A see-saw race in the final weeks of the season for the batting title had to go to another decimal point in what's likely the closest batting race in DMBL history.
Jose Iglesias of Blue Ridge and Allentown's Victor Robles both finished with a .321 batting average but Iglesias hit .32121 (159-495) to Robles' .32105 (183-570). Both 1st rounders in this year's draft, Robles was selected 7th overall and Iglesias was chosen at No. 17.
Iglesias, 35, enjoyed at 12-game hitting streak in mid-September that included 3 straight 3-hit games, driving his average above .330 and into the league lead. He took a brutal 0-for-7 in a 14-inning win at Newark before going 1-for-5 but leaving in the 9th inning the next day (Game 158) with an injury. That left the door open for Robles to catch him.
Robles responded with a 3-for-5 night out of the 9 hole (he's more often leading off) but an 0-for-5 outing in Game 159 didn't help. He batted .368 over those final four games, including another 3-for-5 outing in the season finale but fell just short.
At the trade deadline, Iglesias came over to Blue Ridge with Joc Pederson in exchange for a 3rd rounder next year and a 4th round pick in 2027. He split time between 2B (11 games) and DH (10 games) for Blue Ridge before getting injured.
Robles, 28, can start on his golf game now as Allentown (75-87) finished out of playoff contention but he can take solace in leading the DMBL in stolen bases (55, the most since 2006 when Chone Figgins swiped 68 for Las Vegas) and doubles (59) and HBP (22, tied with Hoboken's Matt Wallner). He also topped the league in batting vRHP (.341).
Iglesias will try to heal up in time for the playoffs. Blue Ridge (88-74) qualified as the No. 6 seed and will face No. 7 Newark (88-74) in a Best-of-3 1st round series.
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