Former Cape Leaguer named NL top rookie

By Chris Balboni
CCBL Intern

Former Cape Cod Baseball League standout Buster Posey proved he is a star on any level after being named National League Rookie of the Year for the San Francisco Giants.

     Posey, who led the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox to consecutive Cape League titles in 2006-07, hit eight homers after Sept. 1 to help the Giants overtake the San Diego Padres en route to winning the World Series. He was chosen first on 20 of 32 ballots by voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America after hitting .305 with 18 home runs and 63 RBI. 

     He batted .289 with two homers and 16 RBI for Y-D in 2006. He followed that the next summer with a .281 average, three home runs and 19 RBI. He was named all-league rookie shortstop in 2006, and also made four relief appearances. He was an all-league catcher in 2007. 

     “Buster accomplished a lot in the Cape League and also in college,” Y-D general manager Jim said Martin said. “During Florida’s last home game of the season Coach Mike Martin played Buster at all nine positions.”

     Posey belted 26 home runs for the Seminoles and ended his college career with a .463 average. He also threw out nearly 60 percent of the base runners attempting to steal. 

     He was the fifth overall pick in the 2008 MLB draft. He was quickly signed by the Giants and played a year in the minors before being called up on May 29. He hit his first career home run on June 9 and his first career grand slam on July 7. He won the National League Player of the Week award during the week of July 5-11 and had a 21-game hitting streak from July 4-29. 

     “Buster Posey was probably one of the nicest kids to ever come into the program and we wish him nothing but the best," said Martin.