Rhodes Hits .360, Takes Home Batting Crown
Edmonton fans dutifully slogged their way through yet another abysmal season, but were rewarded with a highlight the likes of which the team had never seen -- for the first time in franchise history, a Jackrabbit has won the Frick League batting title.It was claimed by 31-year-old first baseman Dusty Rhodes (.360/.400/.470, 18 HR, 106 RBI), a veteran of the league most known for his years with the Madison Wolves. And it's not the first time Rhodes has managed such a feat; with a combined 433 hits in consecutive years, Rhodes won the batting title in each of his first two years in the BBA.
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Last season couldn't have gone any better for Rhodes. A year prior, in 2033, Rhodes hit .289 and checked in with a career-low .727 OPS, 91 OPS+, and -0.4 WAR. Soon after, he was traded away from the organization he spent eight seasons with, never missing a single game. (Madison's return comprised of two players who would become their current closer and third baseman.)
Rhodes wound up with the Rockville Pikemen, and with an opt-out looming as part of the six-year extension he'd signed with Madison, Rhodes knew he had to produce or say goodbye to a big payday in free agency.
Produce he did. 232 hits later, Rhodes finished the 2034 season with a career-best .375 average and took home his third batting title. After opting out, Rhodes inked a three-year deal with the Edmonton Jackrabbits, with a team option to keep Dusty in town through the 2038 season. And so far, Rhodes has left quite the impression on an impressionable young roster.
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For much of this season, Rhodes was trailing 23-year-old Juan Karyabwite (.353/.370/.526, 21 HR, 126 RBI), a Venezuelan outfielder with a lot of hardware for just four seasons in the league. In fact, from April 4th until September 27th, Rhodes was hitting below .360, while Karyabwite was hovering right around that number for much of the season.
Rhodes' title run was bolstered by a .408 May and a white-hot .427 September. Both players were at .357 on the 25th, but while Karyabwite went 4-for-20 in his final five games, Rhodes went 7-for-14 in the last series of the season to finally burst into first and claim the crown.
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Rhodes has been a valuable piece in an Edmonton lineup in desperate need of depth and identity. While some of that came together this season -- the Jackrabbits' .267 team clip was 7th in the league -- Rhodes remained the team's premier hitter. Dusty led the club in hits (232), RBI (106), K% (5.6%), OBP (.400), and wRC+ (132).
Congrats, Dusty!
