Chris Valaika Season Review

Chris Valaika

Drafted - 3rd round 2006 (UC Santa Barbara)

8/14/1985

Overall 2006 Season Stats

Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
BIL	PIO	.324	70	275	58	89	22	4	8	60	143	24	61	2	2	.387	.520	.907

Chris Valaika had the best season of any draft pick from 2006. He tore apart the Pioneer League for Billings and took home League MVP honors. He also broke the Pioneer League record for hit streak by hitting in 32 straight games, hitting .374 over the stretch. Chris started off a little slow in June only hitting .256, but in the next two months he hit .339 and .368 respectively. Chris finished 3rd in the league in doubles, second in RBI with 60, and 8th in the league in slugging percentage. Next season I would look for Chris to start out in Dayton, but a jump to Sarasota would not be completely out of the question. A college hitter tearing up rookie ball doesn't put him on the top prospects lists yet, but what he does next year could help push him into the upper echelon of Reds prospects with a good follow up season..