The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

RESHARD Munroe has been one of the few bright spots for the Billings Mustangs thus far this season despite the team's struggle in the standings of the Rookie Ball Pioneer League.

Munroe leads the team in home runs, triples and is among the team's top three in nearly every statistical category.

He went 1-4 with one RBI in Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Grand Junction Rockies.

Through 22 games, the 22-year-old outfielder is hitting .329 with a .393 OBP, an OPS of .906, slugging .513 with 25 hits, five doubles, three home runs, 40 total bases, 11 RBI, four stolen bases.

The Mustangs are 9-17 on the season, last place in the North division and seventh out of the league's eight teams.

Munroe, a Grand Bahama native, signed with the Cincinnati Reds organisation in 2014, played the following season in the Dominican Republic and spent the 2016-17 seasons in the Arizona Rookie League. This season, Munroe was called up to Single A Ball in the Midwest League with the Dayton Flyers for just one game. In the 5-4 loss to the Western Michigan Whitecaps, Munroe went 1-2, scored one run and stole two bases.

The Mustangs and Cincinnati Reds have agreed to extend their player development contract for two more years through the 2020 season.

In addition to the 2018 season being the 66th year that the Mustangs franchise has called Billings home, it also marks the 45th consecutive season that the Mustangs have served as the Rookie affiliate of the Reds.

The Pioneer League operates in the Rocky Mountain region and in the past, it also operated in adjoining portions of Canada. It is classified as a rookie league, and is staffed with mostly first and second year players. The Pioneer League is a short-season league operating from June to early September.

Kane County Cougars shortstop Jazz Chisholm also spent his rookie season in the Pioneer League, then with the Missoula Ospreys.

He was named to the annual Pioneer League vs. Northwest League All Star Game and hit .281 with nine home runs, 37 RBI, and 13 stolen bases. He finished with an on base percentage of .333, slugging percentage of .446 and OPS of .779.

Chisholm, the No. 3 prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks organisation, hit his team leading 13th home-run Tuesday night in a 9-2 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods.