ATVL would love to do a study someday about players in the Valley League for their second season: how much better (or worse?) do they hit?
The answer for Toledo's Aaron Dudley is better. Much better. Back in Winchester for a second straight year, "Rooster" hammered the ball to the tune of 338/463/465 in 40 games and 142 at-bats. He added 12 doubles and 2 home runs, along with 32 runs and 23 RBI. That high average was good for 7th in the league. His high on-base percentage comes from his excellent BB/K ratio: 29/16. Because of that OBP, manager John Lowery batted Dudley leadoff, even though Dudley stole only 2 bases on the year.
As a current senior at Toledo, Aaron has had three years of success in college. In 2007 as a freshman, he hit 337/398/611 in 95 at-bats, with 8 doubles, 6 home runs, and an 11/19 BB/K ratio.
As a sophomore, he had a bit of a sophomore slump, hitting 280/319/503 in 175 at-bats, with 15 doubles, 8 home runs, and an 11/32 BB/K ratio. He bounced back in 2009 as a junior, hitting 315/367/467 in184 at-bats, with 14 doubles, his first college triple, 4 home runs, and an 18/31 BB/K ratio.
Aaron has an interesting background: his grandmother, Roxanne (Walton) Dudley, was a pitcher in a professional fastpitch softball league back in the 1950s. (Have you ever tried to throw a softball windmill style? It's hard!)
Aaron, as a catcher, plays a premium defensive position, and obviously has a good bat. Will he get a shot at pro ball after his senior season?
(Pictures courtesy of Haymarket Joe Photography)
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