WAPPINGERS FALLS- Hudson Valley Renegades outfielder Aaron Palensky has been named South Atlantic League Player of the Week for the week of May 22-28. Palensky becomes the second Renegade to win a weekly award in 2023, picking up an honor for the first time in his career.
In five games against the Wilmington Blue Rocks, Palensky hit a scorching .619/.680/1.238 (13-for-25) with 9 R, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, three walks and was 3-for-3 on stolen base attempts. His 13 hits this week were tied for the most of any player in Minor League Baseball.
“Palensky has been consistent all year, and I’m really excited that he is being recognized for his consistency and work that he has put in so far,” said Renegades Hitting Coach Kevin Martir.
Through games played on Sunday, he leads the SAL in HR (12), SLG (.744) and OPS (1.178), is 4th in AVG (.352), 3rd in OBP (.434), t-3rd in RBI (34), and t-2nd in XBH (23). On Thursday, he surpassed former teammate Everson Pereira to become Hudson Valley’s all-time career leader in XBH (49), and is one shy of Pereira’s career home runs record, with 22.
In recognition of his achievement, the Renegades will make a donation of $500 in Palensky’s name to the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center Health Network.
Palensky, 24, was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent out of the University of Nebraska in 2020. Across the 2022 and 2023 seasons with Hudson Valley, he has hit .288/.392/.573 (99-for-344) with 75 runs, 22 doubles, 5 triples, 22 HR, 68 RBIs, and has gone 19-for-22 on stolen base attempts in 109 games, ranking in the top 10 in franchise history in a half-dozen categories. This year he is batting .352/.434/.744 (44-for-125) with 29 R, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 12 HR, 34 RBIs, and is 10-for-10 on steals.
He joins RHP Juan Carela, who was named SAL Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 17-23 as Renegades to garner a SAL Weekly Award in 2023.
Hudson Valley kicks off a new series on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, with the Aberdeen IronBirds at Heritage Financial Park. For tickets and more information slide to www.hvrenegades.com.
