Hot Rods Announce Hall of Fame Inductees
April 11, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Bowling Green Hot Rods News Release
BOWLING GREEN, KY - The Bowling Green Hot Rods, Class-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, are proud to announce the inaugural class of the Hot Rods Hall of Fame. LHP Matt Moore and OF Kevin Kiermaier were selected in a very competitive media and fan vote.
"We were very impressed by the overall vote totals and the passion our fans showed by voting for their favorite former Hot Rods," said Hot Rods GM/COO Eric C. Leach. "To have Matt and Kevin win the vote shows just how much their time in Bowling Green is remembered by media and fans alike."
As a reminder, Moore and Kiermaier fell under ONE of the following categories to qualify for a nomination and acceptance in the Hall of Fame:
1) Make a Midseason/Postseason All-Star Team for the South Atlantic League/Midwest League.
2) Selected as a Postseason Organizational All-Star for the Hot Rods parent club during the season played or coached in Bowling Green.
3) Play or coach in at least one game in Major League Baseball.
4) Have a personal affiliation to the Bowling Green area or southcentral Kentucky prior or during their playing or coaching career.
Moore received 100% of the vote, while Kiermaier was named on the second-most ballots.
"The competitive polling shows just how many quality baseball players have spent time right here in Bowling Green," Leach added.
The two will officially be enshrined on Hall of Fame Night on Saturday, April 14th in a pre-game ceremony before the scheduled 6:35 p.m. first pitch. There will also be a dual bobblehead giveaway featuring both newly minted Hot Rods Hall of Famers. Tickets are available by calling the Hot Rods Ticket Office at 270-901-2121 or by visiting bghotrods.com.
"Getting our 10th season in Bowling Green started off by inducting Matt and Kevin into our Hall of Fame is terrific," Leach said. "I can't think of a better way to celebrate the return of baseball than to celebrate two Hot Rods legends and their contributions to the game and the Bowling Green community."
The Honorees:
LHP Matt Moore (2009)
Hot Rods Stats: 8-5, 3.15 ERA, 176 strikeouts in 123 innings pitched over 26 games (all starts).
MLB Stats: 51-48, 4.27 ERA, 711 strikeouts in 782.2 innings pitched over 140 games (137 starts) in seven seasons.
MLB Awards: 2012 MLB All-Star
Biography: Moore started the first-ever game for the Hot Rods and holds the franchise record for most strikeouts (176). Named an MiLB All-Star by Baseball America and a Rays Organizational All-Star in both 2010 and 2011, he was the second former Hot Rods player to play in the Futures Game in 2011. He was named "Top Starting Pitcher" in Minor League Baseball for the 2011 season and became the first Hot Rods player to make his MLB debut on 9/14/11. He is the first, and one of two former Hot Rods players, to make an MLB All-Star Team (2012). Moore finished ninth in the 2012 AL Cy Young Award voting.
OF Kevin Kiermaier (2011)
Hot Rods Stats: .241 batting average, 4 home runs, 39 runs batted in, 8 triples, 27 stolen bases in 120 games.
MLB Stats: .262 batting average, 47 homers, 151 runs batted in, 25 triples, 60 stolen bases in 463 games played over 5 seasons.
MLB Awards: Gold Glove winner in 2015 and 2016.
Biography: As an under-the-radar 31st round draft pick in 2010 by the Rays, Kiermaier began his ascent through the minor league system to the big leagues in Bowling Green in 2011. During that season, Kiermaier ranked among the Midwest League leaders with 27 steals and 8 triples and was third in the league with 19 outfield assists. Since that time, Kiermaier has channeled that defensive prowess in the big leagues as "The Outlaw", becoming the only Hot Rods player to earned an MLB Gold Glove Award, doing so in 2015 and 2016. Kiermaier led the AL in defensive WAR in both 2015 and 2016, finished 2015 with the third-highest WAR in the AL and finished 17th in the MVP voting that season.
The Voting:
Media:
Susan Woodard, CFR: Derek Dietrich, Tim Beckham, Matt Moore
Tony Rose, WDNS: Matt Moore, Alex Colome, Tim Beckham
Micheal Compton, BGDN: Matt Moore, Alex Colome, Derek Dietrich
Mike Cleff, WBKO: Tim Beckham, Matt Moore, Kevin Kiermaier
Matt Foster, WNKY: Matt Moore, Kevin Kiermaier, Alex Colome
Brian Webb, ESPN Radio: Kevin Kiermaier, Matt Moore, Tim Beckham
Fans: Kevin Kiermaier, Matt Moore, Tim Beckham
Ownership: Derek Dietrich, Kevin Kiermaier, Matt Moore
Eric C. Leach, GM & COO: Matt Moore, Kevin Kiermaier, Alex Colome
For more information on the Bowling Green Hot Rods, or to purchase tickets for the 2018 season, please call 270-901-2121 or visit www.BGHotRods.com.
Midwest League Stories from April 11, 2018
- Walk-Off Win Leads South Bend to Third Straight Win on Wednesday Night - South Bend Cubs
- Captains Drop Third Straight at Dayton - Lake County Captains
- Whitecaps Win Streak Hits Four - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Skid Hits Four, Hot Rods Drop 6-5 Decision - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Snappers Split Twinbill with Bees - Beloit Sky Carp
- Crook Leads Dragons to Fourth Straight Win, 9-3 - Dayton Dragons
- Whitecaps Walk Way to Victory - Great Lakes Loons
- Rattlers to Host Sports Career Fair on April 25 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- TinCaps Explode for Eight-Run Inning in First Win - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Rosa goes deep in LumberKings matinee win - Clinton LumberKings
- Rattlers Fall to LumberKings - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Eight-Run Seventh Sinks Lugs, 9-4 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Fifth Third Field to Host Army High School Baseball Program - Dayton Dragons
- Dragons Notes for Wednesday - Dayton Dragons
- Clay Matthews & Davante Adams to Act as Team Captains for Green & Gold Charity Softball Game - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Pitchers Ravel and Weatherly Return to Lugnuts Roster - Lansing Lugnuts
- TinCaps Game Notes: April 11 vs. Lansing (Game 7) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Hot Rods Announce Hall of Fame Inductees - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Bees Blank Snappers in First Home Win - Burlington Bees
- Bandits Bats Go Cold in 3-1 Loss - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Cougars Two-Hit River Bandits for Second Win - Kane County Cougars
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
