Jacob Blackwood Named Top NL Player and Willie Glen Voted Top NL Pitcher
September 18, 2010 - Northern League (NL) News Release
Kansas City T-Bones second baseman Jacob Blackwood was voted the 2010 Northern League Player of the Year, and Gary SouthShore RailCats pitcher Willie Glen was named the 2010 Pitcher of the Year.
Blackwood, who nearly captured the league's first triple crown since 2000, led the league in home runs (31) and RBI (86), and finished third in batting (.331). In his breakout season, he established career highs in nearly every offensive category and played 99 of 100 games for the T-Bones at second base. Headed into the '10 campaign, he had previously only played five games at second base in his career. He only committed nine errors over 415 total chances (.978 fielding percentage). Offensively, he also led the league in hits (141), runs (82), total bases (271) and slugging percentage (.636).
Blackwood was originally selected by the Florida Marlins in the 16th round of the 2006 amateur draft and played parts of four seasons in their organization (he was also drafted in the 40th round of the 2005 draft by the New York Mets, but did not sign). He signed with Kansas City as a free agent on June 25th , 2009 and played 63 games for the 'Bones in '09.
In addition to representing the Northern League in the 2010 All-Star Game, he was also honored as the NL Player of the Month in August and received the NL Player of the Week honors on three different occasions (May 31st , July 25th , and August 15th ).
Glen, who becomes first the two-time winner of this award, went 11-2 with a 2.39 ERA on his way to being named the 2010 Northern League Pitcher of the Year. He previously won the award in 2007 when he went 12-1 with a 3.03 ERA for the RailCats. Over four seasons played with Gary (2005-07, & 2010), Glen has a combined regular season mark of 43-11 with a 3.02 ERA. In addition, he has struck out 100 batters or more in all four seasons.
The right-hander finished this year second in the league in ERA (2.39) and third in strikeouts (110). Glen was honored as the N.L. Pitcher of the Month (July) and was also named Player of the Week twice during the 2010 season (June 27th and July 25th ).
The 6-1, 185-pound right-hander, re-signed with Gary on February 20th , 2010. Over his career, he has played with five different Major League organizations.
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Northern League Stories from September 18, 2010
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