Jay Baum was the Canberra Cavalry’s MVP in his first season in the ABL. Photo: Ben Southall/SMPIMAGES.COM
Canberra Cavalry infielder Jay Baum’s astounding season with the bat has not gone unnoticed after he took home the Australian Baseball League’s top award for the best hitter in the league.
The Cav’s MVP was a strong favourite to take home the ABL Brett Brothers Batting Champion award, after his incredible 2017/18 season, which saw him finish with the best single-season batting average in ABL history – .439.
Baum was up for the Hitter of the Year award against Cavalry teammate David Kandilas, who also had a fantastic season, finishing with an average of .380. The Kandi man hit 12 homers and tied the league high for RBIs with 44 but was no match for his teammate, who broke records in his first season in Canberra.
Canberra Cavalry CEO Donn McMichael said that Jay Baum thoroughly deserved the award.
“Jay put together one of the best seasons Canberra has ever seen. His batting average was the best in ABL history so that’s the headline, but he did everything well offensively,” Mr McMichael said.
“Jay is also a tremendous young man. He plays with a smile on his face and the Canberra community really appreciates that.”
The 25-year-old spent four years in the MLB system, but the Seattle Mariners released him last year.
Baum came to the nation’s capital aiming to show the Mariners they made a mistake by letting him go.
The MVP has been lighting up ballparks all over Australia this season with the Atlanta native only held hitless in a mere four games this season. Baum was also the 2017/18 ABL All-Star Game MVP this season.
Baum will parlay his success in the ABL into Sioux City where he will play for the Explorers in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball during the American baseball season.
Photo: James Worsfold /SMP Images.
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