MAJOR BLOGS - www.majorblogs.net  - Texas Rangers minor league first baseman Justin Smoak (MLN FAB50 Baseball No. 22), who played for the Frisco RoughRiders in 2009, has been honored as the International Baseball Federation's Player of the Year 2009 in the "Senior Athlete" category.

The club's first round selection in the 2008 June Draft (11th OA), Smoak tied a U.S. record with 9 home runs and added 22 runs to help Team USA to a gold medal finish in the 2009 Baseball World Cup. Smoak was named to the World Cup All-Tournament Team and was the tournament's Most Valuable Player. The award covers a two-year span of international play.