Laird Named Eastern League Player Of The Month

(PR) Portland, ME — The Eastern League is pleased to announce that Trenton Thunder third baseman Brandon Laird has been selected as the Eastern League Player of the Month for the month of May, edging out Altoona Curve outfielder Alex Presley for the award.

Brandon had an outstanding month for the Thunder, batting .339 (39-for-115) with nine doubles, one triple, six home runs, 33 RBI, 25 runs scored, a .591 slugging percentage and a .374 on-base percentage in 29 games while helping lead the team to a league-base record of 19-10 during the month. The 6’1”, 215 lb. slugger had 12 multiple-hit games during the month and 10 games in which he drove in two runs or more, including tying the franchise record by driving in seven runs for the Thunder in a 13-7 win against the visiting Binghamton Mets on May 16th. Another highlight came on May 26th when the 22-year old completed hitting for the cycle with a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 7-6 win against the Erie SeaWolves. That performance helped Brandon take home the Eastern League Player of the Week Award for the week ending May 30th. Laird also added his name to the Trenton record books with a franchise-record total of 33 RBI during the month. That RBI total led all Eastern League players for the month of May. He also led all Eastern League players in total bases (68) for the month and tied for first in runs scored (25).

Laird, who is a resident of Garden Grove, California, has been one of the top offensive players in the league while making his Double-A debut with the Thunder this season. He is hitting .311 (65-for-209) with 12 doubles, two triples, 11 homers, 52 RBI and 38 runs scored in 53 games. The 2009 Florida State League All-Star currently leads the league in RBI (52) and total bases (114) and is also ranked among the league leaders in hits (65-2nd), home runs (11-tied 3rd), extra-base hits (25-tied 3rd), slugging percentage (.545-4th), runs scored (38-4th) and batting average (.311-9th).

Brandon is just the second Trenton Thunder player to win an Eastern League Player of the Month Award since the award began in 1997. David Eckstein was honored in May 1999 after he batted .441, with 20 walks, nine stolen bases, 27 runs scored, 10 doubles, two home runs, 18 RBI and a .598 slugging percentage.

Brandon, who is the younger brother of Detroit Tigers catcher Gerald Laird, was selected by the New York Yankees in the 27th round of the 2007 draft after hitting .366 and playing in 106 of a possible 107 games during two seasons at Cypress College in California.