OGDEN -- Neither party knew it at the time, but when the Raptors welcomed Jake Lemmerman to Ogden after the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted him in the fifth round, a mutually beneficial partnership was established.
"I like to win," the Duke University shortstop and 172nd overall pick said after a recent night at Lindquist Field where he went 3-for-4 including a home run and two RBIs.
The Raptors, it turns out, also like to win and have done so at a record-breaking pace this season with playmakers like Lemmerman on the roster.
A heavily-favored candidate to receive the league's most valuable player honors this season, the Corona Del Mar, Calif., native sits second in three hitting categories for the Pioneer League: overall batting average (.367), on-base percentage (.436), and slugging percentage (.693) behind Ogden teammate Nick Akins.
With 251 at-bats this season, Lemmerman leads the league in doubles, helping him to log 44 RBIs -- good enough for the team's second best behind outfielder Bobby Coyle.
"Jake is a great teammate," Coyle said. "He does what's asked of him, he works hard on and off the field, and he's a great guy to have in the clubhouse."
With Duke in 2010, Lemmerman was named the Atlantic Coast Conference's top defensive shortstop with a .987 fielding percentage. From the same position with the Raptors, Lemmerman produced an array of defensive stops night in and night out, committing just 16 errors through 63 games.
"The way he's played at shortstop and the consistency he's had on offense I think he's got a pretty strong case for MVP," Ogden manager Damon Berryhill said. "He's a great guy and an excellent ball player. He comes to work as a professional, he loves to play this game and he's eager to learn and continue improving."
The sixth highest draft pick in Duke baseball history, Lemmerman led the Blue Devils in eight offensive categories in 2010, including batting average, hits, home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, walks, and on-base percentage.
A first summer of professional ball that has been nothing short of spectacular, Lemmerman has learned to deal with the grind of playing long stretches, going on the road, and working through psychologically taxing slumps.
"It's mentally challenging when you're having a tough week or month," he said. "If things aren't going my way I just try to battle it and personally, at the plate when I'm struggling I tell myself at each at-bat that 'the season starts right now' and it really helps my focus and attitude."
Lemmerman and the rest of the Raptors squad shattered the franchise single season win record with their 43rd against Casper on Sept. 3, and clinched the second-half division title against the Ghosts two nights later at Lindquist Field.
Ogden will finish their landmark regular season hosting the Orem Owlz for a pair of games on Wedneday and Thursday before opening up postseason play on Friday.
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