2008 Buc Goldschmidt named Cal League MVP

D-Backs prospect and former ABLer muscles his way to honors.

In his first full year of professional baseball, former Anchorage Bucs slugger Paul Goldschmidt (2008) has been named the California League's Most Valuable Player for 2010.

Goldschmidt, who has manned first base for the Class A+ Visalia Rawhide, has been very productive in the minors this season. So far on the year (130 games) he's driven in 97 RBI's and knocked 33 homers. That number is good enough to tie him for first place in all of the minor leagues for homers, sharing the #1 slugger spot with Jerry Sands of the AA Chattanooga Lookouts. Goldschmidt is also hitting at a very respectable .305 average and .967 OPS.

As a first-year full-season player, Goldschmidt has also taken home the Cal League's Rookie of the Year award. Consideration of this award does not include his 2009 campaign, in which he served a short-season tour of duty with the rookie-level Pioneer League's Missoula Osprey. At that level, he batted to a tune of .334 with an OPS of 1.045.

In Alaska in 2008, Goldschmidt was one of the Bucs' best hitters. In league play, the right-hander posted a .310 AVG and led the team in homers (3), RBI (20), doubles (13), and hits (45). According to a close acquaintance of his host family, Goldschmidt still keeps in touch with his summer parents and has a reputation as an all-around good guy.