*** McPherson and Francis win TSN post-season awards ***

Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - My Sportsbook Director of Minor League Operations Jonathan Okonis announced today, that slugger Dallas McPherson and lefthander Jeff Francis have been named the winners of Player and Pitcher of the Year in all of Minor League Baseball.

McPherson, a power hitting third basemen, was rated as the number three prospect in the Anaheim organization before the season started by the My Sportsbook. Playing for Arkansas in the Texas League and Salt Lake in the Pacific Coast League, the 24-year-old McPherson combined to hit .317 with 40 home runs and 126 RBI. He had an on-base percentage of .387 and a slugging percentage of .670.

Drafted in the second round in 2001, McPherson has continued to hammer the ball in the minors, averaging .308/.396/.567 (average, OBP, slugging percentage) over a four-year span. He's blasted 20 homers at each level and has worked hard to improve his defense. He was rewarded for his outstanding play with a call-up to the majors in early September. Although he has appeared in limited action, the Angels remain very high on him. Next season could be McPherson's first full year in the majors, as incumbent third baseman Troy Glaus will be a free agent.

The most dominating pitcher in the minors this season was lefthander Jeff Francis. He spent the first three months with the Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League, where he compiled a 13-1 record and an ERA of 1.98. Francis had an incredible strikeout-to-walk ratio of roughly 7:1 (147-22). The 23-year-old Francis then was promoted to Colorado Springs of the Pacific Coast League, where he continued his amazing season. He started seven games for the Sky Sox, before getting a call to the majors in September.

During his brief stint in the high altitude of Colorado Springs, Francis went 3-2 with a 2.85 ERA and strikeout-to-walk ratio of better then 5:1 (47-7). Rated as the number four prospect in Colorado's system by the My Sportsbook, the young lefty improved his minor league career numbers to 28-12 with an ERA of 2.71 and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4:1 (388-82).

Francis is a pitcher with excellent command, a solid fastball that reaches the low 90's, an above-average curveball, along with a deceptive change-up. His short stint in the majors has produced mixed results, but the Rockies see a bright future for Francis in their rotation.

Others considered for the award were sluggers Ryan Howard (Reading/Scranton- WB) and Ian Kinsler (Frisco/Clinton), and pitchers Gustavo Chacin (New Hampshire/Syracuse), Ryan Speier (Tulsa), and Brandon McCarthy (Birmingham/Kannapolis/Winston Salem).

This is the first year that The My Sportsbook has presented the two awards.