Seth Stohs

Minnesota Twins minor league awards week continues today by looking at the top relief pitchers in the system (be sure to look back at the Harmon Killebrew Award winners and my choice for minor league starting pitcher of the year). It’s an interesting category, especially for someone like me who typically will not rank relief pitchers as high as starters, but who fully understands the importance of a strong bullpen to a team. A look at last year’s Top 6 minor league reliever shows how much of a mixed bag this can be.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Number 6 was Anthony Slama. Number 5 was Luis Perdomo. Number 4 was Bruce Pugh. All three of them were released before the end of the 2013 season. Number 3 was Caleb Thielbar who pitched very well last year and came up to the Twins this year and pitched very well. Number 2 was Michael Tonkin who was remarkable the first 60% of the season, but he really struggled in Rochester after his first (of now three) promotions to the Twins. He certainly has the upside to be a long-time back of the bullpen arm. AJ Achter was my Choice for the award last year after he pitched well in Beloit and Ft. Myers. This year, he pitched well (though not top six) at both New Britain and Rochester and will be pitching in the Arizona Fall League. Again, these awards are not a prospect list. It is about the numbers, regardless of age or level of competition. Feel free to debate them, or ask any questions you may have. Relief Pitcher of the Year #6 – David Hurlbut – Cedar Rapids Kernels / Ft. Myers Miracle (4-2, 6 saves, 2.82 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 70.1 IP, 65 H, 13 BB, 64 K) Hurlbut was the Twins’ 16th round pick in 2011 out of Cal State-Fullerton. He has pitched in several different roles in his three seasons in the organization. In fact, last year, he was one of the top five starting pitchers in the organization. He began 2013 back in the Midwest League, pitching out of the bullpen. Though he was fully capable and frequently worked two or three innings at a time (important with a six-man rotation). He also ended up being the team’s closer after Tyler Jones was promoted to Ft. Myers. Late in the season, Hurlbut was promoted to Ft. Myers where he made seven starts and was able to keep his ERA and base runners allowed down. The left-hander was able to strike out 8.2 per nine innings while walking just 1.7 per nine. #5 – Cole Johnson – Ft. Myers Miracle / New Britain Rock Cats (3-3, 5 saves, 3.10 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 61.0 IP, 48 H, 20 BB, 68 K) Johnson is probably one of the least recognize Twins minor leaguers who was really good in 2013. The Notre Dame product, who was drafted in the 44th round of the 2011 draft. In 2012, he started the season at extended spring training, and joined Beloit for the second half. He pitched well in relief and ended up starting for the Snappers in the playoffs. He started 2013 in Ft. Myers and was tremendous. He had some struggles in his adjustment to AA New Britain but quickly proved he had earned the spot. It’s strange to see his 10.0 K/9 rate. Frankly, he is basically performing at a similar level and is on a similar path as last year’s choice for minor league reliever of the year, AJ Achter, who was also drafted in a round that no longer exists. #4 – Tim Atherton – Cedar Rapids Kernels (8-5, 1 save, 2.54 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 95.2 IP, 76 H, 33 BB, 102 K) Atherton spent two-thirds of the Kernels in the Kernels bullpen before ending the season by making 11 starts for the team. He also was going to be the Game 3 starter for them in the playoffs. Atherton has a herky-jerky delivery that can be quite deceptive. That helped him to 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings over 95+ innings. The right-handed Australian originally signed with the Twins as an infielder in 2008, but he was let go for disciplinary reasons. He came back to the organization as a pitcher in 2011, so he’s still developing his pitches. #3 – Zach Jones – Ft. Myers Miracle (4-3, 14 saves, 1.85 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 48.2 IP, 28 H, 28 BB, 70 K) Jones was the Twins 4th round pick in 2012 out of San Jose State. He hit and pitched in college, but an upper-90s fastball pushed him to the mound as a pro. After signing, he pitched in Elizabethton and Beloit. He spent the entire 2013 season in Ft. Myers. Just look at those strikeouts: that equates to 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings. Also notice that he gave up just 5.2 hits per nine innings. The reason he stayed in Ft. Myers all season is because he also walked 5.2 per nine innings. Jones often hit 100 mph during the season’s first half. In the second half, he generally sat between 94 and 96 mph. He will gain some more experience by pitching for the Twins in the Arizona Fall League next month. #2 – Edgar Ibarra – New Britain Rock Cats / Rochester Red Wings (3-2, 2 saves, 1.93 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 60.2 IP, 41 H, 29 BB, 54 K) Ibarra signed with the Twins in 2006. Last offseason, he had the opportunity to become a six-year minor league free agent. However, he (and Josmil Pinto and Deibinson Romero) signed back with the Twins on the first day of free agency. It was good for the Twins and for Ibarra. He started the season with the New Britain Rock Cats and finished the season with the Rochester Red Wings. The left-hander had a run of 32 consecutive scoreless innings. His only flaw is an excessive number of walks. He posted a 1.91 ERA in AA and a 1.96 ERA in AAA. In general, he was terrific all year. Again, he can become a minor league free agent following this season. I can’t help but wonder if the Twins will add the 24 year old to the 40 man roster. If not, will he be willing to stay in the organization for another year? Relief Pitcher of the Year – Tyler Jones – Cedar Rapids Kernels / Ft. Myers Miracle (5-6, 13 saves, 2.58 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 52.1 IP, 37 H, 20 BB, 66 K) Tyler Jones was the Twins 11th round pick in 2011 out of LSU. He was a successful high school athlete in Milwaukee and helped win a national title at Madison Junior College before heading south for a year with LSU. He began the 2012 season in extended spring training before moving up to the Beloit starting rotation in May. He was fairly mediocre as a starter. Earlier this spring, he acknowledged to me that he had not put in the work the previous offseason. Last offseason, he put in the work and lost over 30 pounds. He was moved to the bullpen and he dominated. His 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings were second only to Zach Jones. He also slightly improved his walk rate. Compared to others on this list, he allowed the fewest base runners per inning. He did miss three weeks in May with a sore elbow, but he came back strong. He was promoted to Ft. Myers where he took over primary closer duties and with the exception of one game in which he gave up four runs, he pitched very well all season. Having seen him finish off games with his 96 mph fastball was quite impressive, and seeing his much-improved slider gives me hope that he might surface in a Twins uniform within the next couple of years. This was a tough list to rank, and there was no clear-cut winner in this group. There were a lot of very solid relief pitching performances throughout the organization. So, what do you think? Would you go with Tyler Jones, who struck out a bunch without walking an excessive number and allowed the fewest base runners? Would you pick Edgar Ibarra who had that tremendous streak and was very good all season, but he didn’t strike out as many and walked more (too many?)? Would you consider Zach Jones who tied with Michael Tonkin for most saves in the organization this year and led the organization with 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings? Or, would you go with a guy like Atherton who made 11 starts and was still able to strikeout more than a batter per inning? The choice is up to you. I went with Tyler Jones. Post your thoughts and your rankings below. We’ll be back tomorrow with the Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Year.

Yesterday, we discussed the Minnesota Twins minor leaguers who were named the recipients of the Harmon Killebrew Awards for Community Service. Today, we continue our minor league award week by looking at the top starting pitchers in the Twins farm system in 2013. First, be sure to note that this is about 2013 performance. This is not a prospect ranking of any kind. In 2013, there were several very good starting pitchers in the Twins system. Several of the top prospects put up solid numbers, but will not be on this list.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Alex Meyer was pretty impressive in his New Britain starts, but he missed about two-and-a-half months. Trevor May was solid at times, but lacked consistency. Most of the names on this lists were not high-level prospects coming into the season. However, they each pitched well and deserve to be recognized. Their performances, in some cases, may also boost their prospect standing this offseason. To be clear, this is just my ranking, subject to debate. This list does include some starters with very good control this season. Unfortunately, as has been consistent in recent years, there are not many big strikeout numbers on this list, nor throughout the Twins farm system (exceptions really being Meyer and May). Later in the week, we’ll look at my choices for top reliever, hitter and manager. Today we discuss the top starting pitchers in the Twins minor league system. Feel free to debate them, or ask any questions: Starting Pitcher of the Year Honorable Mention: Mason Melotakis, Cedar Rapids (11-4, 3.16 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9, 6.8 K/9), Logan Darnell, New Britain/Rochester (10-10, 3.22 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, 7.0 K/9), Tyler Duffey, Cedar Rapids/Ft. Myers (7-7, 3.64 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 1.7 BB/9, 6.8 K/9), DJ Baxendale, Ft. Myers/New Britain (12-7, 3.90 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9, 6.7 K/9) #5 – Matt Summers – Ft. Myers Miracle, New Britain Rock Cats (7-7, 3.09 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 142.2 IP, 125 H, 46 BB, 100 K) Summers was the Twins 4th round pick in 2011 out of UC-Irvine. Like most other college pitchers, he went to Elizabethton and dominated out of the bullpen. He went 9-4 in 18 starts in Beloit before finishing the season in Ft. Myers. In 2013, he made 21 starts for the Miracle and led the Florida State League starters in ERA (2.47) and WHIP (1.11). He had a couple short stints with the New Britain Rock Cats where he made five starts (and one relief appearance). He was the Game 1 starter for the Miracle in the playoffs. Of those on this top five list, his 142.2 innings is the most. Summers throws a fastball that hits 94, and he has a good curveball too. To this point, however, he has not been a strikeout pitcher. Like others on this list, he walks very few. At just 24, he should spend 2014 in New Britain. #4 – Kyle Gibson – Rochester Red Wings (7-5, 2.92 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 101.2 IP, 85 H, 33 BB, 87 K) Kyle Gibson was certainly the most talked about through most of the 2013 season. Having missed most of the 2012 season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, there were plenty of questions on what would happen with the former first round pick. Could he make the Twins roster out of spring training? What would his innings limit be? How much time would he make in the minors before coming up? Early in the season, the Twins discussed the lack of consistency for Gibson’s first ten starts. It was true. He was tremendous in his even-numbered starts and really bad in the odd-numbered starts. At that point, he took the advice and found a way to be more consistent. On June 29, he made his major league debut. He went 2-4 with a 6.53 ERA in 51 innings, but he got the big league experience. He will learn from it. The 25-year-old has always had very good control and command of his pitches, and I would expect it to show more in 2014. #3 – Brett Lee – Cedar Rapids Kernels (8-4, 2.95 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 116 IP, 117 H, 26 BB, 89 K) When the Twins drafted Lee with their 10th round pick in the 2011 draft, it was the third time he had been selected in the draft. He signed on the last day that he could, so he did not pitch that year. Last year, he pitched primarily out of the Elizabethton bullpen. He went 4-0 with a 2.68 ERA over 43.2 innings. He walked just 12 and struck out 48. He began the 2013 season in the Cedar Rapids, six-man rotation, though he worked out of the bullpen a couple of times early due to weather. At one point in late June and early July, he worked eight or more innings in three out of four outings. He actually was shut down for two weeks, and his innings were monitored closely so he could pitch Game 1 for the Kernels in the playoffs. The left-hander has four good pitches including a fastball in the low-90s. He will advance to Ft. Myers to start the 2014 season, and it will be interesting to see if he starts or if he’ll see more time working out of the bullpen. #2 – Andrew Albers – Rochester Red Wings (11-5, 2.86 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 132.1 IP, 124 H, 32 BB, 116 K) The Andrew Albers story was incredible in 2011 when he was my choice for minor league relief pitcher of the year after the Twins signed him out of the Can-Am League and he pitched well in Ft. Myers and New Britain. The minor league portion of his story culminated in early August when he had his contract purchased and he made his major league debut. Adding to the mystique, Albers began his big league career with 18 scoreless innings. He has now made seven starts for the Twins and is 2-2 with a 3.35 ERA and has given up less than a base runner per inning. Albers began the season at the back end of the Rochester Red Wings starting rotation. The 27-year-old was clearly the team’s best, and most consistent starter throughout the season. Despite a fastball that tops out well below 90 mph, he led the International League in strikeouts when he was promoted to the Twins. As we have seen, he has impeccable control and needs it. A very strong case could be made for him being in the top spot in this category. Starting Pitcher of the Year – Taylor Rogers – Cedar Rapids Kernels/Ft. Myers Miracle (11-7, 2.88 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 140.2 IP, 133 H, 36 BB, 93 K) Photo by Linwood Ferguson/Ft. Myers Miracle Taylor Rogers began the 2013 season as the Opening Day starter for the Cedar Rapids Kernels. The Twins had made the left-hander their 11th round pick in 2012 out of the University of Kentucky, the same school that produced Logan Darnell and Andrew Albers, fellow left-handers in the Twins' system. He began his pro career with Elizabethton where he made six appearances before moving up to Beloit where he pitched five times out of the bullpen and made four starts. Combined, he worked 63.1 innings and posted a 2.27 ERA and struck out 10.5 per nine innings. With the Kernels, he pitched in just three games and posted a 7.80 ERA in ten innings. This year he was promoted to Ft. Myers in late April, and things couldn’t have gone much better for him than they did. With the Miracle, he went 11-6 with a 2.55 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He led the league with three complete games and two shutouts. When the season ended, and the Miracle were in the playoffs, Rogers started Game 2. He threw nine shutout innings in the game. Unfortunately, the Miracle didn’t score and their season ended. Rogers has a very nice pitch mix. He throws a fastball that hits 91-92 mph, touching 93 on occasion. He has a terrific slider that really helps him against left-handers. He also has a changeup that can be very good at times. He should start the 2014 campaign in the New Britain Rock Cats rotation. Tomorrow, we’ll be back with more Twins minor league awards. Feel free to discuss.

This week, I will be posting several articles handing out some Minnesota Twins minor league awards. When Minnesota Twins legend Harmon Killebrew announced that his health was deteriorating and he was entering hospice care, fans around the country, and especially in the Midwest, chimed in to tell tales of Killebrew. Amazingly, very of those few stories had anything to do with what occurred on a baseball field. Most of these stories involved something he had told a kid, shaking hands [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]with fans, his impeccable autograph, or some charitable event that he came to and inspired masses. People talked about how great he was as a person. His baseball prowess was hardly mentioned. His 573 home runs. His 1,584 RBI. His MVP. His six AL home run championships. His 11 All Star appearances. Those are all part of the story, but the stories people told were of Harmon Killebrew, the great human being. The Minnesota Twins developed the Harmon Killebrew Award for Community Service, and this year, the Twins named one winner for each of their full-season affiliates. Each affiliate’s GM nominated a recipient who exemplifies Killebrew through their work in the community. Twins Minor League Director Brad Steil said, “In partnership with our minor league affiliates, we encourage our players to be active in their community and emphasize the importance of having a positive impact in society beyond the playing field. In the minor leagues, our players take part in all kinds of activities, including school reading programs, hospital visits, working with disabled youth, and youth baseball clinics. These experiences help our players understand responsibility, compassion, and giving back. Ultimately it helps them mature and grow as people.” The four 2013 Harmon Killebrew Award for Community Service recipients were: Rochester Red Wings – Brian Dinkelman New Britain Rock Cats – Dan Rohlfing Ft. Myers Miracle – Stephen Wickens Cedar Rapids Kernels – Niko Goodrum ROCHESTER RED WINGS – Brian Dinkelman Brian Dinkelman was honored to be presented with this award. “I’m honored to be connected with (Killebrew) in this manner. To be considered a person similar to him off the field is very rewarding.” Dinkelman talked about some of the activities he enjoyed most. “I loved camps with kids to teach them about the game. But anytime being around people who want your autograph and appreciate you is exciting.” Red Wings GM Dan Mason had glowing comments when speaking about Dinkelman. “Brian has played for us for four seasons and has truly been an ideal player on and off the field for us. On the field, he’s willing to play anywhere and play well. He accepts wherever Gene (Glynn) puts him in the lineup. And he’s a PHENOMENAL teammate. A true clubhouse leader. During the Twins Era of the Wings he ranks second in hits, doubles and games played (Garrett Jones is the leader for all three of those categories). Off the field we couldn’t ask for a better representative of the Red Wings, Twins and the game of baseball. He’s great interacting with fans of all ages be it here at the park or at a school or some other appearance.” The award is especially important for the Red Wings because, as Mason continued, their “formal corporate name is “Rochester Community Baseball” and has been since Morrie Silver began a stock drive to save the team in 1956. We are community owned, and when Mr. Silver ran the stock drive, he sold shares to 8,222 different fans and businesses in our area. Because “Community” is literally our middle name, it is vital that we give back to the people who have supported us for generations. It is imperative that we are more than just a baseball team in our town, but rather a civic icon.” The team and the front office get very involved with numerous not-for-profit organizations around the city. Many of their promotions throughout the season are geared toward raising funds for area organizations. With the help of the players, they are able to weave the Red Wings into the fabric of their community. Mason continued to speak the praises of Dinkelman. “Brian Dinkelman epitomizes the same values that Harmon illustrated. “Dink” is first class in the way he treats EVERYONE. Be it a fan, a front office employee or one of the guys that cleans the stadium or works in our concessions stands. He has been a great role model for the children whose lives he has touched over the last four years here in Rochester and has endeared himself to all our fans with his outgoing and warm personality. He has a great understanding of the kind of impact he can have on somebody because he plays for the Red Wings/Twins and he embraces that responsibility. He is a truly perfect recipient for an award named after Mr. Killebrew.” Mason continued, “There are SO many great guys in this organization. Brian’s character is impeccable. We really appreciate the way he’s represented our organization and city the last four years.” NEW BRITAIN ROCK CATS – Dan Rohlfing The New Britain Rock Cats recipient of the Harmon Killebrew Award was Dan Rohlfing. He worked at several camps throughout the season. Rohlfing said, “I've worked three or four different camps including two special needs camps, which are my favorite camps to do. Also, I made a trip to the children's hospital to visit some sick kids and try to put a smile on their faces.” Though young, Rohlfing truly grasps what Harmon Killebrews means to Twins fans and how that carries into the community. “It means a lot to me to win the Harmon Killebrew award. To win an award based on your character is special to me. Being a baseball player is great, but I like to pride myself on being a good person too, and I think this award shows that. We all know what a legend and great person Harmon was, so to be associated with him and to win an award is his name is something I'm very proud of.” FORT MYERS MIRACLE – Stephen Wickens In Ft. Myers, the recipient of the Harmon Killebrew Award for Community Service is Stephen Wickens. The Miracle infielder played all over the diamond in 2013. A Canadian, Wickens played four years at Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers. So, he was familiar with the area and has been very active in the community even before this season. When Wickens learned he had been selected the Harmon Killebrew Award recipient, he fully understood what an honor it was. “I see it as a great honor to be selected for this award because Harmon Killebrew is ingrained in Minnesota Twins history. He was such a historic player and one of the best hitters of all time, and like you said, he may be known for his baseball accomplishments. He is very well known for what he did off the field. Harmon was a killer on the field and a gentleman off of it, and I think that’s how the Twins organization wants their players to be. To be even considered for this award was a great honor and I'm happy to be selected for it. The award may have been given to me but there are multiple people who deserve this award as well.” Recently Wickens said, “Since I had the opportunity to go to school in Fort Myers, I have had the privilege to work with multiple organizations when it comes to community service. In the past, I have also worked with the Salvation Army, doing their Christmas "Toys for Tots", where we would separate donated toys for children. I did various beach and nature clean ups in the Fort Myers area. Various baseball camps for my university, and surrounding high schools. Also, I was able to work for "Race for the Cure" where I was able to hand out the roses for the survivors that finished the race. I also did a reading at a local school in Fort Myers, took pictures and played games with the children.” He continued, “This past season with the Fort Myers Miracle I did several baseball camps for the team. The coolest one being the Special Needs Baseball Camp. It was a real unique experience being able to work with those children, and seeing their love for the game. Things like that remind you to play the game for fun, and don’t take things so seriously all the time.” CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS – Niko Goodrum The Harmon Killebrew Award selection for the Cedar Rapids Kernels was their shortstop, Niko Goodrum. He was nominated by the team’s GM, Doug Nelson, who had very good things to say about Goodrum, his Cedar Rapids Kernels and the Twins organization. “Niko went on a number of community appearances for us. He was always one of the first players to volunteer and sign-up for these appearances. He participated in all of the community events involving the team (baseball clinic, post-game autograph sessions, bowling outing and golf outing). Niko was a positive influence in the clubhouse encouraging his teammates to support of community efforts. The entire team has been a pleasure to work with this season. They have supported all of our community efforts and have been excellent ambassadors for the game of baseball and the Twins organization.” Goodrum was busy with activities in Cedar Rapids, but he takes his off-field work seriously all year long. “In Cedar Rapids, I've done a kids camp at Veterans Memorial Stadium, Tony Oliva Breakfast, and hangout with adults and children with disabilities. My favorite one was seeing a kid off for his Make-a-Wish Foundation trip. The list goes on for things in Cedar Rapids. In Georgia, every year I do camps in the off season, and during Christmas, I pick a family in need and give them money and presents. It feels great giving back because I know if I were in their situation it would feel amazing to know someone is thinking about you. ” According to Nelson, the Kernels have many programs all around the community. “Supporting the community is one of the Kernels main objectives. We feel that if we are actively involved in the community, then the community will support our team.” The Kernels staff and players frequently visit local schools and encourage the kids to read. In fact, they have a program in which kids get prizes for reading for 250 minutes. If they reach 1,000 minutes, they get to go to a Kernels game to be recognized. At fifteen Kernels games through the season, they held silent auctions and jersey auctions that raised money for various local charities. After the games, winning bidders were able to meet the player whose jersey they bought and collect the jersey from him. At the stadium, the Kernels held many community events. They held walks, movie nights, pancake breakfasts, baseball clinics and many more events to raise awareness for the non-profit’s mission and serve as fundraisers for the organizations. The Kernels players and staff, including Mr. Shucks, make over 100 community appearances to hospitals, baseball clinics, non-profit events, school events, day cares, and many more places, giving of their time. Goodrum’s response to being given the award? “To be honest an award was just icing on the cake. I don't do it for awards. I do it because that's how I was raised and that's just the person I am. I'm honored that the Twins saw fit that I deserved it.” MEETING HARMON Killebrew made his way to spring training and to the affiliates from time to time and made an impact on those he met. Dan Mason said, “I have had the great fortune of meeting Mr. Killebrew on a few separate occasions when he came here to do appearances for us. You couldn’t find a classier gentleman if you tried.” Dan Rohlfing spoke of meeting Killebrew in the spring. “I have been fortunate enough to meet Harmon. The first couple years of spring training, he would come down and talk to all the minor leaguers. Not only about baseball but about life in general. He was very humble and easy to talk to and gave everyone, regardless of status, the same courtesy. It's easy to see why they have the name of this award in his honor.” Stephen Wickens met Killebrew in a place you may not have expected. “I did have the opportunity to meet him. I played in the Northwoods League for two seasons when I was in college. I played for the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers. It was in 2009 and he was our guest speaker at our luncheon that we put on for the beginning of the season. He also threw out the first pitch of our Opening Day game. It was a very cool experience because, being from Canada, I did not know much history on Harmon Killebrew. I grew up hearing stories about Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar, Paul Molitor etc... but seeing the passion all of these people had for him was amazing. He was up on the podium giving his speech, and I remember looking around and seeing all of the locals just hanging on to every word he said. He was very well spoken and told some funny stories, but I also remember there was probably about 200+ people lined up for autographs, and he signed every one and shook every person’s hand and talked to each person like he knew them personally. It was amazing, considering he probably had this treatment for more than 40 years. So to still be so humble about everything was amazing.” Goodrum’s time around Killebrew was brief but memorable. “I met Harmon Killebrew at 2011 Spring Training. I wasn't able to have a conversation with him, but just being able to shake his hand was all I needed.” Brian Dinkelman met Killebrew that same spring training. “I was amazed by what a true gentleman he was, and how he carried himself. And, to think a man of his size hit that many home runs!” Congratulations to all four award winners. They have given of themselves to help people in their communities over the course of the season. All are very deserving to win an award named after one of baseball’s best power hitters and one of its best ambassadors. Brad Steil summed it up nicely, “I think it was well known that Harmon was a very giving and compassionate person. Giving back to the community was something he encouraged our players to do, whenever he had the opportunity to address them. This award recognizes those minor leaguers who stand out at their affiliate for serving their community in the same spirit that Harmon did throughout, and after, his career.”