Minor Leagues
Kapler was a 57th-round draft pick (1,487th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 1995.
In 1996 he led the South Atlantic League in hits (157), doubles (45; 2nd in the minor leagues), and extra-base hits (71), was 2nd in homers (26), RBIs (99), and slugging (.534), and 5th in batting (.300). He was named a South Atlantic League All-Star.
In 1997 at Single-A Lakeland, he led the Florida State League in doubles (40) and total bases (262), tied for first in extra base hits (65), was 2nd in games, 3rd in hits (153), tied for 3rd in home runs (19) and RBIs (87), was 4th in slugging percentage (.505), and tied for 4th in runs (87).
In 1998 at AA Jacksonville Suns, he won the Southern League MVP award, as he batted .322 with a league-high 28 home runs, 47 doubles (3rd-most in the minor leagues), and 146 RBIs (most in the minors in 1998 and most ever in the Southern League). His league record for RBIs broke the 1986 record of 132 set by Terry Steinbach. He also set league records with 81 extra-base hits and 319 total bases, and broke the old doubles record of 44 with 47. He also led the league in hits (176; 8th-most in the minors), runs (113; 6th-most in the minors), and finished 6th in batting. He played in both the Double-A and Southern League All-Star Games and was recognized as MVP of the Southern League All-Star Game. He was also named to the SL's post-season All-Star team. He was honored as Minor League Player of the Year by USA Today, Baseball Weekly, and The Sporting News and USA Today, and was named Tigers Minor League Player of the Year and Detroit's No. 1 prospect by Baseball America.
Read more about this topic: Gabe Kapler
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