major-league game. Ledbetter answered that challenge with a week built on impact contact and run creation.
Dakota Harris made this a real decision.
Harris, playing shortstop for Double-A Springfield, went 5-for-13 with one double, three home runs, six RBIs, four runs scored, two walks and one stolen base. He hit .385 with a 1.621 OPS, and in many weeks, that line would have been enough to take the honor.
But Ledbetter gets the edge because of the full weekly body of work at Triple-A. Five games, seven runs scored, five RBIs, five extra-base hits and a 1.262 OPS gave him the strongest overall case.
The award goes to the player who did the most to separate himself over the week, and Ledbetter did that with a bat that kept producing damage.
For Memphis, his production was exactly what a Triple-A lineup needs — a hitter who can lengthen innings, drive the baseball and put pressure on opposing pitchers.
This week, Ledbetter was that hitter.
The Cardinal Chronicle Minor League Player of the Week:
Colton Ledbetter, RF, Triple-A Memphis
Weekly Line:
5 G, 18 AB, 7 R, 6 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 SB, .333 AVG, 1.262 OPS
Why He Was Chosen:
Ledbetter delivered the best all-around offensive week in the Cardinals’ system, combining extra-base power, run production, on-base ability and speed at Triple-A. His five extra-base hits and seven runs scored helped give him the edge.
Also in the Mix:
Dakota Harris, SS, Double-A Springfield — Harris made a strong push after hitting .385 with three home runs, six RBIs and a 1.621 OPS over four games. His power surge kept the decision close, but Ledbetter’s full five-game week at Triple-A gave him the slight edge.
Old School Take:
There is something to be said for a hitter who does a little bit of everything. Ledbetter hit for power, got on base, scored runs, drove in runs and added a stolen base for good measure.
That is winning baseball.
Colton Ledbetter earned this one by filling up the line and doing damage at the highest level of the farm.
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports & MiLB Today
Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.
Check out The Cardinal Chronicle for more St. Louis Cardinals coverage, daily farm reports, prospect updates and old-school baseball commentary:
www.cardinalchronicle.com
Photo Credit: Colten Ledbetter, Memphis Redbirds | MLB