51s’ Arencibia selected PCL’s top player

51s catcher J.P. Arencibia has been named the Pacific Coast League's Most Valuable Player for 2010, the league announced Thursday.

Arencibia, 24, a Miami native in his second season with Las Vegas, played in 104 games this season and batted .301 (124-for-412) with 36 doubles, 32 home runs and 85 RBIs.

At the time of his call-up to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, he ranked tied for first in the PCL in extra-base hits with 69 and tied for second in homers.

Arencibia was the Blue Jays' first-round pick, 21st overall, in the 2007 amateur draft. He got his first call-up to Toronto in early August and spent 12 days with the Blue Jays.

In his major league debut Aug. 7, Arencibia hit the first pitch he saw for a home run and finished that game 4-for-5 with two homers, a double and three RBIs in Toronto's 17-11 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre.

Arencibia is the sixth player in the 28-year history of Las Vegas' PCL franchise to be named league MVP, joining first baseman Randy Ruiz (2009), first baseman Phil Hiatt (2001), catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. (1988 and 1989), first baseman Tim Pyznarski (1986) and outfielder Kevin McReynolds (1983).

League managers and media representatives vote on the award.