LINCOLN — After his monster opening weekend, Saltdogs slugger Dennis Raben has been named American Association Batter of the Week.
Raben hit .429 with a co-league leading three home runs in nine RBI for Lincoln over the first four games of the season, numbers made even more impressive considering Gary's U.S. Steel Yard is known as a "pitcher's park."
The 25-year old blasted two home runs his first game in a Saltdogs uniform on the season opener Thursday night in Gary, including going deep on the first pitch he saw in the top of the first.
The Saltdogs first baseman/outfielder also hit two doubles and has scored four runs. Over the four games he posted an astounding 1.714 OPS.
Raben, no stranger to making strong debuts, also homered in his first games with Everett (A-, Mariners) in 2008 and Clinton (A, Mariners) in 2010.
The former University of Miami Hurricane has now clubbed 55 home runs in 255 career games.
Raben is the first Saltdogs player to earn the league's weekly honors since John Alonso garnered recognition July 8, 2013.
The Saltdogs open up a three-game series in Kansas City against the T-Bones Monday night at 7:05 p.m. Radio coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on KFOR 1240.