May 30, 200421 yr Borchard and Nanita Earn Player of the Week Honors Top outfield prospects make some noise By Danny Santaromita Joe Borchard was named International League Batter of the Week for the week of May 17-23. A first round pick in 2000, Borchard hit .452 with a slugging percentage of 1.065, five HRs, 18 RBI, and seven runs. Meanwhile, fellow outfielder Ricardo Nanita won the Carolina League award with a .563 batting average and a slugging percentage of 1.125. Borchard has raised his batting average to .288 after a dismal start. He has a chance to take over in center field for Aaron Rowand if Rowand struggles. Borchard's recent hot streak has lifted him back to the level of an elite prospect in the Sox system, but skeptics would like to see him continue the hot play over a longer course of time. On the year the 25 year-old has nine HRs, 35 RBI, and 15 runs. Borchard has huge potential to be a great power hitter in the Majors. The Sox are hoping Borchard will be able to step in and contribute to the team this season and in the future. His record signing bonus put a lot of pressure on his shoulders that he has yet to match. Nanita has struggled much of this season after dominating at Great Falls last season. He exploded this week capped by an 8-8 series against first place Kinston. Nanita was beginning to see his playing time cut when Darren Blakely was demoted from Birmingham for Normand Martel. Responding to the change Nanita went on a tear. The 22 year-old raised his batting average to .246, but despite not hitting all that well he has produced for the Warthogs. He is third in the team with 27 RBI and 4th with 7 stolen bases. Having skipped low-A Kannapolis, Nanita has reason to start off the season slowly. His performance shows the ability and potential he possesses. Fellow top outfield prospects on the Warthogs' roster, Brian Anderson and Ryan Sweeney, have both shown improvement as the season has gone on after skipping Kannapolis like Nanita. -------- I know it's old news, but it needed to be put on the site.
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