Sept. 22, 2003

Charleston, SC - Former Bulldog third baseman Dallas McPherson, who was drafted in the second round of the 2001 amateur baseball draft by the Anaheim Angels, was one of ten finalists for Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year Award.

McPherson, who finished the year at the Angel's Double A affiliate Arkansas, finished tenth in the voting for the prestigious award that was won by Joe Mauer, a catcher in the Minnesota Twin's organization. Mauer hit .341 in 73 games for Double A New Britain and .335 in 62 games at Single A Fort Meyers.

Earlier in the year McPherson made national headlines for blasting a three-run home run off of five-time Cy Young winner Randy Johnson on July 16. Johnson, who has won the last four National League Cy Young awards, was participating in a rehabilitation assignment with the Lancaster JetHawks of the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system.

McPherson also added a RBI single to center in the same game against Johnson, while the "Big Unit" retaliated by plunking McPherson in the back later in the game.

A former member of three Southern Conference championship teams at The Citadel, McPherson batted .314 with 15 extra-base hits, including five homers in 102 games for Double A Arkansas. Before being promoted to Double A, he hit .308 with 18 homers, 21 doubles and 1 triple for Single A Rancho Cucamonga. McPherson combined for 76 runs batted in, 60 base on balls and 16 stolen bases in both Single A and Double A.