NSU Sharks News

2009 Draft Contingent Has Collected Five Player Of the Week Honors

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Aug. 4, 2009)  The four Nova Southeastern University baseball players selected in the 2009 MLB first year Player Draft have excelled in their initial season of professional baseball. J.D Martinez, Michael Fiers and Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg have combined to win five minor league baseball players of the week honors so far this season.

Outfielder J.D. Martinez (Jr., Pembroke Pines, Fla.), a 20th round by the Houston Astros, has exceeded expectations so far in his young career.

J.D. was named the New York-Penn League player of the week on August 3rd. He leads the Tri-City ValleyCats in batting average (.370), slugging percentage (.589) and doubles (seven) and is tied for the team lead in RBIs (17) despite joining Tri-City on July 12. Martinez showcased his talent with a dazzling offensive performance this past week. On July 28, he went 5-for-5 with a double, three runs scored and two RBIs. He doubled in three straight games from July 27-29. He was also named the US Marines player of the week on August 1st. After starting the season with the Greenville Astros, he has combined to hit .388 with 17 doubles, eight home runs and 41 RBI's in 41 games played.

Martinez had one of the best single seasons at the plate in NSU Baseball history in 2009, batting .428 with 15 home runs and 57 RBI's in 2009. He was selected NCBWA 1st team All-America, 3rd team ABCA/Rawlings All-America and 2nd team Daktronics All-America. Martinez has also earned 2nd team All-SSC, 1st Team ABCA/Rawlings All-South Region, 1st team NCBWA All-South Region and 1st team DAKTRONICS All-South Region honors.

Senior pitcher Michael Fiers (Pompano Beach, Fla.), a 22nd round selection by the Milwaukee Brewers, was promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Midwest League on August 3rd.

Fiers was 10-3 with an ERA of 2.65 for the Sharks in 2009. He pitched 108-2/3 innings and struck out 145 batters in his final season of college baseball. Fiers has stayed on that same strikeout pace as the closer for the Pioneer League affiliate of the Brewers. He struck out 35 and walked one batter in 21 innings with Helena. Fiers is 1-0 with eight saves and a 1.29 ERA over 13 appearances as a professional. He earned two Pioneer League players of week honors with while pitching with the Helena Brewers.

First baseman Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg was drafted in the 16th round with the 478 overall pick by the Atlanta Braves. Riaan has surged onto the scene for the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League. He earned the Appalachian League player of the week on June 27th by starting the season with a five-game hitting streak. The first baseman had four multiple-hit games on the week including a 4-for-5 appearance on June 26 in which he scored two runs and hit a double.

He is currently hitting .385 with six home runs and 32 RBI in 34 games played. Spanjer-Furstenburg stands second in the league in hits, third in batting average, home runs, RBI's, on-base percentage, and OPS, fifth in slugging, and eighth in doubles.

Spanjer-Furstenburg (Jr., Coral Springs, Fla.) finished the season batting .393 with 15 home runs and a team high 67 runs batted in for NSU. He was selected as a first team All-Sunshine State Conference performer.

Miles Mikolas, a seventh round pick by the San Diego Padres, is currently pitching with the Eugene Emeralds in the Northwest League. He is 0-5 with a 7.71 earned run average in eight appearances. Mikolas' best start came on July 21st, allowing only one run while striking out four in six innings against the Tri-City Dust Devils.

Miles led the Sharks with a 2.06 earned run average while going 7-2 in 83.0 innings pitched. He threw four complete games, including two shutouts, in 11 starts. He was selected on three post season teams, 2nd team All-Sunshine State Conference, ABCA/Rawlings All-South Region and 2nd team DAKTRONICS All-South Region.

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