29
Apr
2014
Moline native makes history, then earns league honor with nine hits, two-homer game, eight RBIs
DAVENPORT, Iowa. (April 28, 2014) - Moline, Ill., native Thomas Lindauer's historic first week with his hometown's Quad Cities River Bandits gained more recognition Monday, as the shortstop was named the Midwest League Player of the Week for April 21-27. Making his debut last Monday, April 21, Lindauer had nine hits and eight RBIs in his first six games, which included a two-homer, five-RBI game Tuesday in Clinton.
Before making his home debut at Modern Woodmen Park, the 22-year-old Lindauer has become the first River Bandit to win Midwest League Player of the Week since Anthony Garcia won the honor June 18-24, 2012. It was the first weekly honor for any River Bandit since Boone Whiting won Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for Aug. 20-26, 2012.
On April 21, Lindauer was transferred from Extended Spring Training to become the first-ever Quad Cities-native position player to appear for the Quad Cities Midwest League club. He is also the first metro Quad Cities native in 26 years to play for the franchise. The last was pitcher Mike Butcher, who pitched four major league seasons (1992-1995) with the California Angels and is the current eighth-year pitching coach for the Los Angeles Angels.
In his Midwest League debut April 21, Lindauer had two hits, including a double, in a 7-6 loss at Clinton. On Tuesday, April 22, the Moline High School graduate and former University of Illinois shortstop homered in each of his first two at-bats and finished 3-for-4 with two runs and five RBIs in the 11-2 win at Clinton. It marked the first two-homer game and five-RBI performance by a 2014 River Bandit. Lindauer finished the week with a 2-for-4, three-RBI game in a 15-3 win over Peoria Sunday. He had a hit in five of the first six games, of which he started every one at shortstop.
The Houston Astros' 23rd-round pick in 2013 out of the University of Illinois, Lindauer played 51 games between short-season Class-A Tri-City and rookie-level Greeneville last season.
Lindauer carries a .346 batting average and .654 slugging percentage into the River Bandits' five-game, four-day homestand.
