Cal League Announces 2016 Field Awards and Post Season All-Stars
August 24, 2016 - California League (CalL1) News Release
Oxnard, CA - The California League announced today its 2016 Field Awards and Post Season All-Star Team. Howard Johnson was named Manager of the Year. In his first year as manager in the Cal League, Johnson led his High Desert Mavericks to the First Half Championship in the South Division guaranteeing them a first round bye in the playoffs. Johnson is a former big league third baseman with the Tigers, Mets, Rockies, and Cubs. He also has two World Series rings (with the Tigers and Mets) to go with his stellar playing career.
Bakersfield pitching coach, Ethan Katz, is the Cal League Coach of the Year. Katz's pitchers lead the league in ERA (3.77), shutouts (11), and strikeouts (1130). Katz was drafted by the Rockies in 2005 and pitched in their organization for 4 seasons.
Lake Elsinore infielder, Luis Urias, was named the Cal League's Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year as well as being named to the Post Season All-Star Team. Urias, a nineteen-year-old from Mexico is 2nd in the league in average (.324), third in hits (135), while only striking out 34 times in 417 plate appearances.
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes have the Pitcher of the Year. RHP Joshua Sborz, from Washington D.C. is in his second professional season. The 22-year old leads the Cal League in ERA (2.66) and in WHIP (1.03). He had 108 strikeouts in 108 innings before getting promoted to Double-A.
All-Stars and awards were voted on and selected by the teams. Below are the rest of the awards and honors for the 2015 season:
AWARD
NAME
TEAM
Manager of the Year
Howard Johnson High Desert Mavericks
Coach of the Year
Ethan Katz
Bakersfield Blaze
Turf Manager of the Year Joe Jimenez
Lake Elsinore Storm
Clubhouse Manager of the Year Terrance Tucker Lake Elsinore Storm
Most Valuable Player Luis Urias
Lake Elsinore Storm
Pitcher of the Year
Josh Sborz
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Rookie of the Year
Luis Urias
Lake Elsinore Storm
Catcher
Jose Trevino
High Desert Mavericks
First Base
Kyle Petty
Bakersfield Blaze
Second Base
Luis Urias
Lake Elsinore Storm
Third Base
Matt Beaty
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Shortstop
Erick Mejia
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Utility Player
Marty Herum Visalia Rawhide
Designated Hitter
Johan Mieses Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Outfielder
James Harris
Stockton Ports
Outfielder
Ramon Laureano Lancaster JetHawks
Outfielder
Scott Heineman High Desert Mavericks
Pitcher
Parker French Modesto Nuts
Pitcher
Josh Sborz
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Pitcher
Yency Almonte Modesto Nuts
Pitcher
Andrew Sopko Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
California League Stories from August 24, 2016
- Five-Run Lead Not Enough in 9-6 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Trinkwon Leads Offense to Series Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Laureano Named Cal League Postseason All Star - Lancaster JetHawks
- Harris Receives Postseason All-Star Recognition - Stockton Ports
- High Desert Mavericks Named 2016 Cal-League Post-Season All-Stars - High Desert Mavericks
- Cal League Announces 2016 Field Awards and Post Season All-Stars - CalL1
- Two-Out Hits Fuel 8-4 Win over Blaze - San Jose Giants
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