April 20, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. — After reaching base safely in 18-of-24 plate appearances on the week, Kentucky outfielder Chad Wright has been named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
Wright, a native of Paducah, Ky., had a breakout week while helping lead UK to its first series win at Mississippi State since the 1998 season, as well as a mid-week, rivalry win at Louisville Tuesday. On the week, Wright batted a robust .550 (11-for-20), with a team-high 10 runs scored, two doubles, a triple, one homer, three RBI, three walks and a stolen base. Also during the week, Wright slugged for a team-best .900 percentage and a reached base at a club-high .609 clip.
Tuesday, in the drama-filled rivalry win over Louisville, Wright led the team with a 3-for-5 game, plating twice and adding two RBI, ripping a homer and his first career triple, coming just a double shy of the cycle. During UK’s series-opening win Friday night in Starkville, Miss., Wright continued to swing a hot bat, finishing 2-for-5, adding a walk and reaching safely 4-of-5 times. In Saturday’s game, Wright was 2-for-5, scoring two of UK’s three runs in the 10-inning game. In the series decider Sunday, a 22-17 UK win, Wright batted 4-for-5 with a career-high five runs scored, reaching base safely all seven times he came to the plate.
On the year, Wright – a 5-foot-11, 180-pounder – ranks second on the UK club with a .350 batting average (41-for-117), totaling five doubles, a triple, 12 RBI and five stolen bases, leading the UK outfield with four outfield assists. Wright’s .350 average ranks third in the SEC among freshmen.
While the SEC Freshman of the Week honor was the first of Chad’s career, it is not the first for a member of the Wright family, as Chad’s brother Brock, a UK junior outfielder, was named SEC Freshman of the Week during the 2007 season.
Gary Henderson Call-In Show Tonight
The Gary Henderson radio call-in show resumes Monday night, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, with a local broadcast on WLAP 630-AM.
The show will run from 8-8:30 p.m. ET and is hosted by the Voice of UK Baseball, Neil Price. Fans can reach Henderson and Price by calling the toll free number (1-800-249-CATS) or in the Lexington area (859-367-6154). Also fans can email questions or comments at bigblueinbox@gmail.com.
